Harm caused or contributed to by Canadian mining companies, their subsidiaries and contractors overseas is widespread globally and persistent. It includes environmental degradation that will persist for hundreds of years, a wide range of human rights harms, abuses of Indigenous rights, as well as negative economic and financial impacts at local and national levels. Together, these impacts have serious and long-term repercussions on local and national development.
The following brief provides more context about the role of Canadian mining companies in causing or being complicit in human rights abuses and environmental harm at their overseas operations. The brief was written by Catherine Coumans of MiningWatch Canada, to accompany her testimony before the House of Commons' Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) in regard to a study of environmental and human rights considerations regarding Canadian mining firms abroad.