Newsletter 26: Autumn 2008

Long-awaited opportunity to reinforce public participation in federal environmental assessments: On December 18, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada decided to allow MiningWatch Canada to appeal a Federal Court of Appeal decision that had negated the public’s right to be consulted on large mines and other industrial projects.

In November 2008 MiningWatch Canada’s Catherine Coumans had the opportunity to meet with partners at Barrick Gold’s Porgera Mine in the Papua New Guinea Highlands (Enga Province). Our partners are the grassroots human rights group called Akali Tange Association (ATA) and the Porgera Landowners Association (PLA). These two organizations created a joint organization called Porgera Alliance this year.

One of MiningWatch Canada’s key areas of work in 2008 and that will be continuing in 2009 has been our efforts to curtail the destruction of natural water bodies for the creation of tailings impoundments (i.e. waste dumps). Though contrary to both the intent and the letter of the Fisheries Act, exemptions are being granted to companies that apply for a regulatory amendment to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER).