Bérangère Maïa Parizeau, MAAPPS // Jan 18, 2015
I find the unique dynamics between NGOs, different levels of government, other agencies and the public to be fascinating. EITI is a Norwegian NGO registered under the name of The Association for Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative” or “EITI Association” which operates globally.
(Important link: to see all EITI Reports, go to data.eiti.org)
EITI is a great example of this dynamic policy-making process. The EITI operates as an official mediator for transparency and national public accountability in extractive sectors globally. The United States applies EITI standards and has passed a measure for companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose how much they pay for natural resources access under the Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank financial reform is considered a landmark legislation. The countries of Nigeria and Liberia have EITI standards legislations. In Norway, Ghana and Sierra Leone, mining and petroleum extraction laws include EITI criterions. Why is Canada not a EITI member?
EITI in Canada would contribute to Canadian public debate on natural resource accountability. Considering that Canada has been referred to as the country with the worst environmental performance in the western world, in my opinion this is worrisome. China is not a EITI member. The United States is a member. I’d like to find out why Canada is not a EITI member.
For information on Canada’s embarrassing environmental performance please visit: http://oilsandsrealitycheck.
As a reference, the above website was brought to my attention by Dr Tzepora Berman, who received an honorary law PhD degree from UBC. Tzeporah is known for her work as the coordinator of one of the largest civil disobedience in Canada’s history, the logging blockades in Clayoquot Sound during which she was arrested and charged with 857 counts of criminal aiding and abetting. Tzeporah was one of the creators and lead negotiators of the Great Bear Rainforest campaign as well as the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. Her work has contributed to the protection of over 40 million hectares of old growth forests.