Oxfam Canada submission to Export Development Canada on the Review of its Environmental and Social Risk Management Policies

Oxfam Canada welcomes this opportunity to provide input to Export Development Canada (EDC) on the review of its Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) policies.

The Government of Canada has made a clear commitment to advancing women’s rights and gender equality in all areas of foreign policy, including international trade and investment. Therefore, Oxfam Canada strongly encourages EDC to prioritize and fully integrate women’s rights and gender equality into its ESRM policies.

Mandated once every ten years, the legislative review provides a good opportunity to ensure that EDC’s governing legislation is fit for purpose and reflects current and future needs of Canadians and our trading partners. While Oxfam Canada encourages EDC to update its ESRM policies to incorporate women’s rights and gender equality, we also believe that the Export Development Act itself must be updated to reflect Canada’s commitments in these areas.