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CANADIAN FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITYWOMEN

Human Rights and MiningCompanies

Bill C-300 Tool Kit

National Office

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Background1 1 miningwatch.ca, 2010.

Mining Watch works on international and domestic mining issues with environmental,social justice, Aboriginal and labour organizations from across the country. For moreinformation go to www.miningwatch.ca. This backgrounder is a follow-up to the CFUW

resolution on the extractive industries1

Background: Canadian Extractive Industries Abroad

The Government of Canada has yet to create meaningful measures to regulate theactivities of Canadian mining companies operating overseas. A private members bill, C-300, currently under review by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign

Affairs and International Development, provides the best chance for regulation of theindustry.

CFUW Clubs can write to their Member of Parliament to explain why he/she should supportBill C-300. This Bill requests that Canadian mining companies live up to international

human rights and labour standards and environmental best practices when they operateoverseas, and asks that the Government of Canada does not provide financial and politicalsupport to companies that abuse human rights and the environment.

Bill C-300, a private members bill introduced by Liberal MP John McKay on February 9,2009, codifies into regulation a number of key recommendations on accountability forCanadian extractive companies operating in developing countries from the March 2007Final Report of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Roundtables. In March 2009 the

13. Practices of Canadian Extractive Industries Abroad 2007

RESOLVED, That the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) urge the Government of Canada to fulfill the responsibilitiesit undertook in its commitment to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational

Enterprises in the case of Canadian extractive industries abroad by ensuring they act in accord with environmental sustainability and

the human rights of, and ethical practices toward, workers and indigenous peoples, and

RESOLVED, That CFUW urge the Government of Canada to implement, in their entirety, the recommendations of The Standing

Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT), Fourteenth Report, 38th Parliament, and enact legislation to ensure

that compliance is mandatory and reflects internationally guaranteed human rights standards.

Background: Canadian Extractive Industries Abroad

In Canada, mining is an important and well-regulated economic activity that must respect the rights of indigenous peoples

and minimize its environmental impact. However, when operating abroad compliance with internationally developed norms is

voluntary. CFUW urges the Government of Canada to ensure that Canadian corporations carrying out mining operations in developing

countries are subject to the same strict regulations that apply in Canada.

Almost sixty percent of the worlds mining companies are either Canadian or are registered in Canada, are listed on the

Canadian stock exchanges and attract investment capital from the Canadian public. When operating overseas, many of these

companies do not fully comply with internationally developed norms defined by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD) guidelines.

Developing nations can offer attractive mining opportunities and they do compete for foreign investment. Where regulations

are lax mining can be disastrous for the environment and for the indigenous peoples. Companies may resort to bullying and bribery to

gain access to mining opportunities. Local protests are often met with threats, arrests and even violence.

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Government of Canada responded to the recommendations of the multi-stakeholderAdvisory Group in the Final Report of the CSR Roundtables. The Governments responsedoes not contain an effective complaints mechanism and or any possibility of sanctions forcompanies that fail to comply with voluntary guidelines. Bill C-300 remedies these flaws. On

April 22, 2009 Bill C-300 narrowly passed a vote in the House and is now being debated inthe Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

About Bill C-300: It

- Regulates Canadian government agencies with respect to Canadian extractivecompanies operating in developing countries (the Export Development Canada, theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Canadian PensionPlan).

- Creates eligibility criteria (guidelines that articulate corporate accountabilitystandards) for political and financial support that is provided to Canadian extractivecompanies by the Export Development Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairsand International Trade, and the Canadian Pension Plan.

- Has guidelines that articulate corporate accountability standards must include theInternational Finance Corporation Performance Standards, related guidance notes,and Environmental Health and Safety General Guidelines; the Voluntary Principleson Security and Human Rights; human rights provisions that ensure corporationsoperate in a manner that is consistent with international human rights standards; andany other standard consistent with international human rights standards.

- Creates a complaints mechanism. Complaints are filed with the Ministers of ForeignAffairs and International Trade. If accepted, the complaint will lead to aninvestigation of a companys compliance with the guidelines and a public report onfindings within eight months of receipt of the complaint. A company may becomeineligible for government support for as long as it is out of compliance with theguidelines.

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Sample Letter to your MP:All mail to Members of Parliament is postage free.Additionally, if you chose to email your MP, emails for all MPs can be found here.

House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Canada

Date:

Re: Support for Bill C-300 on Corporate Accountability

Dear [MPs name],

CFUWClub name supports Bill C-300, an Act respecting Corporate Accountability for theActivities of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries.

The reports of Canadian mining, oil and gas company involvement in human rights, labour,and environmental violations are disturbing. CFUW understands that the Government of

Canada continues to fund and support activities, in spite of these violations.

Bill C-300 responds to the urgent need for a strong regulatory framework to hold Canadianmining, oil and gas companies accountable, in Canada, for human rights, labour, andenvironmental violations overseas. Bill C-300 is supported by the Canadian Network forCorporate Accountability (CNCA), a coalition which includes prominent labour, ecumenical,environmental, social justice, and human rights organizations. Bill C-300 has my support aswell.

I urge you as my Member of Parliament and the members of the Standing Committee onForeign Affairs and International Development to support Bill C-300, recognizing that Bill C-300 reflects and responds to the recommendations that were made to the Government ofCanada by the earlier Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in2005.

Sincerely,(Name, title and address)

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