Canada
The Government of Canada supports the EITI International Secretariat through Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). It also supports EITI Implementing countries directly through Global Affairs Canada. NRCan develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy, improve the quality of life for all Canadians and conduct innovative research in facilities across Canada to generate ideas and transfer technologies. In coordination with Global Affairs Canada, NRCan also represents Canada internationally to advance responsible, inclusive and sustainable natural resource governance and management. Global Affairs Canada assists developing countries in acquiring knowledge and strengthening institutions, laws and policies to manage natural resources in a transparent, inclusive and sustainable way.
Engagement with the EITI
Canada has been an EITI supporting country since 2007. Natural Resources Canada has contributed over USD 1 million to the EITI International Secretariat from 2007 to 2019. Canada is a member of the EITI Board and chaired the Validation Committee from June 2019 to July 2020.
Canada’s Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA) entered into force on 1 June 2015. ESTMA requires that companies operating in Canada or listed on a Canadian stock exchange disclose payments to governments in Canada and abroad. This disclosure delivers on Canada’s international commitments to contribute to global efforts to increase transparency and deter corruption in the extractive sector.
In 2019, Canada hosted the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit and supports the EITI, as well as the OGP in their important collaboration.
Support for EITI implementing countries
Global Affairs Canada supports EITI implementing countries through bilateral and multilateral funding. Canada is advancing a gender approach in natural resource governance and management, which involves addressing the barriers that prevent women and marginalised people from benefiting from natural resources and taking part in decisions as to how they are used.
Between 2007 and 2015 Canada provided a total of USD 12.5 million to the World Bank’s EITI multi-donor trust fund (EITI-MDTF) and USD 10 million to the Extractives Industries Technical Advisory Facility (EI-TAF). In 2016, Canada reprofiled USD 4.5 million from the EITI MDTF and EI-TAF to the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) multi-donor trust fund. The EGPS MDTF replaced the two previous funds.
From 2014 to 2020, Canada also supported the EITI through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through a contribution of CAN 10 million to the IDB’s Transparency Fund and CAN 20 million to the IDB’s Canadian Facility for the Extractive Sector.
Global Affairs Canada also provides bilateral funding to EITI implementing countries. In 2013, the G7 established the Partnerships for Extractives Transparency to support extractive transparency reforms in key countries, including EITI implementing countries. Canada took on the G7 Partnership lead in Tanzania and Peru between 2013 and 2017.
From 2007 to 2020, Canada has supported the implementation of the EITI Standard in Indonesia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Philippines, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Uganda.