In May, Indian police shot and killed 13 people who were protesting pollution from a copper smelter owned by Vedanta Ltd, a client of Export Development Canada (EDC). In this letter, we seek answers from EDC’s President and Chief Executive Officer regarding the agency’s response to the shootings and the harms caused by its client’s operations.
Last month 13 people protesting the expansion of a copper smelter owned by Vedanta Limited were shot and killed by police in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Vedanta Ltd. is financed by the Canadian government despite being blacklisted on human rights and environmental grounds by many investors.
Earlier this year, Export Development Canada (EDC) was tasked with running Canada’s new Development Finance Institute. In its new role financing private investment for the purposes of poverty alleviation and sustainable development, EDC will need to adopt robust due diligence practices to ensure the investments it supports respect human rights and the environment.
Above Ground works to ensure that companies based in Canada or supported by the Canadian state respect human rights and the environment worldwide. It is a project of MakeWay, a national charity that builds partnerships and solutions to help nature and communities thrive together.
Above Ground c/o MakeWay
400-163 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H5
438-992-5163
