Good for mining but bad for democracy? Why Indigenous groups in Ecuador oppose free trade deal with Canada
‘We've not been consulted,’ says Indigenous leader from Quito as countries announce conclusion of talks
Brett Forester, CBC News Indigenous
Ecuador's largest Indigenous organization is vowing to fight a now-concluded free trade agreement with Canada, warning it could encourage human rights abuses in the ecologically and culturally diverse South American country.
Open Letter from the Ejido of Carrizalillo in Mexico to Equinox Gold
The Ejido of Carrizalillo has written an open letter to Equinox Gold CEO Greg Smith and Board Chairman Ross Beaty calling on the company to commit to fair negotiations of their temporary land use and social agreements for the operations of the Los Filos mine in Guerrero, Mexico. The agreements are set to expire at the end of March.
Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement Threatens to Worsen Human Rights Abuses Facing Indigenous Nations and Communities
(Ottawa-Toronto-Quito-Cuenca) The proposed Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement represents a dire threat to Indigenous rights in Ecuador and must be rejected by Canadian lawmakers, a coalition of Canadian civil society organizations said today, amplifying the concerns of Indigenous and women’s rights defenders in Ecuador.
Amazonian Women Respond to Announcement of a Free Trade Agreement Between Ecuador and Canada
The Amazonian Women Defenders of the Rainforest collective expresses its profound rejection of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Ecuador and Canada. This agreement has been negotiated in an opaque manner, without due consultation with the Indigenous Peoples, nor with the peasant, Montubia and Afro-descendant communities, whose rights and territories will be directly affected.
Mining industry hails B.C. plan to expedite projects amid Trump tariff threat
Catherine Urquhart, Global News
The Mining Association of British Columbia is welcoming news the provincial government plans to expedite a number of projects.
On Monday, the province announced plans to accelerate 18 critical mineral and energy projects worth roughly $20 billion.
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Read the full article here.
Ecuador's Free Trade Agreement with Canada is a Threat to Sovereignty and Indigenous Territories
This statement was originally posted in Spanish on February 2, 2025. English translation by MiningWatch Canada and Common Frontiers.
Five prominent water defenders in El Salvador refuse to attend court hearing denouncing lack of judicial independence that poses a threat to their lives
The Santa Marta 5 faced a retrial on politically motivated charges stemming back to the civil war despite a unanimous verdict confirming their innocence in October 2024
Analysis on Bill 63 in Quebec, An Act to Amend the Mining Act and other provisions
On May 28, Québec’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, tabled Bill 63, an Act to amend the Mining Act and other provisions. The Coalition Québec meilleure mine (QMM) carried out an exhaustive analysis of the bill. In this brief, we present our general comments and proposed amendments. A detailed article-by-article analysis of the bill is available in the French version of this brief, originally published in September 2024 and available online.
Sidelined in Mali, Barrick turns Tanzania mine into ‘armed encampment’
Barrick has been accused of human rights abuses at its North Mara gold mine in Tanzania
Owen Schalk, Canadian Dimension