Over the course of 25 years accompanying mining-affected communities in Canada and globally, MiningWatch Canada has observed a pattern of rights violations in the ways governments and the mining industry purport to consult with those most affected. This article briefly outlines several conditions required to guarantee the rights of civil society to participate in meaningful consultation processes that are legal, dignified, effective, and predictable for all. Beyond these conditions, we underscore that the priority of governments must be on guaranteeing the rights of Indigenous Peoples to free, prior, and informed consent as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when it comes to mining projects in their territories.