Presentation: Through its acts and omissions, the Canadian government plays a central role in enabling Canadian mining companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as tolerating and contributing to the systematic rights violations taking place.
Recent Events in NWT and Quebec Reveal Big Holes in Mine Closure Safety Nets
[Update: As of November 6, 2014, the Government of the Northwest Territories accepted Dominion Diamonds' financial assurance for the Ekati mine. However, it came in the form of surety bonds - not, as is required in many jurisdictions, an irrevocable letter of credit - and therefore may not provide...
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Mount Polley and the Failure of Compliance
As we wait for the conclusion of the technical review and criminal investigations, information revealed by various media investigations and disclosures by the BC government show that there were a number of warnings and red flags raised about the Mount Polley mine's tailings impoundment in recent...
Witness for the Indefensible: A Cheat Sheet for Kevin McArthur on Tahoe Resources’ Tactics to Silence Opposition in Guatemala
Mr. Kevin McArthur, the CEO of Tahoe Resources who came out of retirement after leaving Goldcorp in 2008 to develop the Escobal silver mine in southeastern Guatemala, has been summoned by a District Attorney’s office in Guatemala. He has been called to testify about the company’s tactics to put down...
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Copper in Quesnel Lake, One of Many Concerns in Aftermath of Mount Polley Tailings Spill
It has been two months since the massive tailings spill occurred at the Mount Polley mine in the interior of British Columbia and we are all still trying to understand what its impact will be and how the mess will get cleaned up. This post provides an update on the spill, what is known about the...
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Catastrophic Tailings Spill at Mount Polley Mine
On August 4, approximately 10 billion litres of wastewater and 5 billion litres of solid tailings waste escaped the impoundment at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley mine in the interior of British Columbia. The creek that received the brunt of the flow was completely obliterated, some of the waste...
HudBay Responds to Our Report on its Environmental and Human Rights Track Record
On July 17 MiningWatch received a response from mining company HudBay to our July 10, 2014, news release and brief: Canadian Mining Watchdog Warns Arizonans of HudBay Minerals’ Poor Track Record on Pollution and Human Rights.
In its letter (available here) HudBay provides additional contextual...
Federal Government Ignores First Nations and Public Input on Environmental Assessment – Its Own Legislation Makes It Hard Not To
Last week the Minister of the Environment, Leona Aglukkaq bent to the desire of BC to go it alone on the environmental assessment of another major resource development project – in this case, the proposed Ruddock Creek Lead and Zinc Mine.
The Grassy Narrows Decision
Late last week the Supreme Court of Canada released another important Aboriginal rights decision regarding the Grassy Narrows case. Like the Tsilhqot'in decision a few weeks back the Grassy case was prompted by the threats and impacts of extensive commercial logging on traditional indigenous...
No Small Coup: The Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement
There was no doubt that the Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement would be rushed through the Senate and receive Royal Assent before parliament recessed in June. Five years ago, however, – before then-Honduran President Mel Zelaya’s back door was shot open and he was flown to Costa Rica in his...
Urgent Action: Guatemalan government moves to expel witnesses to police violence at US-Canadian mine site
Urgent Action: Call on Canadian representatives to respond as Guatemalan government moves to expel witnesses to police violence at US-Canadian mine site.
Guatemalan Government Moves to Expel Witnesses to Police Violence at US-Canadian Mine Site
(Updated) Last week, Guatemalan authorities informed two Peace Brigades International (PBI) volunteers that their temporary residence permits were cancelled and that they had ten days to leave the country. Both volunteers witnessed a violent eviction on May 23rd at 'La Puya' - just north of...
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Background: Tahoe Resources, Goldcorp and Mining Conflict in Guatemala
Tahoe Resources’ Escobal silver project in the municipality of San Rafael Las Flores, southeastern Guatemala, is the subject of local opposition and ongoing legal processes against the validity of the exploitation licence. Community leaders have faced repression, criminalization and violence for...
MiningWatch Canada Newsletter #36 – Spring/Summer 2014
Contents: ‘On the Road for Justice’ Speaking Tour to Bring Attention to Guatemala Mining Conflict, Need for Remedy in Canada Over One-Quarter Million People Side with Costa Rica in Imminent Battle with Canadian Company Infinito Gold African Barrick’s Confidential Compensation Agreements...
We’re Celebrating Fifteen Years of Action in Support of Communities Affected by Mining
In honour of MiningWatch Canada's fifteenth anniversary, we are selling "Solidarity Shares" at $15 each. Unlike corporate mining shares, these Solidarity Shares go to support social justice and solidarity with and between mining-affected communities. Buy as many as you want, for yourself or for your...
Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy Up in the Air Yet Again
The federal government is engaged in a review of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy for the international operations of the Canadian extractive sector. As part of this review, MiningWatch was invited to participate in a civil society roundtable consultation hosted by the Department...