The SCFAIT G8 hearings are completed. See Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade for further info. At the left of that page, if you click on 'Evidence and Index' you can obtain the transcripts of the testimony before the committee.

Here is the final SCFAIT Report (June, 2002) on the G8 consultations.

Empty tables at G8 hearing (Feb. 28, 2002 / Montreal Gazette) - empty media tables, that is. And it doesn't sound like the Gazette reporter stuck around very long either, judging from the total absence of any information on the opinions and recommendations which were voiced by the many witnesses.

Prochain Sommet du G8 - La CSN plaide pour une approche alternative du développement (Feb. 28, 2002 /Canada Newswire) - at the Feb. 28 hearings in Montreal, the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) criticizes the G8's legitimacy as a global agenda setter. Its demand for labor's voice to be heard by the leaders was flatly refused.

Martin kicks up dust over G-8 hearings (May 11, 2002 / Calgary Herald) MP Keith Martin and Calgary Herald journalist Mark Reid, pretending to be unaware that SCFAIT 'hearings' are designed to gather information from interested parties and not as public spectacles, feign shock and outrage at the absence of large crowds. For more informative reporting (minus the sniping), see this article on various presentations made before the SCFAIT in Calgary, most of which focus on African issues: G-8 leaders urged to commit funds to educate African children (May 8, 2002 / Canadian Press)

Education Task Force E-Consultation - "The G8 Leaders met in Genoa, Italy, in July 2001, and reaffirmed their commitment to assist countries in meeting the goals of the Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All. A specific area of interest for the G8 Leaders is the achievement of universal primary education by 2015 and the closing of the gender gap by 2005." (Keep in mind that the U.S., along with the World Bank, has been pushing in recent years for education privatization abroad - especially as imposed via GATS - in order to create new education markets.)