Ottawa's tracking of investment in Burma criticized

The Star May 01, 2008

Failure to monitor Canadian business activities `duplicitous,' New Democrat MP says

Ottawa–The federal government does not keep track of Canadian investment in Burma despite having imposed stricter economic sanctions against the state after the military junta crushed pro-democratic protests last year.

"There is no requirement for Canadian companies to register their business activities with the department," the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade wrote in a document released to New Democrat foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre).

Canada tightened sanctions against Burma with much fanfare last November after images of the military violently repressing chanting monks in saffron robes were broadcast around the world.

The stricter sanctions include a ban on all non-humanitarian imports and exports between the two countries and prohibition of new investments in Burma by Canadian companies and individuals. There were already concerns the sanctions were largely a symbolic gesture, as trade between the two countries has fallen drastically in recent years.

When Dewar filed a formal request, the foreign affairs department acknowledged it has no sure way of knowing the extent of Canadian investment in Burma.

"It's duplicitous, because it leaves people with the idea that there is something being done when, in effect, there is nothing being done," Dewar said in an interview.

The department said it only keeps a confidential "informal list," put together using information from non-governmental organizations, the Canadian embassy in Thailand, public databases and imports data collected by Statistics Canada.

Dewar said he filed his formal information request when answers from department officials conflicted with information given by the non-governmental organizations invited to speak about Burma at the foreign affairs committee.

Peter McGovern, the department's director general for bilateral commercial relations in Asia and the Americas, told the committee on Jan. 31 the number of direct investors "is probably zero."

But Canadian Friends of Burma executive director Tin Maung Htoo told the committee on April 8 his group's research shows the Canada Pension Plan "holds more than $1 billion worth of shares with companies linked to Burma."

Source