Check out some recent articles and resources about Canadian mining in Guatemala by BTS Staff and Friends

Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability Parliamentary Report Card

Canadian extractive sector companies have a significant presence around the world, including in developing and emerging economies.1 Increasingly, Canadian companies’ overseas operations are associated with credible accusations of human rights abuse- including forced labour, sexual violence and involuntary relocation. The Government of Canada has an important role to play in promoting corporate accountability and an obligation to ensure that Canadian companies respect international human and labour rights wherever they operate. This Parliamentary Report Card documents • the commitments made by Canadian federal political parties to adopt corporate accountability mechanisms in Canada and • the MP voting record on legislation to create an Ombudsman for the international extractive sector in Canada. See Report Card Here.

Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability Member of Parliament Pledge

Globally, there is widespread recognition regarding the urgent need to improve access to remedy for the victims of corporate abuse. Those harmed by the activities of Canadian oil, gas and mining companies should have recourse to justice here in Canada. We need both:

1) The creation of a Human Rights Ombudsman in Canada for the international extractive sector and

2) Legislated access to Canadian courts for people who have been seriously harmed by the international operations of Canadian companies.

Get your MP or federal candidates to sign the pledge: 

“I believe victims of human rights abuses associated with the international operations of Canadian extractive companies should be able to access justice in Canada, through civil lawsuits and the creation of an effective, mandatory extractive-sector Ombudsman.”

See: Response from Colchester-Cumberland Parliamentary Candidates about making Canada Open for Justice

Crumbling Political Support for Tahoe Resources in Guatemala

September 17, 2015 / TAHOE on TRIAL

Article co-written by the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA), MiningWatch Canada and the Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS). 

If the militarized security strategy that Tahoe Resources has used to put its Escobal silver mine into operation isn’t enough to raise questions about the ethics of the company’s operations in Guatemala, the recent resignation of Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina should be. Pérez Molina stepped down on September 2 after Congress voted to strip him of his political immunity. A week later, he was indicted on charges of illicit association, customs fraud, and bribery for his involvement in a customs network that robbed tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Read more…

 

Practice what you Preach: Maritime groups’ efforts key to United Church pension divestment from Goldcorp

September 9, 2015 – Halifax Media Co-op 

By Jackie McVicar 

Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia — Sitting in her living room overlooking Tatamagouche Bay, Kathryn Anderson recalls a recent United Church of Canada (UCC) decision to divestment from Goldcorp. “In August in Corner Brook Newfoundland the General Council met with about 360 voting representatives of the United Church from across Canada,” says Anderson.

Seventy eight per cent voted in favour of a motion that indicates that it is the will of the church to divest from Goldcorp Inc. Read more…

 

Videos:

 11 Minute video about the Impacts of Tahoe Resources in Guatemala

A great 11 minute film, shot and produced by Maggie Padlewska of ONEYEARONEWORLD.COM.

Ottawa must do more to regulate and hold accountable Canadian mining companies working in Latin America.

February 11, 2015

Published by the Toronto Star

See the quick video about how your Canadian Pension Plan investment is supporting human rights abuses in Latin America