Bill C-204

1st Session, 39th Parliament,

55 Elizabeth II, 2006

house of commons of canada

BILL C-204

An Act respecting the provision of development assistance by the Canadian International Development Agency and other federal bodies

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Development Assistance Conditions and Accountability Act.

PURPOSE

2. (1) The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all Canadian development assistance abroad is provided with a central focus on poverty reduction and in a manner consistent with Canadian values, Canadian foreign policy and international human rights standards.

(2) All Canadian development activities abroad shall be provided in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, that is, development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

INTERPRETATION

3. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“competent minister” means any minister des­ignated by the Governor in Council to provide development assistance.

“development assistance” means official development assistance as defined by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

“international agency” means any intergov-ernmental organization whose objectives include global poverty reduction or international humanitarian assistance.

“Minister” means the Minister of International Cooperation.

“non-governmental organization” means a not-for-profit or charitable organization whose governing structure is independent of government direction and whose objectives include global poverty reduction or international humanitarian assistance.

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

4. (1) Development assistance may be provided only if the competent minister is of the opinion that it

(a) contributes to poverty reduction;

(b) takes into account the perspectives of the poor; and

(c) is consistent with Canada’s international human rights obligations.

(2) In arriving at the opinion described in subsection (1), the competent minister may consult with international agencies and Canadian non-governmental organizations.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

5. The competent minister may provide any person, body or agency with assistance for the purpose of alleviating the effects of a natural or artificial disaster or other emergency occurring outside Canada.

REPORTS

6. (1) The Minister, after consultation with every competent minister, shall cause to be submitted to each House of Parliament, within six months after the termination of each fiscal year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the first five days next thereafter that the House is sitting, a report containing

(a) a description of any activity or initiative taken under this Act;

(b) a summary of the annual report submitted under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act;

(c) a summary of any representation made by Canadian representatives with respect to priorities and policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and

(d) a summary of the Departmental Performance Report of the Canadian International Development Agency.

(2) The Minister shall issue a statistical report on the disbursement of development assistance within one year after the end of each fiscal year.

7. The Minister of Finance shall cause to be submitted to each House of Parliament, on or before September 30 in each year or, if that House is not then sitting, on any of the thirty days next thereafter that the House is sitting, a report containing

(a) a summary of operations under this Act;

(b) a summary of any representation made by Canadian representatives with respect to the priorities and policies of the Bretton Woods Institutions;

(c) a summary of the manner in which Canada’s activities under the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act have contributed to carrying out the purposes of this Act; and

(d) details of any operation that has directly affected Canada, including, but not limited to, the resources and lending of the World Bank Group, the funds subscribed or contributed by Canada, borrowings in Canada and procurement of Canadian goods and services.