Communiqué from The Collective for the Defense of Malagasy Lands - TANY

Summary:

Ontarians for a Just Accountable Mineral Strategy (OJAMS) has taken a closer look at the relationship between Ontario’s political parties and the metal mining industry in this province.

Using Elections Ontario’s financial statements available online, we found out how much each of the major mining companies with active operations in the province and the two junior mining companies with claims in the Ring of Fire gave to the three main political parties between 2014 and 2016.

BC Crown decision to quash Mount Polley private prosecution makes no sense

The BC Prosecution Service announced Tuesday that it was taking over and quashing the private prosecution of Mount Polley Mining Corporation over the tailings dam disaster. The charges were laid by Bev Sellars, Grandmother, former Chief of Xat’sull First Nation (Soda Creek), author, and indigenous advocate.

(Ulanbaataar/Amsterdam/Ottawa) The Dutch Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and Oyu Tolgoi Watch (Mongolia) published a report today showing how tax planning by Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has led to nearly US$700 million in tax losses for the Canadian and Mongolian governments, related to one of the world’s largest

SOMO and Oyu Tolgoi Watch have published a report about how the mining giant Rio Tinto, and its Canadian subsidiary Turquoise Hill Resources, avoided nearly $470 million in Canadian taxes by using mailbox companies in two tax havens, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The publication also shows how an abusive investment agreement covering the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine has resulted in a $230 million tax revenue loss for Mongolia.

Turquoise Hill Resources routed its investment in one of the world’s largest copper deposits through Luxembourg, avoiding $559 million (U.S.) in Canadian corporate tax between 2010 and 2016, according to a new report. A company spokesperson says the arrangement was approved by the CRA.

By Ashley Renders Jan 30, 2018

A small town in Northern Quebec could hold the keys to a future where electric vehicles are the norm.

A Toronto-based mining company called RNC Minerals Corporation wants to build a “battery metals” mine near Amos, Quebec, a town of less than 13,000 people that sits on the largest untouched deposit of nickel sulphide and cobalt in the world, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data cited by a company report.

Commitment to sustainability, public participation and reconciliation essential in next-generation assessment law

OTTAWA – A coalition of experts from Canadian environmental groups and academic institutions is calling for stronger safeguards and fairer processes for reviewing proposals in the federal government’s new assessment law. A bill to replace the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 is expected to be introduced in Parliament as early as next week.

Yes, it's not specifically mining-related, but MiningWatch is deeply concerned about corruption and illegal activity in the mining sector, and that means we are deeply concerned about Canada's role in facilitating corruption, including its apparent inability – or unwillingness – to investigate and prosecute such activity.

In a brief presented last night to Quebec's BAPE Environment Panel, MiningWatch and Quebec partners press the provincial government to implement five key conditions prior to approving Arcelor Mittal's Mont Wright iron mine expansion project in Northeastern Quebec.

See more (in French) here.