Educational Materials

MiningWatch has been informed in an email from the company, and confirmed by the staff for local MP Bruce Hyer, that Marathon PGM is no longer considering the destruction of Bamoos Lake as one of two tailings management options.

In anticipation of the annual Mining Day on the Hill lobbying frenzy, MiningWatch Canada would like to provide you with an alternative perspective on several important issues. The mining industry is one of the most policy-privileged industries in Canada. This is despite the fact that at home and around the world, the industry has generated massive environmental impacts, created social conflicts, and infringed on Aboriginal rights and title.

Mining will fragment, if not destroy habitat. It can poison waters. Some of these negative impacts are permanent. For example, there are at least 10,000 abandoned mines across Canada. This means that there is no company to take responsibility for the clean up of these mines, even when there is contamination. When there is no company that is responsible for the clean up, the government is on the hook for clean up and rehabilitation. This means that taxpayers are ultimately responsible for a mining company's mess.

Communities dealing with the impact from mining activities (whether at the claim-staking, exploration, development, operating, closure, or restoration/rehabilitation stage) find themselves confronted by a legal entity they may not understand, making demands that are contrary to the desires of the community, and giving reason for its behaviour that they do not know how to counteract.