We have been reading accounts about people who have been harmed by Canadian mining operations overseas for decades.  Some of us have been supporting the campaigns from afar, sending a check, listening to news, supporting the handful of organizations working to hold the companies accountable. Check out Corporate Accountability in Canada – A MiningWatch Archive for a lot of harrowing accounts and fightback.  

However, the worst part often is, if the communities around the world finally win recourse, the companies still aren’t really held accountable.  Water is being poisoned, people are being assaulted and killed, and they are losing their land without a voice or fair compensation.   The people impacted by Canadian mining operations should be able to seek justice in Canada where the company is based.  

Canada’s companies are the biggest players in the mining sector in developing countries. Their wealth and backing by the Canadian government mean they often have privileged treatment by host governments. Are Canadian mining companies too big to be held accountable for –

  • Environmental crimes?
  • Violence committed by their local personnel?
  • Influence peddling with host governments?
  • Tax avoidance?

​Support the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) call for:

  • Legislated access to Canadian courts for people who have been harmed by the international operations of Canadian companies
  • Creation of an extractive-sector Ombuds office in Canada mandated to investigate accusations of abuses and make recommendations to the government and the companies involved. (A more detailed proposal is attached here as well.) 

This campaign is being carried out by a wide range of churches, unions, and human rights, environmental, and international solidarity organizations, who together are known as the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA). Read the backgrounder to learn more about this campaign.

Take action

See here for model letter (Microsoft Word ‘docx’ format) to send to your member of parliament or go to www.amnesty.ca/openforjustice to join our online action.