CANADA: Gov't Urged to Rein in Mining Sector
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40353

by Am Johal, IPS News
December 7th, 2007

Canadian mining companies continue to come under scrutiny from civil society organisations for international human rights violations and environmental damage that critics say the Canadian government has done little to check.

Canada is a leader in the global mining industry, with almost 60 percent of the world's listed exploration and mining companies. The government supports some foreign mining activity through Export Development Canada, a federal agency.

Mining Abroad 'Morally Wrong': MPs

■ Alexa McDonough and British MP Steve Pound try to resurrect the call for Canada to enact social responsibility requirements.

By Chris Gillcash

NDP MP Alexa McDonough is calling on Canada to enact standards of corporate social responsibility in overseas mining operations following a trip to Honduras last week to investigate concerns that some Canadian companies working in Honduras are taking advantage of weak regulations and endangering local residents through environmental contamination.

Trade talks to start soon with Columbia

Observers say Canada should wait until Uribe government has better human rights record

Jul 12, 2007 04:30 AM
Allan Woods
Ottawa Bureau

OTTAWA–A free trade deal likely to be launched between Canada and Colombia next week will go beyond the usual focus on dollars and cents to spell out the ethical responsibilities of Canadian companies seeking to exploit the South American country's untapped resources.

Embassy, July 11th, 2007
NEWS STORY
Chamber says PM Broke Promise at G8

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is frustrated Stephen Harper mentioned a corporate responsibility report during the G8, but mining groups are pleased their study is being taken seriously.

By Lee Berthiaume

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says Prime Minister Stephen Harper was premature in promoting a recent report on corporate social responsibility at the Group of Eight nations summit in June.

June 22, 2007

The Right Hon. Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
312S Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

RE: Formally adopting and implementing full set of recommendations from recent Canadian CSR roundtable process.

Dear Prime Minister:

The Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) commends the Canadian government for addressing the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) during the G8 summit in early June.  The CNCA is encouraged that particular emphasis was placed on the operations of mining, oil and gas companies.

September 10, 2007

Ms. Karyn Keenan and Mr. Denis Tougas
c/o The Halifax Initiative
153 Chapel Street
Ottawa Ontario
K1N 1H5

Dear Ms. Keenan and Mr. Tougas:

Thank you for your recent letter, dated June 8, which was faxed to us and posted on the Halifax Initiative Web site.

Mr. Eric Siegel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Export Development Canada
151 O’Connor St.
Ottawa, ON
K1A 1K3

June 8, 2007

Re: EDC workshop on socially responsible mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Dear Mr. Siegel,

We would like to thank Export Development Canada for including the Halifax Initiative Coalition and Entraide missionnaire in its recent multi-stakeholder workshop on “how to best support the mining industry in the DRC.”  We were pleased to participate in this important discussion with representatives of the Canadian mining industry, Canadian government, consultants, international financial institutions and EDC, among others.

http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2007/0409/mining040907.shtml

Catholics call mining companies to a roundtable
Environment, human rights targeted by groups
Catholic organizations working to ensure Canadian mining companies operating overseas respect the environment and human rights can celebrate a small victory.

Social responsibility

On March 29, the National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility advisory group released a ground-breaking report endorsed by industry and civil society representatives that could make Canada a leader in this area if its recommendations are adopted.

http://www.northernminer.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=185400&story_id=13416112030&issue=04092007

Industry, NGOs recommend CSR framework to govern Canadian miners abroad

Concluding a 10-month process that saw input from NGOs, mining, oil and gas companies and other groups, a recent report outlines a raft of recommendations that aim to address concerns over the social and environmental effects of resource extraction by Canadian companies in the developing world.

The process, which involved roundtables hosted in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal and was overseen by a multi-sector advisory group, was initiated by the federal government's foreign affairs committee to respond to concerns about Canadian extractive industries and a perceived lack of oversight on their operations abroad.

Adopt New Mining Guidelines:Report

Canada should adopt guidelines to improve transparency as well as the environmental and human rights practices of Canadian companies involved in extractive industries in the developing world, says a government-appointed advisory group. It says if these measures are adopted, Canada could become a world leader in Corporate Social Responsibility.