SHORT TITLE

Marginal note:Short title

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

PURPOSE

Marginal note:Purpose

• 2. (1) The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all Canadian official development assistance abroad is provided with a central focus on poverty reduction and in a manner that is consistent with Canadian values, Canadian foreign policy, the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness of March 2, 2005, sustainable development and democracy promotion and that promotes international human rights standards.

• Marginal note:Official development assistance

  (2) Canadian official development assistance abroad shall be defined exclusively with regard to these values.

INTERPRETATION

Marginal note:Definitions

3. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Canadian values”

« valeurs canadiennes »

“Canadian values” means, amongst others, values of global citizenship, equity and environmental sustainability.

“civil society organization”

« organisme de la société civile »

“civil society organization” means a not-for-profit or charitable organization whose governing structure is independent of government direction, and includes, but is not limited to, registered charities, non-governmental development organizations, community groups, women’s organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions, human rights organizations and advocacy groups.

“competent minister”

« ministre compétent »

“competent minister” means the Minister of International Cooperation, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs or any other minister who is providing official development assistance.

“democracy”

« démocratie »

“democracy” includes, but is not limited to, political and civil rights as defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“international agency”

« agence internationale »

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

“international assistance”

« aide internationale »

“international assistance” means funding provided by government for international development, international financial institutions, global peace and security, crises overseas and international development research.

“international human rights standards”

« normes internationales en matière de droits de la personne »

“international human rights standards” means standards that are based on international human rights conventions to which Canada is a party and on international customary law.

“Minister”

« ministre »

“Minister” means the Minister of International Cooperation or any other minister designated by the Governor in Council as the Minister for the purposes of this Act.

“official development assistance”

« aide au développement officielle »

“official development assistance” means international assistance

• (a) that is administered with the principal objective of promoting the economic development and welfare of developing countries, that is concessional in character, that conveys a grant element of at least 25%, and that meets the requirements set out in section 4; or

• (b) that is provided for the purpose of alleviating the effects of a natural or artificial disaster or other emergency occurring outside Canada.