Critics say Global Affairs Canada continues to improperly prioritize ‘economic diplomacy’ over its human rights and environmental obligations. Kevin Philipupillai writes for the Hill Times
OTTAWA - Two federal New Democrats tabled legislation Tuesday that would make Canadian companies more accountable for human rights abuses and environmental harms abroad.
Allegations of abuse keep mounting against Canadian mining companies operating abroad, yet the Canadian government has failed to live up to its duty to protect human rights and provide remedy for those harmed. Two new private member’s bills, if implemented, will greatly strengthen corporate accountability legislation in Canada.
Gan Gan March 26, 2022
Residents from Gan Gan and from surrounding areas of the north central plateau (meseta) region, and the Mapuche Tehuelche communities of Mallín de los Cual, Yalalaubat Blancuntre and Chacay Oueste - Laguna Fria, have gathered to celebrate our achievement as residents of Chubut in repealing the law to rezone the area for mining. We reaffirm our ongoing and resolute struggle in defense of water and territory.
(Ottawa) As the International Seabed Authority meets in Jamaica, a petition asking for a global moratorium on deep seabed mining, signed by more than 4000 Canadians, goes to the government for a response.
(Montreal/Quebec - Tuesday, March 22, 2022) The members of the Coalition Québec meilleure mine denounce an absence of concrete measures in the provincial budget to promote a circular economy and the recycling of Quebec’s minerals, including funds to support recycling electric vehicle batteries.
(Winneway, March 21, 2022) This morning, the Council of the Long Point First Nation (LPFN) sent a letter to the Government of Quebec requesting to conduct its own assessment of the impacts of Sayona Mining's proposed mining project affecting its unceded ancestral territory.
On August 4, 2014, the worst mining disaster in Canadian history happened at the Mount Polley Copper Mine northeast of Williams Lake, British Columbia. The tailings dam failed, dumping over 25 million cubic metres of toxic wastewater and mine tailings into Hazeltine Creek, Polley Lake, and ultimately into Quesnel Lake. Quesnel Lake is one of the deepest freshwater fjord lakes in the world at over 2000 feet deep. It is in a rare inland rain forest, glacially fed, and supports a host of wildlife including many spawning salmon and trout species. It is indeed a special place. After the dam failure, the B.C. government approved a permit for Mount Polley Mining Corporation (MPMC) to temporarily discharge the mine wastewater directly into Quesnel Lake via pipelines, with the condition that it find alternative discharge options by December, 2022 to improve effluent water quality before discharge.
Five kilometres deep on the Cook Islands seafloor, potato-shaped rocks pave the bottom loaded with expensive minerals like cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel. They're called polymetallic nodules and three weeks ago the Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown referred to them as "golden apples". Brown made the comment during an official signing ceremony where three companies were awarded a seabed minerals exploration licence. Caleb Fotheringham reports for the Cook Island News.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for The Metals Company (TMC’s) deep sea mining test by its Nauruan subsidiary, Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI), received over 600 comments across a range of critical issues. Government and non-government organisations declared it sub-standard and not fit for purpose as a risk management tool.
