Canada's Bill C-300 with extractive industry guidelines narrowly defeated

(ECA Watch, Ottawa, 28 October 2010) The Bill sought to ensure that Canadian extractive companies that operate in developing countries and receive funding from the Government of Canada, including the Export Development Corporation (EDC), comply with internationally agreed upon human rights and environmental standards. A strong movement of NGOs, churches, parliamentarians, academics and individual Canadians was built to promote the Bill and it's very narrow defeat (140 votes against vs 134 for) indicates the strength of Canadian support for these values despite the all out effort by Canadian industry lobbyists to defeat the bill.