Globalization - Canadian Social Research Links

*(This link takes you further down this page - wait for the page to open completely before clicking)
[Most of this page is organized in reverse chronological order, with the most recent links at the top]

Related Canadian Social Research Links pages:
- Canadian Social Research Links Human Rights page
- Canadian Social Research Links Government Social Research Links in Other Countries page
- Canadian Social Research Links Social Research Links in Other Countries (Non-Government) page

"The traditional left in Western nations tends to agree that globalization represents a profound transformation of the economic order, but see it as a profound threat to equality, social justice, and the vibrancy of democratic life. The movement of investment and production to countries with low wages, weak labour market regulations, limited social benefits, and few environmental controls is seen as "social dumping," which generates high levels of unemployment in the West and facilitates the exploitation of workers in the third world. From this perspective, unrestrained global markets seem to offer little beyond economic insecurity, eroding social programs, and rising levels of inequality in the distribution of income and wealth. At some point, such trends could only undermine the wider sense of social solidarity within nations."
Source:
Keith Banting
Social Policy Challenges in a Global Society
(1995)
[ International Development Research Centre ]

NAFTA's legacy: the worst agreement we ever signed
By Murray Dobbin
March 5, 2008
In the aftermath of Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's threats to "renegotiate" NAFTA — or pull out — the usual suspects have been activated to tell the world how wonderful the deal has been for Canada and the United States. (...) When its history is written, NAFTA could rightly be described as the worst agreement ever signed by a Canadian government.
Source:
The Globe and Mail

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008
The Power of Collaborative Innovation
23-27 January, Davos, Switzerland
The World Economic Forum is an independent, international organization incorporated as a Swiss not-for-profit foundation. We are striving towards a world-class corporate governance system where values are as important a basis as rules.

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
closes with call for a new kind of collaborative leadership
Press Release
Davos, Switzerland
27 January 2008
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008 closed today with a call by business, government and civil society leaders for a new brand of collaborative and innovative leadership to address the challenges of globalization, particularly the pressing problems of conflict – especially in the Middle East, terrorism, climate change and water conservation

From Google.ca:
"World Economic Forum" Web Search
"World Economic Forum" News Search

World Social Forum 2008
The World Social Forum is an open meeting place where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.

World Social Forums have taken place at the end of January at different sites throughout the world each year for the past seven years, and their spirit will continue to be reflected in the activities planned at those same sites and worldwide in 2008.

NOTE: The World Social Forum (WSF) is an annual meeting held by members of the anti-globalization (using the term globalization in a doctrinal sense not a literal one) or alter-globalization movement to coordinate world campaigns, share and refine organizing strategies, and inform each other about movements from around the world and their issues. It tends to meet in January when its "great capitalist rival", the World Economic Forum is meeting in Davos, Switzerland. This is not a coincidence.
Source:
World Social Forum - from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From Google.ca:
"World Social Forum" Web Search
"World Social Forum" News Search

Links to World Social Forum related sites:

www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
Historical information site run by the Sao Paulo WSF office.
There you can find news, subscribe to the WSF newsletter, and read many articles about WSF events and process.

www.wsfprocess.net
First WSF process dedicated site. You can network here with over 1500 organisations and 4500 people, and form “groups” of people from various organisations, collaborating on “activities” and “proposals” for social change.
These can be linked to social forum events and can be publicized.

Links to Continental Social Forum Sites:

www.openesf.net
A new networking site for the European Social Forum process

The Canada connection:

Services for Business:
Canada at World Economic Forum 2008
January 25-26, 2008
City of Davos
Minister Emerson and Minister Bernier took part in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Source:
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Free trade has failed to live up to its promises—study
Press Release
December 28, 2007
OTTAWA— Twenty years after Canada signed the Free Trade Agreement its biggest boosters have grown wealthier but promises ofbetter jobs and rising living standards fell short, says a study released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The Canada-US Free Trade Agreement was signed on January 2, 1988. The study examines what’s happened since: It takes a sample of 41 Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) member companies – the leading supporter of free trade – and finds they shrank their workforce by 19.6% while their revenues grew by 127%.

Complete study:

20 Years Later: Has Free Trade Delivered on its Promise? (PDF file - 179K, 7 pages)
December 2007

More CCPA research & publications
on international trade & investment, deep integration

All CCPA publications (select from the list in the left-hand margin)

Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

G8 Summit Heiligendamm June 6-8 2007
- Schedule and Topics
- G8 News

Related Links:

G8 Saint Petersburg Russia 2006:
Official Website of the G8 Presidency
of the Russian Federation in 2006
- incl. links to:
News - links to three pages of releases (50+ releases) issued in June 2006
G8 (including previous meetings back to Denver in 1997)
Agenda
Working Meetings - dates of all meetings taking place in 2006, including links to further info
Venue
Media
Contacts

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A Call out to protest against G8 summit of 2006
in St. Petersburg, Russia July 15-17 2006
- from Peoples' Global Action

A Call for Action Against G8 Summit of 2006
- from all4all.org - global action database
- includes links to half a dozen related websites

Google.ca News Search Results:
"G8, St. Petersburg, 2006"
Google.ca Web Search Results:
"G8, St. Petersburg, 2006"
Source:
Google.ca

Selected G8 Gleneagles website content
(this link takes you further down on the page you're now reading)

Canada's 2006 Election: A Chilling Echo of Bush's Republicans
by Professor John Ryan
February 4, 2006
"The 2006 federal election has set the stage for a possible dismantling of Canada's distinctive social and economic fabric. The newly evolved Conservative Party, in many respects a chilling echo of the USA's Republican Party, is poised for a two-stage attack to reshape Canada in line with its Canadian version of America's neoconservative ideology."

Source:
Centre for Research on Globalisation
[ Version française : Centre de recherche sur la mondialisation ]
The Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG) is an independent research and media group of writers, scholars and activists. It is a registered non profit organization in the province of Quebec, Canada.
- incl. news articles, commentary, background research and analysis on a broad range of issues, focussing on social, economic, strategic, geopolitical and environmental processes.

--------------------

Statement by G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
April 16, 2005
"Since our meeting in February, the global expansion has remained robust and the outlook continues to point to solid growth for 2005. Subdued inflationary pressures, appropriate monetary policies and favorable financing conditions are supporting the outlook. But challenges remain. Higher oil prices are a headwind and the expansion is less balanced than before. We welcome efforts to improve oil market data, increase medium-term energy supply and efficiency. We will review the progress made at our next meeting. Vigorous action is needed to address global imbalances and foster growth: fiscal consolidation in the United States; further structural reforms in Europe; and further structural reforms, including fiscal consolidation, in Japan."

Related Links:

G-7 Finance Ministers

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Statement prepared for the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the International Monetary Fund
April 16, 2005
The Honourable Ralph Goodale
Minister of Finance of Canada
Washington, D.C.
"The year 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The international system has changed significantly over the past six decades. Globalization, demographic shifts and the growth of global capital markets increase the importance of the sound policy frameworks and strong domestic institutions that are the foundations of domestic and global prosperity. The flows of goods, money and people across borders create challenges, requiring regular monitoring and possible remedies to maximize benefits and minimize costs. Moreover, we need to ensure all benefit from globalization."

Wolfensohn's Warnings
Embassy, March 30th, 2005
By Sarah McGregor
"Outgoing World Bank President says foreign aid must double in order to lift millions from poverty
The failure of powerful leaders to capture 'the hearts and minds'of their citizens is having devastating consequences for the world's poorest people, warns outgoing World Bank President James Wolfensohn. (...) Canada at one time earmarked 0.54 per cent of its annual budget to foreign aid, but this year only reached 0.29 per cent. The Liberal government has promised to double its official foreign aid, but even then it will only achieve about 0.33 per cent of gross domestic product in five years, said Mr. Wolfensohn. 'It's too low.'
Mr. Wolfensohn has noted the absurdity of a world that spends annually $3,000 billion on arms, $300 billion on agriculture subsidies and just $60 billion on development aid. (bolding added)"
Source:
Embassy News Online

Editorial Comment:
Funny we never hear an *incoming* World Bank President say things like that...

Joseph Stiglitz Page (Global Policy Forum)
Joseph E. Stiglitz, professor of economics at Columbia University and author of "The Roaring 90's," was chief economist of the World Bank from 1997 to 2000. He won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2001.
- incl. links to 35+ articles, links, Stiglitz on the IMF, the World Bank, Globalization and Liberalization
Archived Articles by Joseph Stiglitz (1998 - 2001) - 25 more provocative pieces by Stiglitz

Joseph Stiglitz Page (World Bank)
- in. links to 25+ essays and speeches by Joseph Stiglitz while serving as World Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Economist between February 1997 and February 2000.

The Broken Promise of NAFTA
By Joseph E. Stiglitz
New York Times
January 6, 2004
"In the long run, while particular special-interest groups may benefit from such an unfair trade treaty, America's national interests — in having stable and prosperous neighbors — are not well served. Already, the manner in which the United States is bullying the weaker countries of Central and South America into accepting its terms is generating enormous resentment. If these trade agreements do no better for them than Nafta has done for Mexico, then both peace and prosperity in the hemisphere will be at risk."
Source:
Global Policy Forum

----------------------------------------

The globalizer who came in from the cold
March 19, 2002
"One of Britain's top investigative journalists interviews Joseph Stiglitz, former chief economist of the World Bank, about how corporate globalization has gone horribly wrong."
Source: AlterNet.org

Minister of Finance Welcomes Positive IMF Report on Canada
News Release
December 20, 2004
"Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale welcomed the annual Statement of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Mission on Canada, which was released today. The report lauds Canada, especially its fiscal performance, which it describes as the best among the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized countries. 'This report is a further vindication of the sacrifices made by Canadians to get our nation’s finances back on track over the past decade,' said Minister Goodale."
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Related Links:

From Finance Canada:

Statement prepared for the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the International Monetary Fund
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance of Canada
October 2, 2004

Statement prepared for the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance of Canada
October 2, 2004

World Development Report (WDR) 2005: A Better Investment Climate for Everyone - The World Bank
September 2004
"A Better Investment Climate for Everyone, the World Bank’s annual World Development Report for 2005, was launched on September 28, 2004. The Report focuses on what governments can do to improve the investment climates of their societies to increase growth and reduce poverty."

Easing Policy Risks, Costs And Barriers To Competition Keys To Faster Growth, Less Poverty: World Development Report 2005
News Release
September 28, 2004

Click on "Full Text" in the left margin of the WDR 2005 home page for links to the complete report and to individual sections.

Table of Contents & Foreword (PDF file - 121K, 16 pages)

Measuring the Investment Climate & Selected World Development Indicators (PDF file - 259K, 30 pages)
- incl. : Introduction + Classification of economies by region and income (Key indicators of development - Poverty and income distribution - Economic activity - Trade, aid, and finance - Key indicators for other economies

World Development Reports for Earlier Years (back to 1992)

Source:
The World Bank

NAFTA partners recommit to full implementation of NAFTA
News Release
July 16, 2004
"International Trade Minister Jim Peterson met today with United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, and Mexican Secretary of the Economy Fernando Canales at the 10th annual ministerial meeting of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Commission in San Antonio, Texas. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to build on NAFTA's achievements over the last decade with a view to generating continued strong growth in trade and investment in North America."
Source:
International Trade Canada

From Foreign Affairs Canada:

Sea Island G8 Summit
Leaders of the G8 countries will meet in Sea Island, Georgia, U.S., from June 8 to 10, to discuss the world economy, international security and poverty reduction.

Canada at the OAS
The General Assembly of the Organization of American States will be convening from June 6 to 8 in Quito, Ecuador. Find out more about the meeting and this year's themes.

Promoting and Protecting Human Rights
On May 4, Canada was elected to the to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the UN body responsible for overseeing international human rights standards.

G8 News Releases:

June 11, 2004
G8: Chair's Summary
G8: Debt Sustainability for the Poorest
G8 Commitment to Help Stop Polio Forever
G8: Ending the Cycle of Famine in the Horn of Africa, Raising Agricultural Productivity, and Promoting Rural Development in Food Insecure Countries
G8: Fighting Corruption and Improving Transparency
G8 Action to Endorse and Establish a Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise
G8 Action Plan: Expanding Global Capability for Peace Support Operations
G8 Statement on Sudan

June 10, 2004
G8: Partnership for Progress and a Common Future With the Region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa
G8 Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative (SAFTI)
G8 Action Plan on Nonproliferation
G8 Plan of Support for Reform
G8 Leaders' Statement on Trade
G8 Action Plan: Applying the Power of Entrepreneurship to the Eradication of Poverty

And from the website of the Prime Minister's Office:

Canadian priorities advanced at 2004 Summit of the G8
News Release
June 11, 2004

Mexico : Canada's Other NAFTA Partner
(Volume 3)
Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs
March 2004
"I am perplexed by people who say that we should get out of the Free Trade Agreement. Should we put the tariffs, which ended in 1998, back on? They were not high anyway. The fact is that the world has moved on. Any benefits stemming from the FTA have ended. It is clear to me that we should focus on the multilateral trade negotiations that are taking place under the authority of the World Trade Organization." (from the Foreword by Peter Stollery, Chair)
Complete report:
HTML version
PDF version (703K, 57 pages)

Reports - incl. links to the above report and the first two volumes of this study by the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs:
- Volume 2: The Rising Dollar: Explanation and Economic Impacts (November 2003)
- Volume 1: Uncertain Access: The Consequences of U.S. Security and Trade Actions for Canadian Trade Policy (June 2003)

Source:
Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs

From Finance Canada:

Statement prepared for the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the International Monetary Fund
Ottawa, April 24, 2004

Statement prepared for the Development Committee of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
April 25, 2004

From the International Monetary Fund (IMF):

2004 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group
April 24–25, 2004
Washington, D.C.
April 24 - International Monetary and Financial Committee Meeting
April 25 - Development Committee Meeting
- incl. links to : Overview - Information for Journalists - Tentative Schedule of Events - News Releases, Speeches, Committee Papers, Documents and Background Information (see below) - Information for Civil Society Organizations - Photographs

News Releases, Speeches, Committee Papers,
Documents and Background Information
- incl. links to relevant info about the 2004 Spring Meetings (Provisional Agenda Statements, Documents Related to the IMFC Meeting) - World Bank Group links (News and Events, IBRD/IDA News Releases, IFC Pressroom, MIGA Press Releases, Issue Briefs, Transcripts) - International Monetary Fund (What's New, 2004 News and Events, Factsheets, Issues Briefs, Transcripts, Webcasts

From the The World Bank Group:

Urgent Action Needed To Fix Global Imbalance
News Release
April 19, 2004
"The global imbalance between rich and poor countries must be urgently addressed if the world is to prosper into the 21st century, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings will be told this weekend. The meetings, and Bank research to be released over the next week, which will unveil the latest information on global poverty and the international economy, are expected to reinforce the message issued by World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn at the Bank and IMF's annual meeting in Dubai last September.'In our world of 6 billion people, one billion own 80 percent of global GDP, while another billion struggle to survive on less than a dollar a day,'Wolfensohn said. 'This is a world out of balance.'"

Time Has Come To Meet MDG Poverty Promises: Report
News Release
April 22, 2004
"The world's poor have little hope of emerging from lives of deprivation unless governments in rich and poor countries alike take urgent action to address the root causes of poverty, a major report from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has found. The Global Monitoring Report 2004 (155kK pdf) , released today, warns that on current trends, most developing countries will fail to meet most of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – internationally agreed targets to reduce poverty and improve services for the poor by 2015."

Millennium Development Goals
"The Millennium Development Goals commit the international community to an expanded vision of development, one that vigorously promotes human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress in all countries, and recognizes the importance of creating a global partnership for development. The goals have been commonly accepted as a framework for measuring development progress."

Global Monitoring Report 2004 – Policies and Actions for Achieving the MDGs and Related Outcomes (PDf file - 157K, 24 pages)
- incl. Introduction - MDG Prospects : Reasons for Optimism, Grave Concerns - Scaling Up : on the Basis of Monterrey Consensus - Priorities for Action : Developing Countries - Priorities for Action : Developed Countries - Priorities for Action : International Financial Institutions - Priorities for Strengthening the Monitoring Exercise

East Asia & Pacific Region: Global Poverty Down By Half Since 1981 But Progress Uneven As Economic Growth Eludes Many Countries
News Release
"WASHINGTON, April 23, 2004 — Rapid economic growth in East Asia has pulled over 480 million people out of poverty since 1981, according to figures released today by the World Bank. In large part due to gains in East Asia, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty (less than $1 a day) in developing countries dropped by almost half between 1981 and 2001, from 40 to 21 percent of global population. (..) The Bank’s annual statistical report, World Development Indicators 2004 (WDI), released today, shows a drop in the absolute number of people living on less than $1 a day in all developing countries from 1.5 billion in 1981, to 1.1 billion in 2001, with much of the progress occurring in the 1980s."

World Development Indicators 2004
April 2004
"Information and selected samples from the WDI2004 publication, the World Bank's premier annual compilation of data about development."

IMF Concludes 2004 Article IV Consultation with Canada
Public Information Notice No. 04/18
March 10, 2004
- incl. background info and detailed highlights

Canada: 2004 Article IV Consultation-Staff Report; Staff Statement;
and Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion (PDF file - 1MB, 44 pages)
March 10, 2004
"Staff Report for the 2004 Article IV Consultation Prepared by the Staff Representatives for the 2004 Consultation with Canada"
- incl. Introduction - Recent Developments - The Short-Term Outlook - Monetary Policy and the Exchange Rate - Sustainable Fiscal Policy - Financial Sector Policies in Support of Globalized Capital Markets - Policies to Support Productivity and Income Growth Staff Appraisal

Canada: Selected Issues (PDF file - 1.7MB, 85 pages)
March 10, 2004
- incl. The Canada-United States Productivity Gap: Evidence from Industry Data - Canadian Household Saving—Developments and Risks - The Canadian Dollar: Back to Fundamentals? - The Information Content of Real Return Bonds - Canada’s Pension System: Status and Reform Options - Canada-U.S. Economic Integration: Developments and Prospects
[NOTE: bolding was added to the original]

More Canada information from the IMF

World Commission says globalization can and must change, calls for urgent rethink of global governance
Press Release
February 24, 2004
"GENEVA (ILO News) - Globalization can and must change, says a new, groundbreaking report presented today to the International Labour Organization (ILO) urging that building a fair and inclusive globalization become a worldwide priority. A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All calls for an 'urgent rethink' of current policies and institutions of global governance. The report was issued by the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization."
- includes an appendix with background info on the World Commission on The Social Dimension of Globalization

A FAIR GLOBALIZATION - Creating opportunities for all
Complete report
- table of contents page, includes links to all sections of the report, the news release, the Preface by the Commission Co-Chairs, a synopsis of the report in several languages, etc.
Chapter/section titles (individual files): Contents, Abbreviations - Globalization for people - Globalization and its impact - The governance of globalization - Mobilizing action for change - Annex 1,2,3, Index, Figures
Synopsis (PDF file - 87K, 7 pages)
Contents + Abbreviations (PDF file - 96K, 7 pages)

The Social Dimension of Globalization
"The social dimension of globalization refers to the impact of globalization on the life and work of people, on their families and their societies. Concerns and issues are often raised about the impact of globalization on employment, working conditions, income and social protection. Beyond the world of work, the social dimension encompasses security, culture and identity, inclusion or exclusion and the cohesiveness of families and communities."

The World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization was established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in February 2002.

ILO Tackles Social Consequences of Globalization
Press Release
February 27, 2002
"The ILO today launched a top-level commission comprising Presidents, politicians, academics, social experts and a Nobel Economics laureate which, for the first time, will address the social dimension of globalization. (...) 'Its ultimate goal is to use the process of globalization as a resource to reduce poverty and unemployment, to foster growth and sustainable development', said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia at a news conference.(...) The Commission is expected to complete its deliberations and present an authoritative report to the ILO's Director-General in the course of 2003."
World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization
Source : International Labour Organization

World Bank: Globalization
"The word globalization is thrown around with reckless abandon by numerous parties these days, and as a result, the very notion of such a force is somewhat elusive. While this website from the World Bank may not end all of the fierce academic and pragmatic debates that rage on about globalization, it does offers some perspective from this organization on this wide-ranging phenomenon. The site itself contains audio and video selections, issue briefs, a data and statistics section, and an area dedicated to current research on the subject underway by the World Bank. The issue briefs are definitely worth a look as they address such questions as What is Globalization? and Does More International Trade Openness Increase World Poverty? The selection of videos is also quite nice, particularly a recent talk by Michael Moore (the former director-general of the World Trade Organization) entitled Globalization & Development: Its Implications & Institutions."
Source:
The World Bank Group
Reviewed by:
The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2003
[Volume 10, Number 6 - February 13, 2004]

The Prospects for Deeper North American Economic Integration:
A U.S. Perspective (PDF file - 127K, 26 pages)
January 2004
"On its tenth anniversary, NAFTA stands as a commercial success. Dramatic increases in trade and investment have increased the efficiency of North American companies. Still, while NAFTA paved over many commercial potholes, several were left untended. Non-tariff barriers, energy, migration, labor, and environmental issues all need further attention. In addition, the tragedy of September 11, 2001, created new security challenges."
Source:
C.D. Howe Institute

Prime Minister to attend World Economic Forum in Davos
News Release
January 20, 2004
"Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that he will attend the 2004 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, from January 21 to 23. Expected to attract more than 2,100 participants from 94 countries, the theme of the 34th annual meeting will be “Partnering for Security and Prosperity.”"
Source:
Office of the Prime Minister
See also:
http://www.paulmartintimes.ca/
http://www.paulmartintime.ca/

Related Links:

Media itinerary for Prime Minister Martin's visit (Office of the Prime Minister)

Special Summit of the Americas
January 12-13, 2004
Monterrey, Mexico

Special Summit of the Americas on January 12-13, 2004 - Official summit website
Monterrey, Mexico
Meeting of the democratically elected Heads of State and Government of the Americas

Daily Updates from the Special Summit (from the official summit website)

Summits of the Americas Information Network
Organization of American States (OAS)
- Canada Assumes Chair of the OAS Permanent Council - January 5, 2004
"Canada will preside over the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the next three months."

Prime Minister Paul Martin speaks to the inauguration ceremony of the Special Summit of the Americas
Notes for an address by Prime Minister Paul Martin
January 12, 2004
Monterrey, Mexico
On the occasion of the Inauguration Ceremony of the Special Summit of the Americas
Source:
Office of the Prime Minister

Remarks by the Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin:
Note: the video files require the Windows Media Player plugin for your browser. Also, the video file may not open if you're behind a security firewall.

January 12 - Inaugural Session
Text version (small Word file, 2 pages)
Video version (Paul Martin at the podium for seven minutes, same content as text version above)

January 12 - First Plenary Session
Text version - not yet posted --- see the daily updates page
Video version (4 minutes, 30 seconds)

Prime Minister to participate in special Summit of the Americas in Monterrey Mexico
January 8, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario
Source:
Office of the Prime Minister

Special Summit of the Americas website (Government of Canada)
"Canada looks forward to participating in the Special Summit of the Americas which will be held in Monterrey, Mexico, January 12-13, 2004. This event, which was proposed by Canada last year, has been convened to provide the Leaders of the 34 countries of the hemisphere with the opportunity to address current political, economic and social challenges which have arisen since the April 2001 Quebec City Summit."
Source:
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

The Awkward Truth About Fighting Poverty
By Marcela Sanchez
Special to washingtonpost.com
January 1, 2004
"...leaders of the 34 democracies in the Americas will meet in Mexico at a special summit to address one central question: How, as economies grow and wealth is created, can societies benefit as a whole? So far they have not. In fact, nearly one of every two people in Latin America and the Caribbean live in poverty today and one in five in extreme poverty. According to the World Bank, the richest one-tenth of the population receives 48 percent of all income, and the poorest one-tenth gets only 1.6 percent."

CBC InDepth: 2004 Special Summit of the Americas
January 7, 2004
Source:
CBC News Online

Straight Talk: Big Business and the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement Fifteen Years Later
By Bruce Campbell and David Macdonald
Download the PDF file (49K, 4 pages)
Read the news release (December 22, 2003)
"While Canadian governments still spend significantly more on social programs and public services than do their American counterparts, the difference has been shrinking dramatically. (...) The evidence that the Canadian social state is converging down to the U.S. level is compelling."
Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

North American Deal Dismal After a Decade
"WASHINGTON, Dec 26, 2003 (IPS) - After 10 years a deal that all sides say transformed trade and investment rules in North America has still produced far fewer positive results than originally promised, according to its critics. (...) If there is one major lesson of NAFTA that many analysts from all three countries agree on, says the Institute of Policy Studies, it is that 'there is no guaranteed link between trade and investment liberalisation and improvements for workers or the environment'".
Source:
Inter Press Service News Agency

Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Free Trade Area of the Americas
- The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of International Trade, Welcomes Progress Made in Miami
News Release
November 21, 2003

Ministerial Declaration (Word file - 72K, 7 pages)
November 20, 2003
Source:
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)
[ Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade ]

Setback in Miami for 'Free Trade of the Americas' deal
Hawks settle for 'FTAA lite' instead of 'NAFTA on steroids'
News Release
November 21, 2003
"Free trade hawks in the Canadian government have suffered a significant setback at Free Trade Area of the Americas talks in Miami, says Larry Brown, NUPGE's secretary-treasurer. They were forced to settle for 'FTAA a la carte' instead of 'NAFTA on steroids.' (...) Good news for ordinary people..."
Source:
National Union of Public and General Employees

From the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA):

FTAA trade negotiators should heed lessons from NAFTA
News Release
November 18, 2003
"Trade ministers from Canada and 40 other countries in North, Central and South America are meeting in Miami this week to try to reach agreement on establishing a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) before December 31, 2005. The FTAA would extend the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the entire Western Hemisphere (except Cuba). But to convince counterparts in Latin America of the benefits of the proposed FTAA, NAFTA-countries' trade negotiators would have to prove that NAFTA has been a boon for most people in their own countries."

Lessons from NAFTA: The High Cost of "Free Trade"
Summary
"The corporate and political advocates of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) continue to defend this trade deal and even to claim that its effects on the workers and consumers of all three countries--Canada, the United States, and Mexico--have been enormously beneficial. In fact, the impact of NAFTA on most of the people in all three countries has been devastating. The agreement has destroyed more jobs than it has created, depressed wages, worsened poverty and inequality, eroded social programs, undermined democracy, enfeebled governments, and greatly increased the rights and power of corporations, investors, and property holders."

[Contact CCPA to order a copy of the full report Lessons from NAFTA: The High Cost of "Free Trade"]

North American Labour Ministers Meet to Discuss Progress on NAFTA Labour Commission
News Release
November 14, 2003
"The Secretaries of Labour of the United States, Mexico and Canada's Minister of Labour held their Seventh Ministerial Meeting yesterday to acknowledge the substantially increased cooperation that has taken place in the area of workers' rights since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed ten years ago."
Source:
Labour Program - Human Resources Development Canada

Related Links:

Commission for Labor Cooperation
"Negotiated by the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico in 1993 and in effect since January 1, 1994, the NAALC -- and a companion agreement on environmental cooperation -- add a social dimension to the North American Free Trade Agreement."

Recent Trends in Union Density in North America (PDF file - 200K, 4 pages)
Briefing Note
August 2003
"Recent statistics show that the trend toward decline or stagnation in union density in North America is continuing. Union density has been declining or stagnating for the past 20 years despite the resilience of unionization in the public sector, particularly in Canada. This briefing note describes trends in union density in Canada, the United States, and Mexico and summarizes the factors identified in the scholarly literature that are held to account for the decline."

The Rights of Nonstandard Workers: A North American Guide (PDF file - 584K, 36 pages)
June 2003
Comparative synopsis and outline of labor and employment law protections, social insurance, and income support in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) :

Canada and the North American Free Trade Agreement - includes the text of the NAFTA agreement and related resources

NAFTA Multistakeholder Roundtable Discussion
[October 6, 2003 - Omni Mont-Royal Hotel, in Montreal)
Posted to the DFAIT website Nov. 17/03

Social Forum Seeks Alternative to Globalisation
November 10, 2003
"The European Social Forum opening in Paris Wednesday will look for an economic model that could become an alternative to capital-led globalisation. This search will be a central theme during the three days of meetings that will see 270 seminars, 55 conferences and 287 workshops in and around Paris. Close to 60,000 delegates from 1,500 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are expected to attend. Other themes will include a critical review of European agriculture policy, women's rights and xenophobia. The European Social Forum (ESF) will also seek to promote dialogue between cultures and peoples, organisers say."
Source:
IPS-Inter Press Service – the Global Gateway
"Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS), the world's leading provider of information on global issues, is backed by a network of journalists in more than 100 countries. (...) IPS focuses its news coverage on the events and global processes affecting the economic, social and political development of peoples and nations.

Related Link:

Second European Social Forum (Official site)
November 12-15, 2003
Paris
- incl. links to : About ESF - Registration - Accommodation - Program - Practical Information - Around the ESF - Preparatory Process - Press - Transportation - Volunteers - Stalls - Written proceedings

From the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) :

APEC - Thailand 2003 Summit
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting is taking place on October 20 and 21 in Thailand.
Related Links:
Ministerial meeting
APEC Working for Canadians

................................................................................................

Government of Canada Celebrates NAFTA @ 10
News Release
October 6, 2003
"Minister for International Trade, Pierre Pettigrew, today released a report on the impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and launched a student multimedia contest to demonstrate the benefits of the Agreement and to encourage informed dialogue on the role of trade liberalization and the future of NAFTA. This announcement comes on the eve of the annual NAFTA Commission meeting to be held in Montreal on October 7, and as the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of NAFTA approaches, on January 1, 2004.

The comprehensive statistical report, entitled NAFTA@10: A Preliminary Report, highlights the impact of the Agreement on Canada's trade and investment performance over the past decade, using statistics available to date."

NAFTA@10: A Preliminary Report
"The NAFTA is the world's largest trade bloc with a gross domestic product (GDP), at present, of US$11.4 trillion, about one-third of the world's total and seven percentage points more
than that of the European Union."
"NAFTA @ 10 - A Preliminary Report is the first of two reports to be produced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade providing both statistics and analysis of
Canada's international trade and investment performance leading up to ten years after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and to fifteen years after the Canada-U.S. Free
Trade Agreement (FTA). A second report will be published in the spring of 2004 making use of the full ten years of data."

Pettigrew to Host NAFTA Commission Meeting in Montreal
Media Advisory
October 2, 2003
Media representatives are advised that International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will host his American and Mexican counterparts in Montreal on October 7 for the annual meeting of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Commission.
- includes an agenda, of sorts...

NAFTA Partners to Meet in Montreal in October
News Release
September 19, 2003

Canada and the North American Free Trade Agreement (A DFAIT website including the text of the NAFTA agreement and related resources)

Dying For Trade:
Why Globalization Can Be Bad for Our Health (PDF file - 306K, 35 pages)
by Ronald Labonte, PhD
September 2003
"This paper examines the impact of trade agreements on our health and health care system, and what governments can do to ensure that health and human development are not sacrificed at the altar of free trade."
Source : Centre for Social Justice

Competition Policy in the WTO and FTAA: A Trojan Horse for International Trade Negotiations?
by Marc Lee and Charles Morand
Download the PDF file (415K, 37 pages)
Read the summary of this report
Read the news release (August 29, 2003)
Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)

Also from the CCPA:

Rough Trade: A Critique of the Draft Cancun Ministerial Declaration
Download the PDF file (71K, 12 pages)
Read the News Release (September 11, 2003)

Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun - September 10-14, 2003
"Minister Pettigrew is participating in the Fifth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, which is being held from September 10 to14 in Cancun, Mexico."
Related Link:
WTO Latest Updates from DFAIT
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
World Trade Organization (WTO) website
The Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference website

Counterpoint (from Global Exchange):
Top 10 Reasons to Oppose the World Trade Organization

The worst of times
September 2, 2003
"In the first of a three-part series on trade, George Monbiot argues that the rich world's brutal diplomacy is worsening the plight of poor nations.
The world is beginning to look like France, a few years before the Revolution. There are no reliable wealth statistics from that time, but the disparities are unlikely to have been greater than they are today. The wealthiest 5% of the world's people now earn 114 times as much as the poorest 5%. The 500 richest people on earth now own $1.54 trillion - more than the entire gross domestic product of Africa, or the combined annual incomes of the poorest half of humanity."
Source: The Guardian (U.K.)
NOTE: at the bottom of this Guardian article, you'll find links to special reports (globalisation, May Day, debt relief), guides to the G8 Summit, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, related sites (e.g., G8 summit, World Economic Forum, European social forum) and other resources on globalisation.
- offers a good balanced perspective, serving up differing viewpoints on questions such as what is globalisation and whether it's good or bad.
Highly recommended!
(Just click on The worst of times and scroll to the bottom of the page)

When Worlds Collide: Implications of International Trade and Investment Agreements for Non-Profit Social Services
by Andrew Jackson and Matthew Sanger
Download Table of Contents and Introduction (PDF file - 205K, 15 pages)
Place an order for this report
Read the news release (June 16, 2003)
"When Worlds Collide: Canada's non-profit social services need to be protected in the new round of trade agreements
OTTAWA--A new study jointly released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) has concluded that government support for non-profit social services could be at risk despite Canadian government assurances that social policies will not be adversely affected by international trade obligations..."
Sources:
Canadian Council on Social Development
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

2003 Evian Summit Official Website (June 1-3, 2003)
No, it's not a summit that's sponsored by Evian, like the Dumaurier Golf Classic or something.
Evian-les-Bains is the town in France where the summit is taking place.
Useful Links - to G8 sites and organizations, incl. links to French and Swiss Government sites and sites about Evian and the Summit

Canadian Government Official G8 Website
- includes a link to the official websites of the summit for 2001 (Genoa), 2002 (Kananaskis) and 2003 (Evian)

G-8 Information Centre - University of Toronto

From The Prime Minister's website :

THE 2003 SUMMIT OF THE G8
June 3, 2003
Evian, France
"Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today expressed satisfaction that G8 Leaders came together at the Evian Summit to demonstrate their common will to strengthen the global economy, enhance sustainable development and improve international security."
- incl. a summary of summit results prepared by the Prime Minister's Office and the Summit Chair's Summary of the event

Prime Minister Announces G8 Global Partnership Projects
May 30, 2003
St. Petersburg, Russia
"Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Canada would contribute close to $149 million towards new projects under the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction initiative launched at last year's G8 Summit in Kananaskis. This is the first contribution under Canada's overall commitment of up to $1 billion over ten years toward the G8 Global Partnership"

Remarks by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien Announcing Canada's Contribution to the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass
Destruction
May 30, 2003
"Last June in Kananaskis, Alberta, Russia, Canada and other G-8 members showed their commitment to peace and security through the creation of the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. (...) Canada, for its part, will commit up to $1 billion Canadian dollars to the Global Partnership over the next ten years."

Commission for Labor Cooperation (Washington)
"The Commission for Labor Cooperation is an international organization created under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC). The NAALC is the first agreement, and the Commission is the first organization, linking labor rights and labor standards to an international trade agreement."

Income Security Programs for Workers in North America
A Reference Manual for Workers and Employers
"...summarizes the main income support programs for workers in the private sector under the laws of Canada, Mexico and the United States. The manual's objective is to provide
employees and employers with basic information regarding the main income security programs for workers provided in their respective countries."
- incl. info about : Temporary Income Support for Unemployed Workers - Injuries at Work and Job-related Illness - Maternity Leave and Sickness Unrelated to the Job - Wages and Salaries - Income Support Programs for Low-income Groups or Disabled Workers - Income Tax Credits and Other Tax Deductions
NOTE: don't bother looking here for a comparison of North American welfare systems --- Canadian social assistance and the National Child Benefit are described in section 5 ("Income Support Programs for Low-income Groups or Disabled Workers"), but Temporary Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TANF), the U.S. welfare system is only mentioned in terms of eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid and the Mexican section covers only some emergency food and health programs.

NAALC AND NAFTA LINKS
Close to 150 links to Canadian, American and Mexican sites about the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation and the North American Free Trade Agreement
- links incl. NAALC Members [Labor Departments] - National Administrative Offices - Labor Legislation - Official Statistical Resources - Federal Government Resources - NAFTA Institutions - NAFTA Resources - Statistical Sources - Trade and Treaty Resources - Multilateral Organizations [Americas / International] - Non-Governmental Organizations - Research Centers and Institutes - Labor Relations Boards - Labor Federations - Employers' Associations

PolitiquesSociales.net [Site available only in French]
"Le site PolitiquesSociales.net veut offrir aux professeur(e)s, chercheur(e)s, étudiant(e)s, membres d'ONG, journalistes et à tous ceux et celles qui s’intéressent aux politiques sociales un accès facile, direct, gratuit et permanent aux documents touchant bon nombre de politiques sociales en Amérique du Nord, dans l'Union européenne et dans les principaux pays d'Europe de l'Ouest et d'Amérique du sud. (...) Le site est produit par une petite équipe de chercheurs sous la direction d'Alain Noel au Centre de recherche sur les politiques et le développement social, de l'Université de Montréal."
Toute une gamme de thèmes à explorer, dont : politique du travail et de l'emploi - licenciements, délocalisations et zones franches - temps de travail - lutte contre la pauvreté - soutien au revenu (travail et famille) - minima sociaux (aide sociale, salaire minimum) - économie sociale et micro-crédit - cohésion sociale - investissement responsable - politique internationale - débats.
Sélection de pays : Allemagne - Argentine - Brésil - Canada - Chili - Danemark - États-Unis - France - Mexique - Pays-Bas - Québec - Royaume-Uni - Suède - Union Européenne
Source:
Centre de recherche sur les politiques et le développement social
[groupe de professeurs-chercheurs des départements de science politique, de sociologie et de disciplines connexes de l'Université de Montréal]

GATS/WTO Pusher Profile: ACCENTURE
"Identifying Characteristics: Big business consultants who are big-time privatization pushers of government services, especially social services. Makes lots of money replacing people’s jobs with machines, love to slash welfare benefits, and pillage public health care and education funds."
Source:
Corporate Campaigns (links to 19 more GATS/WTO pusher profiles)
"Corporations pushing the World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services Agenda"
Source:
Polaris Institute - "retooling citizen movements for democratic social change in an age of corporate-driven globalization."

Harnessing Globalisation for Children : A Report to UNICEF
July 2002
Fifteen PDF files, including overviews of changes in child well-being from 1980 to 2000 and proposals for a number of policy and program options to harness globalisation for children over the next two decades.
Introduction (PDF file - 15K, 3 pages)
- covers a wide range of topics, including : Changes in child wellbeing in the era of globalisation: main global trends - Child Mortality Differentials by Income Group - Source of Child Poverty Changes during the Globalisation Era - Financial Globalisation and Child Wellbeing - Globalisation and Child Labour - Liberalisation, Poverty-led Growth and Child Rights: Ecuador over 1980-2000 - Liberalisation of Utilities and Children’s Right to Basic Services: Some Evidence from Latin America - New Approaches to Harnessing Technological Progress for Children - In the best Interest of the Child: International Regulation of Transnational Corporations Widening Women’s Choices: The Case for Childcare in the Era of Globalisation - more...
Source :
United Nations Children's Fund Innocenti Research Centre (Florence, Italy)

Interdisciplinary Studies in Law: Globalization, Justice and Law
Large bibliography and almost 100 links to information about globalization and human rights
Source : Human Rights Research and Education Centre (University of Ottawa)

Canada Pledges $30 Million to Governance Centre
News Release
July 23, 2002
"John Manley, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Karen Redman, MP for Kitchener Centre, announced today that the Government of Canada will provide a $30-million grant to help fund the creation of a world-class research centre on international governance in Waterloo, Ontario. The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) will research issues concerning the stability and security of the international economic and financial system. The grant will match the $30-million contribution to be made by the Centre’s founder, Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion Limited."
Source : Finance Canada

From the Fraser Institute - "Competitive Market Solutions for Public Policy Problems"

Nobel Laureates Call on G8 to Focus on Economic Freedom
June 25, 2002
"Calgary, AB - If the G8 is serious about fighting global poverty and terrorism, it needs to focus on promoting economic freedom, say Nobel Laureates in economic sciences Milton Friedman and Gary Becker"

Economic Freedom of the World: 2002 Annual Report
June 2002
"This 6th global economic freedom report, by James Gwartney and Robert Lawson, ranks 123 nations on 37 variables with data back to 1970. Economic freedom is based on personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete, and protection of the person and property. This requires the rule of law, property rights, limited government intervention, freedom to trade, and sound money."
- incl. links to eight PDF files : Introduction and notes - Economic Freedom of the World - Index of Patent Rights - International Tax Competition - Country Data Tables (Albania to Zimbabwe)

Canada 2015: Globalization and the Future of Canada’s Health and Health Care (PDF file - 114K, 35 pages)
Michael Mendelson and Pamela Divinsky
July 2002
This report describes four scenarios for future global economic and political structures – called Global Club, Shared Governance, Cyberwave and Regional Dominators – and looks at the future of health and health care in Canada within each of these scenarios. The report is part of the ‘Future of Global and Regional Integration’ project, sponsored by the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations at Queen’s University, where the scenarios originally were developed. The report is meant to speculate not so much on what will be, as what could be, in an effort to stimulate consideration of our health system’s relationship to global futures.
Source : Caledon Institute of Social Policy

Cities and Globalization : Communities in a Changing World
Couchiching 71st Annual Summer Conference 2002
August 8–11 at Geneva Park, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
" In Canada, vibrant urban regions depend on more than municipal taxes to provide the infrastructure to support their vital contribution to national life; and yet electoral realities bias senior levels of government against the needs of cities. How are successful communities turning globalization to their advantage and mitigating its destructive effects?"
- incl. links to : An Introduction to the 2002 Conference - Speakers and Moderators - Scholarships - Conference Items for Sale - How to Get to the Conference - Secure Online Registration - Conference PDF
Source : Couchiching Online - The Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs

rabble.ca - coverage of the G8 in Kananaskis and Ottawa
ZNET - A community of people committed to social change (U.S.-based, international)
Indymedia - Independent Media Center (international)
Canadian Indymedia Calgary --- Hamilton --- Montreal --- Ontario --- Ottawa --- Québec --- Vancouver --- Windsor

G8 Activism (Canada)
"Our efforts are currently centered around preparing for challenges around the next meeting of the G8 to be held in Kananaskis, Alberta, in June of 2002."
- incl. links to : Calls to Action - What You Can Do - Calendar of Events & Meetings - Print Materials - Groups: Working groups, affinity groups, coalitions, organizations, etc. - Agendas for meetings - Minutes from meetings - Task List: Various things you can do to help - Web-Links: G8 related info - E-mail Lists: Announcements, planning, discussion, groups, etc
Links - almost 50 links to related sites

Global Democracy Ottawa (formerly the Ottawa Coalition to Stop the FTAA)
- incl. links to Ottawa G8 events, meetings, groups, etc.

G6B People's Summit
"On June 26 & 27, 2002, the leaders of the world's most industrialized countries, the G8, will meet in Kananaskis, Alberta. They will make critical decisions that will have global impact. Past G8 Summits have consistently failed to offer an effective means for individuals, civil society or even other states, to provide inputâ to, or engage in, meaningful dialogue with G8 leaders. We believe, therefore, that an alternative forum, offering a means for the views and concerns of all of the world's peoples to be expressed and considered, is sorely needed.
As such, from June 21-25, 2002, the G6B (Group of 6 Billion -- reflecting the entire global citizenry) will be held in Calgary, offering a forum to generate and discuss ideas and solutions that will promote economic activities that are beneficial to people living in all parts of our world, but that also reflect full respect for human rights and the environment."
Draft Agenda
Source : International Society for Peace and Human Rights (ISPHR) [Alberta-based NGO]
ISPHR has taken the lead in organizing this conference and is working with a steering committee made up of other national and local organizations including; Amnesty International, Partnership Africa Canada, Rights & Democracy, CLC, RESULTS, University of Calgary G8 office, and the Calgary African Community.

Africa Shortchanged: The Global Fund and the G8 Agenda
June 20, 2002
by Marc Lee
Download this report (PDF file - 53K, 4 pages)
Read the news release
"When G8 leaders meet next week in Kananaskis, the plight of Africa will be at the top of their agenda. They are expected to unveil an action plan in response to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a proposal for more Western development aid advanced by three prominent African leaders. Many civil society organizations in Africa, however, disagree with the direction and strategy of the NEPAD plan. They would prefer a much greater and more generously funded effort to fight the preventable diseases that are ravaging their continent."
Source : Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office

The North-South Institute releases briefing paper on the G-8 and NEPAD
Institute calls for dialogue with civil society and monitoring of donor countries
Press Release
June 12th, 2002
"OTTAWA -- In a 13-page policy brief released today, The North-South Institute is calling on G-8 leaders, who will meet in Kananaskis, Canada

G8/Globalization

G8/La mondialisation