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Tell the federal government it's time to make environmental laws mean something. The federal Liberals came to power with a promise to restore and strengthen Canada's environmental laws. In June, 2016, the government began a sweeping review of key environmental laws and asked concerned individuals, communities, and organizations to contribute. They did – and we did, too. People from across the country, including grass-roots activists, academic experts, Indigenous governments and grassroots people alike – all pitched in. MiningWatch helped organise some of those contributions, and...
14.08.2017
Unless the Trudeau government takes a sharp turn from its current course, it’s starting to look as if fixing Canada’s environmental assessment law is going to be added to the growing list of bold commitments that it won’t deliver on. At the end of June, the federal government released a discussion paper outlining its plans. They amount to little more than tinkering with the Harper government’s devastating 2012 re-write of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act .
11.08.2017
Here's a set of key recommendations from various experts and references that believe catostrophic failures of mining waste facilities can be avoided if governments take the following actions (not exhaustive): Governance: Safety is the priority, not costs. Vet out financially risky mining projects likely to cut corners and unable to afford the safest measures. Immediately assess all existing mining wastes facilities and dams for potential failures and financial risk analysis. Maintain a detailed mining waste facilities and dams inventory database accessible to public. End self-inspection and...
11.08.2017
Field Assessment Brief by Catherine Coumans, PhD., July 2017 June proved to be a hot month for Canada’s Barrick Gold Corp. (Barrick) and its London-based 63.9%-owned subsidiary Acacia Mining plc. (Acacia). Both in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam and at the North Mara Gold Mine ltd. [1] (North Mara) problems escalated for the companies. On June 12 th , the Tanzanian Government released a second report by a Presidential Committee of experts [2] examining the economic and legal activities of Acacia’s operations. This report followed the release of an explosive Presidential Committee report in...
19.07.2017
Following the suspension of two of Tahoe Resources’ mine licences in Guatemala on July 5, Tahoe Resources’ suppliers, workers and the Guatemalan Industrial Association have engaged in a smear campaign in the Guatemalan press against the Centre for Environmental, Social and Legal Action (CALAS) and its members for having brought the claim against the Ministry of Energy and Mines that led to the decision. The defamation puts CALAS and its members at risk of further violence. On Wednesday July 5, the Guatemalan Supreme Court of Justice announced that it was temporarily suspending two of Tahoe...
19.07.2017
Diesel fumes, silica dust and radon gas—to name three examples of well-known air pollutants in mines— continue to affect thousands of miners across Canada and the world. Too little attention is paid to the health costs and impacts of this reality. Thanks to the work of organizations such as the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) in Ontario, Canada, we get to know a bit more about this ongoing reality. Yesterday, at the first “ Lung Cancer and Prevention in Mining Symposium ” held in Sudbury, Paul Demers from OCRC made a powerful plea for more government and industry action to prevent...
12.07.2017
Yesterday, Clean Energy Canada released a study supporting more metal mining in Canada to support clean energy development. While pointing out that the Canadian mining industry falls well short of social and ecological “responsibility”, the report’s promotion of raw materials extraction is oddly anachronistic. And while some new metal mines may be needed to meet the demand for new clean energy technology, the real need is probably quite limited – and really requires more careful consideration. The report, Mining for Clean Energy , does acknowledge that metal mining can harm the...
28.06.2017
Share widely! BC First Nations say ‘NO’ to KHGM’s Ajax open pit mine near Kamloops and propose instead the creation of a Cultural Heritage Site to foster reconciliation for the benefits of all Canadians. See great video launched today https://vimeo.com/222291883 or www.facebook.com/MiningWatch/posts/10154978495333026 “ Pípsell is a cultural keystone area which must be preserved in a state consistent with the traditional importance of the site to the Secwépemc people. Pípsell must only be used in ways which preserve and sustain the area, and which allow for the culture of the...
20.06.2017
On 30th March 2017 legislators in El Salvador approved a blanket ban on all metal mining activities in the country – the first country in the world to do so. The historic vote came just six months after a World Bank tribunal ruled in favour of the country’s government in an international investment arbitration case brought by a Canadian mining corporation. by Thomas Mc Donagh and Aldo Orellana López If ever there was an example of how the seeds of a local battle flowered into a formidable global campaign, it was this one. At a time when organised dissent is both under attack and more urgent...
31.05.2017
"Just as we can’t plan a neighbourhood one road — or house — at a time, we cannot plan for sustainable economies, healthy ecosystems, and First Nations interests one project at a time." Cheryl Chetkiewicz and Justina Ray, https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/05/29/ontarios-ring-of-fire-development-plan-has-major-flaws.html
29.05.2017