Putting Voices at Risk: Brief to UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor on Canada's support for mining over human rights

To accompany a meeting with UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, we provide six case studies spanning 17 years that demonstrate Canada's failures to respect human rights when it comes to mining. The first two case studies precede Canada’s adoption in 2016 of Voices at Risk: Canada’s Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders (Voices at Risk). Events outlined in the four subsequent case studies take place after the adoption of Voices at Risk.

White River First Nation Statement on Victoria Gold Mine Situation – Calls for Public Inquiry

Beaver Creek, Yukon: White River First Nation (“WRFN”) is watching closely the developments with the disaster at the Victoria Gold Mine. WRFN stands in full support of Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation, and all Yukoners in hoping for both the best possible resolution for this immediate crisis, and a path forward to ensure that this never happens again in the Yukon. 

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White River First Nation
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Ecuadorian Indigenous Organizations Deny Agreement with Solaris Resources Ahead of AGM

On Monday, June 24, Solaris Resources Inc. is holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year, Solaris will be focused on pitching shareholders on its expansion program drilling and recent financing.

Source
MiningWatch – Pueblo Shuar Arutam (PSHA) – Amazon Watch – WITNESS

Canada’s Updated Critical Minerals List ‘Effectively Meaningless’, Critics Warn

Christopher Bonasia, The Energy Mix

The priority list for the critical minerals that Ottawa calls the “building blocks for the green and digital economy” is “effectively meaningless”, critics say, with broad, subjective criteria that lack sufficient focus on the energy transition.

Source
The Energy Mix

Yukon government considers subsidies for mining companies to reduce emissions

Internal gov't documents suggest move is to ensure investments in industry don’t wither

Julien Gignac, CBC News

The Yukon government may subsidize mining companies to help them reduce emissions, according to documents obtained through an access to information request.

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CBC News

Energy transition or more militarism? US defence subsidies for a graphite mine near Montreal provokes anger in civil society

Never before seen in Quebec: Funding for Lomiko Metals by the U.S. Department of Defense provokes consternation among local residents opposed to the La Loutre project. 

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Coalition Québec meilleure mine – MiningWatch Canada

NGOs Express Concern over Canada’s Engagement at the International Seabed Authority

Submitted by Catherine on
Special Blog Type

MiningWatch Canada is a signatory to the following letter sent to the Government of Canada on May 28, 2024 expressing concern over Canada's engagement at recent International Seabed Authority meetings where regulations to advance deep sea mining are being negotiated. Among other requests, the letter calls on Canada to attend upcoming ISA meetings in July with a renewed mandate that prioritizes good governance, Indigenous participation, and upholds commitments to ocean protection. 

Dear Honourable Ministers Joly, Wilkinson, Lebouthillier, and Guilbeault,

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As miner quells protests in Ecuador, Canadian firms’ rights record faces scrutiny

Aimee Gabay, Mongabay

Violent crackdowns by Ecuadorian security forces on antimining protesters there have highlighted the outsize role that Canadian mining companies play in human rights abuses in other countries, and the failure by the government in Ottawa to police their conduct.

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Mongabay

Mayan Q'eqchi' Ancestral Council and human rights defenders speak out about possible reactivation of Fénix mine in Guatemala

The following statement was translated by Rights Action, who calls on organizations and people - particularly in Canada, Switzerland and the US that are home to the mining companies – to use the statements below (English below and Spanish version here) to initiate, or continue with your education and activism work to pressure your governments and your companies to comply with the just demands of the Maya Q’eqchi’ people.

Source
Maya Q'eqchi' Ancestral Authorities
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