Canadian Policy Choices

What Canada should do now.

NGOs Appeal to PM Harper to Protect Congolese Civilians

Canada must press the UN Security Council to deploy more peacekeepers under MONUC. Civilians are in dire need of protection against conflict driven sexual violence. Canada must support efforts to combat sexual violence and related humanitarian issues in the DRC.

IO / NGO Report: Amnesty International (Canada)

Canada: Key Player in DR Congo Peace Building Process

Canada must play a significant role in ensuring that democratic elections will lead to peace building in the DRC. Canada has a strong presence in the country, but it has been a predominantly negative one. As a nation promoting peace through democracy, Canada must discourage the illegal trade in weapons, work to control armed groups in the region, and hold Canadian mining companies accountable for contributing to human rights violations.

IO / NGO Report: Kairos Canada

Diefenbaker and the Congo: UN or NATO

Prime Minister Diefenbaker chose the United Nations mandate as foreign policy in the Congo through the United Nations 1960 to 1964 “ONUC” mission over conflicting obligations to a colonial focused NATO, a Cold War focused United States, direct intervention requests from the Congo, Canadian public opinion, and some Canadian corporate interests. In this way, Canadian impartiality was maintained.

Book: UBC Press, 2009

OECD and Canadian Mining Companies

This article evaluates Canadian mining companies in DRC according to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprise implemented in 2000. Many companies have failed to adhere to these guidelines intended to promote better business ethics.

Magazine: Corporate Knights Magazine

Canada's Responsibility to the Women of the DRC

More oversight is needed of the actions of Canadian mining companies in the DRC. Canada must live up to its social responsibilities and ensure the effective distribution of aid. The lack of punishment of DRC war criminals and rapists must also be addressed.

IO / NGO Report: Africa Canda Accountability Coalition (ACAC)

Canada Needs to Lobby United Nations Security Council

The MONUC mission needs more resources and an adjusted mandate to better protect civilians. As the situation in the Congo improves, the mission needs to adjust to reconstruction.

Government Report: The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Corporate Responsibility in the DRC: Anvil Mining Facilitates Development

Anvil Mining is contributing to economic and social revival following conflict in the DRC. There are under-reported positive implications of Canadian corporate involvment in Africa.

IO / NGO Report: Anvil Mining 2007 Report

Canadian Mining Firms Must be Accountable, Committee Says

A Parliamentary Committee noted the possible rights violations by Canadian mining firms in developing countries. It called on the government to enforce and incentivize compliance with international and domestic law. It Urged a wide-ranging process to strengthen or establish related programs and regulations.

Government Report: House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada

Canada in Need of "Strategic Blueprint" for Humanitarian Interventions

An approach centred on defence, diplomacy, and development needs to be complimented with an emphasis on niches, norms, and networks. The 1996 mission to Zaire shows that a less bureaucratic and more contextualized strategy is necessary.

Book: The Centre for International Governance Innovation

Canada Must Renew Its Commitment

Canada must reform its policy process to curb waning financial support for peace-building initiatives. It should exert its full diplomatic influence in favor of the Nairobi Communiqué, promote confidence-building measures, and support sexual violence programs.

IO / NGO Report: Canadian Council for International Co-operation

Canada Must Take Action Now in the DRC

Canada should take the lead on UN efforts in the DRC and undertake new initiatives, including increased aid. The international community is guilty of neglecting the crisis. A recent upsurge of violence has displaced over 250,000 people.

Op-Ed Piece: Global Currents

Canada Takes a Multipronged Approach in Congo

Canada’s commitment to peace is diversified through multilateral and bilateral channels. This report tracks various peace-building initiatives since 1999. Canada maintains token involvement in the strategic periphery.

Government Report: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Congolese Desperate for Peace; Canadian Support Waning.

Despite previous and current Canadian peacekeeping support in the Democratic Republic of Congo, local civil society groups claim decreasing Canadian financial and political support for the DRC as of late. The report provides a comprehensive guide of perceived, actual, and recommended Canadian involvement in the DRC.

IO / NGO Report: Canadian Council for International Co-operation

Canadian Company Extracts Gold from the DRC

Banro Corporation, based in Toronto, is seeking to raise funds for researching and initiating gold extraction in South Kivu. Banro's exploitation can possibly lead to another resource war or internal conflicts similar to the rebel uprising caused by the Anvil Mining in 2004. Yet, the Canadian government seems indifferent to the situation, claiming \"there's no legal mechanism in place.\"

IO / NGO Report: globalpolicy.org