Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is concerned with the effect that corporations and their activities have on the welfare of people and the environment. The church’s involvement in CSR initiatives has included encouraging economic advocacy for justice and peacemaking (e.g. resisting apartheid in South Africa) and shareholder advocacy – using the church’s role as a shareholder in particular corporations to advocate with those corporations regarding human rights violations they are involved in and environmental protections they should pursue. Regarding our own social responsibility, church policy prohibits church investment in gambling or weapons manufacturing companies (e.g. through the pension fund).
Principles General Assembly has endorsed:
- As part of its mission, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has a role in promoting the social responsibility of business corporations and other economic institutions. In exercising its right and duty to encourage these institutions to consider the full impact of their operations on the well-being of the communities they affect, the Church attempts to use its own resources to reflect the glory of God. (A&P 1981, 311)
- As one institution among many others in the world, the Church must examine its own activities and operations to see that it is using its resources to serve the needs of justice in society to the glory of God. In particular, this involves an examination of how the Church, through its courts, agencies and members, invests its money and exercises its role as a shareholder and/or customer of corporations. (A&P 1981, p. 311)
Select actions of the church:
2025: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that individuals, groups and organizations within The Presbyterian Church in Canada utilize readily available and effective tools for peace provided in the report of the International Affairs Committee to the 2025 General Assembly and its referenced sources about concrete actions to take related to boycotting goods and services (including financial investments) that support the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory and resultant economic oppression of the Palestinian people. (A&P 2025, pp. 151, 22) Please visit “A Just and Lasting Peace: Palestine-Israel” for information about the church’s response to the current conflict and its impacts.
2016: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the moderator request information from a church partner in the region about the impact of Goldcorp’s Marlin mine. (Background: The PCC was engaged in shareholder dialogue with Canadian mining company Goldcorp regarding human rights violations at its Marlin mine in Guatemala. The church owned shares in Goldcorp and had partners in the region impacted by the mine’s operations. The mine closed in 2017. The church’s participation this dialogue ended in 2019 when Goldcorp was sold to an American company.) (A&P 2016, pp. 316, 23)
2015: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that Presbyterians write to their Member of Parliament in support of the “Open for Justice” campaign. (Background: This campaign encouraged the government to establish an extractive sector ombudsman with the power to independently investigate complaints and to make recommendations to corporations. The ombudsman was also intended as a point of access to the Canadian courts by individuals and communities in the Global South alleging harm by Canadian mining companies) (A&P 2015, pp. 384, 18)
2012: General Assembly adopted a report that considered the activities of Canadian mining companies abroad (in which the church had investments) in situations where there is conflict or human rights violations. General Assembly adopted recommendations that the moderator write to: Barrick Gold regarding the impact of human rights training and conflict minimization protocols for staff and security personnel at the North Mara mine in Tanzania and that the church engage in dialogue with Goldcorp pertaining to allegations of human rights abuses at the Marlin mine in Guatemala. (A&P 2012, pp. 278-9, 25)
General Assembly adopted recommendations that the moderator write: 1) to the government of Canada urging that Canada become an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative compliant country; and 2) to Barrick Gold and Goldcorp to affirm their participation in EITI and urge compliance with the regime. General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the church write to Canadian mining companies it had investments in about participating in EITI. (Background: EITI is an international voluntary regime encouraging transparency and disclosure of financial and other information by extractive companies and the countries they operate in.) (A&P 2012: pp. 281-2, 25, 29)
2011: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the Moderator write to Goldcorp Inc. asking for information on the company’s policies for dealing with allegations of human rights abuses and/or environmental degradation, and encouraging Goldcorp’s co-operation with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with regard to its Marlin mine operations in Guatemala. (A&P 2011, pp. 290-2, 17)
2003: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the Moderator write to and recommend that the Government of Canada be asked not to wait for an international approach, but to bring forward legislation governing corporate activity in countries where human rights are systematically violated. (A&P 2003, 322, 15)
2002: General Assembly adopted a report considering the war in Sudan and the impact of activities of the Canadian petroleum company, Talisman Energy, operating there. General Assembly adopted recommendations that: the church retain a minimum number of shares in Talisman to permit taking part in shareholder activities to pressure the corporation to withdraw from Sudan until there is a just peace and that, should divestment be warranted, a divestment strategy be developed in collaboration with other church organizations.
Recommendations were adopted that: the moderator write to the Government of Canada recommending the Government set limits to corporate activities in countries where human rights are systemically violated and asking the Government to reconsider investment of the Canada Pension Plan in Talisman. Additional recommendations sought the Moderator to continue communicating the church’s concerns to Talisman Energy and heed the call of churches in Sudan that Talisman suspend its activities until there is a just and lasting peace. The Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod was thanked for its engagement with officials at Talisman Energy. (A&P 2002, pp. 284, 17)
2001: General Assembly adopted a report on the war in Sudan and the impact of activities in the region by Canadian petroleum company, Talisman Energy. General Assembly adopted recommendations that: the church retain a minimum of shares in Talisman so that it may fulfill its shareholder responsibilities to act with other churches in seeking to pressure the corporation to withdraw from Sudan until there is a just peace and that should divestment be warranted, a divestment strategy be developed in collaboration with other denominations and encouraging congregations holding Talisman shares to encourage Talisman to suspend operations in Sudan until there is a just peace. (A&P 2001, pp. 324-5, 20)
General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the moderator write to the Government of Canada about human rights violations in Sudan and encouraging that Canada enact legislation restricting Canadian investment in countries where there are conflicts and where human rights are systemically violated. (A&P 2001: pp. 325, 20)
1994: General Assembly requested the Finance Committee to consider increasing the church’s contribution to the Ecumenical Development Co-operative Society. (Background: Renamed Oikocredit, this ecumenical organization receives investment capital from individuals and churches to provide loans for cooperative self-development enterprises through partners in countries with lower income.)
1981: General Assembly adopted a set of Ethical Guidelines for investments, which considered the rights and needs of employees; company responsibilities for economic development and social and environmental conditions in the communities in which they operate; company responsibilities concerning civil, political and religious liberties of the community or county in which they operate; and company social responsibility in the production and marketing of products. The guidelines include options for action. General Assembly also adopted a recommendation that the guidelines be distributed to congregations and agencies of The PCC for information and implementation. (A&P 1981, pp. 311-4, 97)
General Assembly adopted a comprehensive resolution on investment in South Africa in the context of opposing apartheid. The resolution outlined several requests to the Government of Canada to discourage new and expanding investment in South Africa (e.g. through specific revisions to Export Development Canada policies and the Canadian Code of Conduct for Canadian companies operating in South Africa). The resolution called on the Canadian private sector to be “actively non-supportive of apartheid polices” and outlined practices to do so (e.g. promoting the formation of Black trade unions and bargaining with them). Other clauses in the resolutions outlined a call for suspending direct or indirect financial investment in South Africa until apartheid is ended. (A&P 1981, pp. 314-16, 97)
General Assembly adopted a statement urging the church’s: “agencies, congregations and members to become informed about the issue of the marketing practice of certain infant feeding formula companies in the Third World in the light of the condemnation of those practices by the World Health Organization and to engage in such appropriate action as participating in the boycott of the Nestle company and its subsidiaries.” (A&P 1981, pp. 50-1, 111)
1978: The Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments reported to General Assembly that it was unable to comply with the 1977 request to recommend actions towards just employment practices due to insufficient capacity and resources to do the requisite studies. General Assembly was referred to the work of the ecumenical Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility (TCCR). (A&P 1978, pp. 210, 72)
1977: General Assembly asked the Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments “to recommend actions towards just employment practices by such companies as have direct activity and/or influence in countries which have declared or apparent discriminatory policies, particularly South Africa”. General Assembly adopted a recommendation to request that the Government of Canada “reconsider the extent of its program of trade promotion in South Africa in relation to the need of other African states for trade facilities.” (A&P 1977, pp. 373, 82)
1973: General Assembly adopted investment guidelines and mandated that a Administrative Council sub-committee be set up for continued study and action relating to corporate social responsibility and engagement. Congregations and church bodies having investments were encouraged to examine them in the light of the guidelines. (A&P 1973, pp. 389-91, 63)
Economic Crisis
- Social welfare and economic development and progress, rather than being competing elements, are intimately related and interdependent. Governments should not seek to secure recovery from economic crisis through the neglect of those very citizens and communities for whom they exist. (A&P 1982, pp 318-319, 77)
2020: The church wrote the Government of Canada advocating that guaranteed basic income would increase economic equality while providing crucial assistance to vulnerable people and mitigating some of the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
1992: General Assembly urged federal and provincial governments to examine means other than curtailing social programs as more appropriate ways of stimulating economic recovery, for example: tax reform, energy conservation and conversion of military expenditure. (1992, pp. 308-309, 45)
1987: General Assembly urged the federal and provincial governments to study the economic crisis in family farming with a view to preserving the family farm and maintaining prime agricultural land for agricultural purposes, and to find ways and means for farmers to receive a fairer share of the overall price of food products. It also encouraged presbyteries and congregations to educate members about the economic crisis in agriculture and to promote dialogue between farmers and consumers. (A&P 1987, pp. 326-328, 51)
1984: General Assembly adopted a report and provided a list of denominational and ecumenical resources for congregations about the ethical aspects of economic concerns in the wake of a statement on the subject by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. (A&P 1984, pp. 368-369, 46)
1982: General Assembly adopted two statements on the economic crisis: one calling for action by the courts of the church and another on government cutbacks in social programs which was sent to federal and provincial political leaders. (A&P 1982, pp 318-319, 77)
Foreign Aid and Debt (Development Assistance – ODA)
- The rich are not to profit at the expense of the poor, nor are the poor to be left without means of improving their situation. (A&P 1989, pp. 378-382, 64)
- Humanitarian, rather than political or economic, interests should determine Canadian development aid. Eligibility for Canadian aid should not be tied to acceptance of structural adjustment programs. (A&P 1992, pp. 331-341, 41)
- Canadian development aid should not be considered as discretionary spending. The recovery of the global economy (from recession) should not be at the expense of vulnerable people in the Global South. (A&P 2010, pp. 405-6, 17)
- The Government of Canada should make a serious commitment to meeting the United Nations target of contributing 0.7 % of Gross Domestic Product to Overseas Development Assistance. (A&P 2003, pp. 302-304, 308, 15)
- Countries should be expected to carry only that level of debt payment that is compatible with an ability to provide for the basic human needs of their people. Heavily indebted. The debt of the poorest countries, specifically those of sub-Saharan Africa, should be eliminated. (A&P 1989, pp. 378-382, 64)
- International financial institutions (International Monetary Fund or IMF and World Bank) should be allowed to cancel or reschedule the debts of countries in the Global South. (A&P 1994, pp. 301-313, 36-38, 67)
- The Government of Canada should oppose the mandatory privatization of water systems as a condition for receiving loans from the IMF and the World Bank. (A&P 2005, pp. 294-307, 14-15)
2025: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that, given the increasing humanitarian needs in the world and the pressures to drastically reduce aid budgets, that a letter from the moderator be sent to the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, reaffirming the importance of international cooperation, development aid and humanitarian assistance and that it continues to allocate increasing budget amounts to reach at least 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product. (A&P 2025, pp. 245, 27) The moderator sent a letter of greeting to the People’s Forum of the ecumenical Jubilee 2025 campaign in support of advocating for cancelling unjust development-related debt, establishment of a mechanism for debt resolution within the United Nations, and to prevent future cycles of unsustainable debt.
2019: General Assembly advocated with the Government of Canada requesting that the government increase its official development assistance to 0.35% of gross national income (GNI) by 2020 as a step to meet the long-established, internationally-agreed upon target of 0.7% of GNI as part of the implementation framework for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the Agenda is part of the Sustainable Development Goals, which are a follow up to the Millennium Development Goals. These Goals are an international commitment to work together to address global poverty and meet human rights commitments not just in developing, but in all countries). General Assembly also advocated that the Government of Canada continue to provide the public with a breakdown of its annual contribution to the World Bank’s aid budget. Presbyterians were encouraged to participate in the “I Care” Campaign by signing and sending cards to the Government of Canada, requesting increased levels of ODA. (A&P 2019, pp. 29-30, 286-288)
2018: General Assembly advocated for a ten-year timetable of predictable increases to its foreign aid and with the target of meeting the target of 0.7 % of GNI. (A&P 2018, pp. 407, 14)
2016: General Assembly advocated that for increases to Canadian aid and encouraging that Canada’s ODA policies are consistent with the values and goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). General Assembly encouraged congregations to review the SDGs as a means of evaluating the conduct of Canadian development priorities. (A&P 2016, pp. 314-315, 23)
2014: General Assembly advocated that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs hold public hearings on the future of Canadian aid. (A&P 2014, pp. 281-292, 22)
2010: General Assembly advocated that Canada’s aid target be 0.7% of GNI and that a plan be developed to reach this target by 2015, in line with the United Nations target for donors to support the Millennium Development Goals. (A&P 2010, pp. 405-6, 17)
2006: General Assembly called on the Government of Canada to promote public health measures (e.g. immunization programs, sewage systems, programs to assure clean air and water, social programs to promote health and wellbeing) as a necessary component for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and to direct its development branch, now called Global Affairs Canada, to support projects that strengthen the public health sector. (A&P 2006, pp. 273, 15)
2005: General Assembly urged the Government of Canada to oppose mandatory privatization of water systems as a condition for receiving loans from the IMF and the World Bank. (A&P 2005, pp. 294-307, 14-15)
Background Information: In the latter half of the 1900s, poor countries borrowed huge amounts of money from international creditors (e.g. developed countries as well as the IMF and World Bank) to accelerate industrialization processes. By the 1980s the debt owed had ballooned beyond the earning capacity of many indebted nations. There were international campaigns and calls for debt forgiveness and processes to renegotiate the terms of debts for poor countries. Structural adjustment programs refer to a set of economic reforms favoring lower government spending (in the indebted nation) and free trade policies as a part of loan criteria. The church participated in this international call for debt forgiveness throughout the 1990s.
2004: General Assembly advocated with the federal government to re-evaluate the Heavily Indebted Poor Country process to assure more timely and adequate debt relief and take a leadership role in establishing an international debt arbitration tribunal with authority to investigate claims that repaying debt at current levels would violate the rights of citizens in the debtor nation (because, for example, a country cannot afford to pay for both its debt and essential services) and mandate a reduction or cancellation of debt, and support the development of measures to adjudicate appeals for the cancellation of other types of odious debt. (Odious debt refers to debt incurred by a despotic regime to strengthen its power and repress opposition rather than for the general benefit of all its citizens. Some expert legal opinion holds that such debt falls with the regime and is not a national obligation for the government which succeeds it.) (A&P 2004, p. 318)
2000: General Assembly advocated for government and church support of the Jubilee Initiate (a campaign advocating for debt forgiveness). (A&P 2000, pp. 290-291, 19)
1999: General Assembly sent a message of prayer and support to partners in Malawi and encouraged Presbyterians to meet with their federal MPs and advocate for debt cancellation for the 50 poorest countries. (A&P 1999, pp. 278-282, 45)
1995: General Assembly wrote to global ecumenical partners conveying prayers and support for their faith and work in the face of economic crisis and called on the government not to make further aid or debt remission conditional on the adoption of structural adjustment programs by severely indebted low-income nations and advocate for similar policies by international lenders. General Assembly called on the Canadian government to support continued reform of the World Bank to ensure that its projects become more participatory, accountable, ecologically sensitive and relevant to the needs of local populations. (A&P 1995, pp. 250-262, 33)
1992: General Assembly urged the Government of Canada to reverse foreign policies trending toward decreasing foreign aid and that participation in structural adjustment programs not be a pre-condition for receiving Canadian governmental aid. (A&P 1992, pp. 331-341, 41)
1989: General Assembly affirmed the necessity of reducing and eliminating the debts of heavily indebted countries and made specific recommendations to the Government of Canada about how this might be done. (A&P 1989, pp. 378-382, 64)
1986: General Assembly advocated to the Government of Canada to seek means of overcoming the overwhelming financial indebtedness of Latin American nations. (A&P 1986, pp. 370-373, 56).
1985: General Assembly commended the federal and provincial governments which had responded to the African famine crisis and thanked Presbyterians who responded to PWS&D’s African famine appeal. Congregations and presbyteries were urged to study food aid issues in the context of our responsibility to share the world’s resources with all people. General Assembly asked the Government of Canada, as it developed policies on foreign aid, international trade and domestic agricultural policies, to consider the needs of citizens, as well as governments, to be self-sufficient in food production. (A&P 1985, pp. 346-347, 33, 406-410, 25-26)
1984: General Assembly called for government support of humanitarian aid programs to Vietnam, noting that in the decade following the end of the war, the country’s efforts to rebuild were further hampered by severe natural disasters including cyclones and floods. Churches and other humanitarian agencies had been assisting, but there was little government assistance. (A&P 1984, pp. 390, 39)
1985: General Assembly asked the Government of Canada, as it developed policies on foreign aid, international trade and domestic agricultural policies to consider the needs of citizens, as well as governments, to be self-sufficient in food production, and to reconsider its decision to postpone achieving the goal of raising overseas development assistance to 0.7% of the Gross National Product. (A&P 1985, pp. 346-347, 33, 406-410, 25-26)
1974: General Assembly asked that Canadian bilateral aid to Sudan be renewed to assist in post-war development (following the end of a 17-year civil war during which time aid was channeled through non-governmental organizations). (A&P 1974, p. 284, 285, 45)
1972: General Assembly commended the Government for its rehabilitation program in Bangladesh. (A&P 1972, p. 61)
1971: General Assembly recorded its “profound dismay at the vast man-made disaster in East Pakistan” and advocated for relief efforts and political efforts to resolve the situation. (Until 1971 Bangladesh was East Pakistan even though it was separated from West Pakistan culturally, linguistically and physically by the nation of India. East Pakistan’s movement for independence brought a swift and brutal response from the government in which thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands became refugees). (A&P 1971, p. 57)
1958: General Assembly recommended all political parties be informed “of the fact that our Christian conscience is disturbed by the presence in this land of surplus grain and the lack of food in other areas of the world; and that we urge them to take whatever steps are possible to remedy this situation.” (A&P 1958, pp. 260, 75)
1953: General Assembly encouraged the federal government to increase financial support to assist underdeveloped areas of the world to achieve a higher standard of living. (A&P 1953, p. 67)
Gambling and Lotteries
The church is opposed to gambling and lotteries (A&P 1954, pp 262, 41) and has encouraged Presbyterians to “resist the temptation to participate in government lotteries, and indeed, in all other forms of gambling” (A&P 1990, p. 250, 57). Congregations and all courts of the church have been urged to resist applying for and receiving funds from government foundations or agencies whose primary source of funds are revenues from gambling, as doing so is participating in gambling. (A&P 2003, pp. 368, 43) The church’s investment policy also prohibits church investment in gambling companies (e.g. through the pension fund).
2003: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that congregations be urged to resist participation in gambling through resisting applying for and receiving funds from government foundations or agencies whose primary source of funds is gambling. (A&P 2003, pp. 367-368, 42-43)
1999: General Assembly received the report of the LMA (Justice Ministries) on its efforts to oppose the expansion of gambling. With other denominations, the LMA presented the church’s policies on gambling to the Ontario government, supported community groups resisting the establishment of permanent charity casinos in their municipalities and called on the federal government to establish a task force to review the impact of state-sponsored gambling. General Assembly adopted a recommendation encouraging presbyteries to write to provincial governments concerning the church’s opposition to video lottery terminals, other forms of electronic gambling, and the proposed introduction of dice games and betting on cruise ships. A recommendation was also adopted that the Moderator write the Prime Minister recommending that the government establish a federal task force to assess the social, ethical, legal and economic impacts of the expansion of gambling. (A&P 1999, pp. 325-326, 18)
1990: General Assembly approved an updated statement on gambling and lotteries which reviewed the theological and social basis for refusing to participate in lotteries. (A&P 1990, pp. 249-250, 57)
1980: General Assembly adopted a recommendation that synods, presbyteries and congregations communicate with their respective provincial governments using the statement opposing government-run lotteries approved by the 1976 General Assembly. (A&P 1980, pp. 289, 107)
1976: General Assembly adopted a statement opposing lotteries, with particular attention on government-run lotteries, for study and action by presbyteries and congregations. (A&P 1976, pp. 345-347, 60)
1967: General Assembly called for a study of the phenomenon of “bonanza merchandizing” (e.g. attracting customers with giveaways or other loyalty points or programs) with a view to seeking legislation to curtail it in every province. (A&P 1967, pp. 333-334, 340, 98)
1954: General Assembly adopted a short statement opposing gambling and lotteries that was included in a brief to a parliamentary group studying possible revisions to the Criminal Code, including the section on lotteries. (A&P 1954, pp. 262, 41)
Taxation
- Taxation is a moral issue. Churches have the duty to question the government about the effect of taxation on society as a whole, groups within society, and individuals. (A&P 1987, pp. 322-325, 22)
- Those whose income places them below the poverty line should not be required to pay income tax. (A&P 1989, pp. 348-349, 62)
1995: General Assembly urged the Government of Canada to review the tax system to eliminate unfair tax exemptions and deferrals so that all Canadians contribute fairly to the costs of maintaining public services. (A&P 1995, pp. 297-304, 30-31)
1990: General Assembly expressed concern over the effects of a regressive tax (all income earners pay the same amount of tax) such as the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST), and requested a thorough review of the whole tax system, including substantive discussion of a wealth tax, a capital gains tax, restoration of more progressivity (systems using a sliding scale of taxation at which higher income earners are taxed at a higher rate) to personal income tax, effective collection of corporate tax, reform of the existing manufacturer’s tax, reducing loopholes, preferences and special arrangements in the income tax system. (A&P 1990, pp. 396-370, 51)
1989: General Assembly urged the Government of Canada to adopt the principle that Canadians whose incomes place them below the poverty line should not be required to pay income tax and to direct future changes in the tax system toward making this principle a reality. (A&P 1989, pp. 348-9, 62)
1987: General Assembly called on the federal Finance minister to ensure a fair and equitable tax system, to establish a national standard for federal sales tax relief, taking into consideration regional disparities in income and living conditions, and not to replace lower personal income tax with increased or more comprehensive sales taxes. (A&P 1987 322-25, 22)
1982: General Assembly approved support for the proposal of the National Voluntary Organizations Coalition that the $100 standard deduction for charitable donations be replaced with a tax credit to be deducted from tax payable. This would not only place charitable donations on an equitable basis with donations to political parties; it would also remove the regressive nature of charitable tax deductions which made the cost of a charitable donation more expensive for low income households than for higher income households. (A&P 1982, pp. 208-9)
Trade agreements
Trade agreements between or among nations have significant social and justice implications. While an agreement’s success or failure is often measured largely by economic growth, other important context and consequences are also vital to consider. In trade agreements as in all areas, the church advocates for social welfare, human rights and environmental protections to be respected.
- Trade agreements can lead to economic growth, but this should not be the only measure of success. Trade agreements should include a regular review process to assess the human impact of the agreements. (A&P 2007, pp. 280-281, 15)
- Trade agreements should incorporate the following as essential principles:
- Democracy and participation: citizens should actively participate in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of any trade agreements.
- Sovereignty and social welfare: individual countries should maintain the power to take care of their citizens in the short and long term.
- Reduce inequalities: all agreements should contain measures to reduce inequalities within and among nations, between women and men, and among races.
- Sustainability: Trade agreements should give priority to the quality of development, which implies establishing social and environmental limits to growth. (A&P 1999, pp. 278, 45)
- Canada has a moral responsibility to develop trade agreements which are in keeping with the basic ethical demands for global justice and peace. (A&P 1988, pp. 369)
- Social welfare programs should not be negotiable in trade talks. (A&P 1987, pp. 345-349, 33)
2022: General Assembly adopted a report with a section on global vaccine equity and the COVID-19 pandemic. (A&P 2022, pp 141-2) The moderator wrote to the Government of Canada asking the government to support the temporary Trade Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver, presented to the World Trade Organization to reduce barrier to low- and middle-income countries accessing COVID vaccines. (Background: The waiver sought to remove trade agreement barriers that limited the access of low-income countries to Covid vaccinations and was part of the church’s participation in the “Love my Neighbour”campaign seeking more equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines.)
2007: General Assembly adopted a recommendation urging the Government of Canada to promote the inclusion of a regular review process to assess the impact of trade agreements on human rights. (A&P 2007, pp. 280-281, 15)
2006: General Assembly adopted recommendations pertaining to trade agreements and public health issues (e.g. access to essential medicines). The moderator wrote to the Government of Canada to 1) request preparation of legislation to remove the disincentives for exporting less expensive medicines to countries without pharmaceutical production capabilities; 2) inquire how the government assess the impact of trade agreements on the public health of Canadians and citizens of signatory countries; 3) request reforms to intellectual property laws, including TRIPS, to better take into account public health needs; 4) address the crisis of research and development of neglected diseases and invest in development of effective, affordable and easy-to-use medicines for these diseases; 5) host a conference to consider alternatives to the current patent system for both for stimulating health research and promoting access to needed medicines. (A&P 2006, 278-9, 15, 21) (Background: TRIPS refers to an international agreement on intellectual property rights and affects the availability and affordability of essential medicines (e.g. for HIV and Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis) in lower-income countries.)
2004: General Assembly adopted a recommendation endorsing the statement “What does God require of us? A Declaration for Just Trade in the Service of Life.” This Declaration was created by a North American consultation of church representatives from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in January 2004. (A&P 2004, pp. 320, 15) (Background: The Declaration includes expansive principles for just and fair trade “that serve the needs of all our global neighbours.” The principles are broad, covering: human rights; Indigenous rights; sustainable development and poverty reduction; environmental protection and regulation; global peace building and corporate social responsibility. The full Declaration is in the A&P 2004, pp. 321-324).
1999: General Assembly adopted a report that included a section on trade and trade agreements. General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the Canadian government be urged to make concern for human rights central to the practice of Canadian foreign policy and, in particular, promote trade and investment practices that protect internationally agreed labour rights and build a more equitable global order. (A&P 1999, pp. 277, 45) General Assembly adopted recommendations endorsing principles set out by the People’s Summit of the Americas (Democracy and Participation, Sovereignty and Social Welfare, Reduction of Inequalities, and Sustainability) as essential to equitable trade and investment agreements, and that a letter be send to the government in support of these principles as guidelines for the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas and other future trade and investment negotiations as they arise. (A&P 1999, pp. 278, 45)
General Assembly adopted a recommendation encouraging congregations to participate in the annual Ten Days for Global Justice program, and recommended a bibliography of resources on the global economy as background for meetings with members of parliament.
1988: General Assembly adopted a report that considered the implications of the free trade agreement between Canada and the United States, which came into effect in January of 1988. General Assembly adopted a recommendation to express concern and disquiet to the Government of Canada over the implications of the implementation of the free trade agreement agreed to in January 1988 with regard to social justice, specifically: (l) energy and resources, (2) services, (3) culture and (4) human rights. An additional recommendation was adopted that the Government of Canada be asked to guarantee the protection of social programs in Canada such as universal health care, social security, unemployment insurance and welfare, as well as the management services that maintain them, during the life of the free trade agreement. (A&P 1988, pp. 373, 51-2)
1986: General Assembly adopted a recommendation urging the government of Canada to establish an Embassy in Nicaragua with a strong economic section to encourage private investment, and to explore trade opportunities for the benefit of the common people in that country, in light of the U.S. embargo. (A&P 1986, 372, 56)
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