MiningWatch Canada held a roundtable talk with 30 people this afternoon in Ottawa on the key issues of mining in the ‘Ring of Fire’ area of northern Ontario, the federal environmental assessment act, and Bill C-300.
‘RING OF FIRE’ MINING
Ramsey Hart of MiningWatch noted that the Ontario government promoted Ring of Fire iron and chromite mining in their most recent ‘Open Ontario’ Throne Speech.
Chromite is a mineral used to make stainless steel.
He noted that there could be 100 years of mining activity in this area 240 kilometres west of James Bay and northeast of Thunder Bay. given the size of the chromite deposit.
CTV has reported that it may be the largest chromite deposit in the world.
Ramsey noted that there are water contamination issues for the communities downstream of this mining.
It has also been noted the tundra in the area supports one of the earth’s largest continuous wetlands through which half of Canada’s largest dozen rivers drain.
More at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=2983.
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT
Jamie Kneen (in the picture) of MiningWatch noted the Harper government has been chipping away at environmental assessments through changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, by excluding stimulus funding projects, and by simply using provincial environmental assessments.
It has been reported that the Harper government is seeking to give the minister of the environment the legal authority to avoid ordering full assessments of environmentally controversial projects, such as mines and tar sands projects.
The key provisions of the legislation would give the minister the power to order reviews of only small aspects of potentially damaging projects, rather than the entire project as should be the case.
Jamie notes that both the content and process – these provisions were tagged on to the budget bill without notice – are very problematic.
More on Harper’s assault on environmental assessments is at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=3189.
BILL C-300
Catherine Coumans of MiningWatch highlighted that they get many requests from around the world for help to stop the misdeeds of Canadian mining companies.
Catherine, who had just arrived back from Brazil this morning where she was at a planning meeting to counter the mining company Vale, noted that C-300 has passed second reading and is now in committee.
MiningWatch has said, “Bill C-300 responds to the urgent need for a stronger regulatory framework to hold Canadian mining, oil and gas companies accountable, in Canada, for human rights, labour, and environmental violations overseas.”
They add, “The Canadian government has consistently failed to create meaningful measures to regulate the activities of Canadian mining companies operating overseas.”
Our action alert in support of Bill C-300 is at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=2378. MiningWatch is continually briefing MPs on this bill to build support for its passage.
We also continue to work with MiningWatch on the issue of Schedule 2 tailings impoundment areas as well as the Blackfire mining company in Mexico, http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=3051.
Congratulations to MiningWatch Canada for an excellent meeting and discussion.