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.

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MiningWatch - Amnesty International - Common Frontiers - CCPA - Americas Policy Group - CONAIE - Amazonian Women Defenders of the Forest - Asociación Flor de Caña - Alliance for Human Rights in Ecuador - Water Administrators of Victoria del Portete

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.

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Mujeres Amazónicas

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.

...

Read the full article here.

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Global News

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. 

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Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE)

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

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Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) – Central American Alliance on Mining (ACAFREMIN)

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.  

Giant Evictions, Giant Profits

Kibali is Africa’s largest gold mine. It sits in the northeastern province of Haut-Uele in the Democratic Republic of Congo, next to a town called Durba. The presence of this “gold giant” has dramatically transformed this remote area of Congo, a country beleaguered by extreme poverty despite its wealth in natural resources, a situation in part caused by corruption, poor governance, and centuries of international exploitation and intervention. In a three-year investigation, PAX found overwhelming evidence that the expansion of the Kibali mine has entailed large-scale dispossession and violence affecting local communities.

“We already held a consultation. We said no." Communities denounce attempt by Ecuadorian government and Canadian mining company to conduct another controversial consultation

Submitted by Viviana on
Special Blog Type

Communities in Ecuador are denouncing an attempt to advance a consultation in the southern community of Escaleras on the issue of mining –  a consultation they say is being carried out with only a select handful of people and one that is not necessary, given communities have already voted against mining in three previous popular consultations. 

Experts say First Quantum’s Cobre Panama tailings dam is at very serious and imminent risk of failure due to internal erosion and a lack of proper monitoring

Panama - Experts from the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) revealed critical new findings regarding the Cobre Panama mine in a preliminary report dated December 9, 2024. The report concludes that the physical stability of the tailings management facility (TMF) dam is seriously compromised.

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UICN, Comité Panameño - Mesa Técnica de Trabajo para el cierre de minas en Panamá - Panamá Sin Minería
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