Recent activities

Last Update 10.06.10

In November 2009 PWYP Canada hosted the PWYP International Conference in Montreal. PWYP Canada not only provided a huge amount of support and direction for the event, but also used the opportunity to publicly present its report on Canadian disclosure requirements for companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Toronto Venture Exchange. Lifting the Veil: Exploring the Transparency of Canadian Companies offers an in-depth analysis of information disclosure in four main areas: resource pricing and cost data; payments to governments; contracts, licenses and permits; and environmental and socio-economic impacts. The report shows that despite strict Canadian laws, which make corporate information available to the public, NGOs do not sufficiently use this information to advance their demands.

In April 2009, a motion had been introduced by Liberal MPP Laurel Broten to review the reporting standards of the Ontario Securities Commission. This motion was unanimously passed and set in motion a comprehensive stakeholder consultation. In December 2009, a report of the review was presented to the Minister of Finance. PWYP-Canada does not oppose the review but it warns that, under its present formulation, the motion aims at increasing protection for investors, rather than encouraging ethical investing.

During the first two months of 2010, PWYP supported two workshops in Africa. The first one took place in Abidjan (January 2010) for PWYP members from francophone Africa; the second one took place in Bamako (February 2010) on the Kimberley Process and the EITI.

Summer 2010 will see the release of the third PWYP national coalition spotlight following the publication of spotlights on Azerbaijan (May 2010) and Cameroon (forthcoming in June 2010).

Coalition Members:

Partnership Africa Canada
Transparency International Canada
Canadian Labour Congress
Development and Peace/Développement et Paix
Africa Files
Corporate Knights
Probe International
The United Church of Canada