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Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is about the action, not the talk – by Drew Hasselback (National Post December 10, 2014)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

You might think that embracing Corporate Social Responsibility is a matter of public relations, but there are practical legal reasons for mining companies to have a CSR strategy in place.

Delivering on a promised CSR strategy may provide a defence to one of the growing number of lawsuits in which foreign plaintiffs are targeting Canadian parent companies for the actions of their overseas subsidiaries or contractors. But there’s also a fresh development to consider. The Canadian government says that if companies don’t play by the standards outlined in a November CSR strategy, they could lose the diplomatic support of the federal government.

“CSR doesn’t get the credit it deserves,” says Michael Torrance, a lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP in Toronto. “Reputation is an asset.”

On Nov. 14, Minister of International Trade Ed Fast unveiled an “enhanced” strategy to advance the use of CSR by Canadian mining and energy companies. “Enhanced” refers to some changes that result from a five-year review of an earlier strategy released in 2009.

These changes are pretty serious. Where some critics might have thought the 2009 policy was too light, the new strategy takes a carrot-and-stick approach.

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Canada’s mining CSR changes (Business Excellence Mining – November 18, 2014)

http://www.bus-ex.com/

Strategic improvements to Canada’s mining governance policy are welcome, but more is needed according to EWB

Canada’s enhanced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy, “Doing Business the Canadian Way: Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility in Canada’s Extractive Sector Abroad” was announced by the Canadian government on November 14. It builds on experience and best practices gained since the 2009 launch of Canada’s first CSR strategy, “Building the Canadian Advantage: A Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for the Canadian Extractive Sector Abroad.” The idea is that Canadian companies operate abroad with the highest ethical standards.

The international development organisation Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB) has welcomed several of the improvements made, while encouraging the Canadian government to demonstrate further leadership by closing critical gaps in the recently tabled Extractive Transparency Measures Act.

While mineral and fossil fuels are widely seen as potential drivers of economic and social development in resource rich countries, these positive outcomes are not guaranteed, says EWB. One of the core improvements in Canada’s revised CSR Strategy is that it recognizes these benefits are only fostered under certain conditions, and strives to help create them.

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Rise of ‘social licence’: Claiming they speak for their community, protest groups are undermining the law – by Jen Gerson (National Post – October 18, 2014)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

It started with the War in the Woods, mass protests that quashed plans for clear-cutting in Clayoquot Sound.

Then came decisive demonstrations over airports, cellphone towers, wind farms, biotechnology — and one gas plant so hated by Ontario residents that the Liberals under former premier Dalton McGuinty allegedly spent $1-billion to cancel it.

Now it’s pipelines versus the people: protests over Alberta’s oil sands, and the metal tubes meant to carry its bitumen to market.

The outcome is uncertain. But dozens of recent developments have been overturned by the rise of “social licence” — the idea that community buy-in is as important, or more, than regulators’ approvals.

Or is it just NIMBYism by another name? Who speaks for “the people”? Who decides whether social licence is granted or not?

“You want people to feel heard in their concerns,” says Brian Lee Crowley, the managing director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy in Ottawa. “But I believe there’s a whole group of people who have become free riders on this concept of social licence, people who are dyed-in-the-wool opponents — whatever it is … They say, ‘Oh, you must not be allowed to do this unless you have social licence.

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NEWS RELEASE: Bullion producers donate $3.28 million in gold to fight cancer

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Some donations to charitable organizations are considered as good as gold. However, in this case, the donation was pure gold that will fund research and facilities to battle cancer. At its recent fundraising announcement ceremony, Paul Alofs, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF) in Toronto, boldly and proudly proclaimed. “This is a golden day.”

“We are announcing a key milestone in our five-year Billion Dollar Challenge to lead the way in personalized cancer medicine with an unprecedented investment in people, purpose-built space and technology,” said Mr. Alofs. “This will further the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s position as one of the top five cancer research centres in the world.”

Highlighting the recent fundraising announcement of PMCF Margaret was a unique gift made on behalf of nine of Canada’s leading gold mining companies. That collective donation included six gold bars weighing a total of 2,400 troy ounces with a total value of more than $3.28 million. The bullion was unveiled by Ian Telfer, a patient at The Princess Margaret and Chairman of Goldcorp Inc. Mr. Telfer was representing the Canadian gold mining industry at the ceremony.

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Gold industry digs deep for Toronto’s Princess Margaret and donates six gold bars – by Barry Critchley (National Post – October 16, 2014)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Over the years Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has received millions in donations to further the work it does in cancer research.

Until Wednesday, it had never received a donation in gold. That changed when nine of country’s largest gold mining companies donated six gold bars weighing 2,400 troy ounces, valued at $3.28 million. The donation was made by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., Barrick Gold Corporation, Goldcorp Inc., IAMGOLD, Kinross Gold Corporation, New Gold Inc., Primero Mining Corp., Silver Wheaton Corp. and Yamana Gold Inc.

Sean Boyd, the chief executive at Agnico Eagle was the driving force behind the campaign that will see PM set up a research lab on the eleventh floor. That floor, which is in the Princes Margaret Cancer Research Tower, is now known as the Gold Floor.

Boyd, who has been on the PM Foundation board for about 18 months, said he wanted to link the research efforts underway in the gold industry with the research efforts done at PM, which defines itself as One of the Top 5 Cancer Research Centres in the World.

“We thought there was a good fit there so we were able to get a bunch of guys on board and make a donation in the form of gold bars.

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NEWS RELEASE: Teck’s Cardinal River Operations Recognized with TSM Leadership Award

October 07, 2014

Award recognizes facility-level excellence in corporate responsibility

For its outstanding performance in the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative’s three focus areas—environmental stewardship, communities and people, and energy efficiency—Teck’s Cardinal River Operations in Alberta has been awarded with a special TSM Leadership Award.

The TSM Leadership Award is granted only when a facility meets or exceeds a level “A” ranking in their results across all of the six performance areas of the TSM initiative (known as “protocols”)—Aboriginal and community outreach, crisis management, safety and health, tailings management, biodiversity conservation management, and energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management. A facility’s TSM results must be externally verified to be eligible for this recognition.

“We are pleased to recognize Cardinal River Operations with the TSM Leadership Award, which is an important and rare distinction that celebrates a facility for its achievements in the TSM initiative,” said Pierre Gratton, MAC’s President and CEO. “I congratulate Teck for its leadership in environmental management, for how it engages with its communities, and for being a model for other mine sites across Canada.”

Teck’s President and CEO, Don Lindsay, presented Cardinal River staff with the award at a recognition event on-site yesterday. Teck’s Cardinal River Operations was honoured with TSM Performance Awards for each of the six performance areas, as well as the TSM Leadership Award for its 2013 results.

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Noront distributes hundreds of t-shirts designed by youth – by Rick Garrick (Wawatay News – October 3, 2014)

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Noront Resources has printed and distributed hundreds of prize-winning t-shirts designed by two students from Long Lake #58 and Webequie.

“We had a t-shirt contest last year where we sent out to all the Ring of Fire communities the option for their students to create logos for our new t-shirts,” said Kaitlyn Ferris, Noront’s manager, corporate responsibility. “And we ended up with a tie between two designs. They won their design on the t-shirt for the next year. And then we also sent t-shirts to their schools so that their whole class would get their t-shirt.”

The t-shirts are also handed out “everywhere we go” by Ferris and the Noront staff. Noront is one of the mining companies working on developing mining operations in the Ring of Fire mineral exploration area in the James Bay Lowlands.

“If you look around the room, you will see hundreds of people are now wearing their designs,” Ferris said at the Working Together for Student Success student orientation, held Sept. 5 at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay. “We are really proud of them.”

Ferris said students at the orientation were “really impressed” with the winning t-shirt designs. The winning t-shirt design from Webequie was designed by a Grade 8 student. “We’ve had a lot of high school students say they are shocked that a young kid like that has such talent,” Ferris said. “And they are proud to be wearing designs by youth.”

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Teck Resources honoured for environmental stewardship – by Susan Down (Vancouver Sun – May 30, 2014)

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html

Natural resource industries have always been a huge part of Canada’s economy, but in the past the resource developers were focused more on extract-and-exit operations than mitigating the long-term effects of activities such as mining and logging.

However, one Vancouver corporation is proving that miners can be good stewards, choosing to integrate social and environmental goals into business performance. In March, Teck Resources Ltd. received the award for corporate environmental excellence, one of six environmental awards handed out annually by the GLOBE Foundation, a Vancouver business consultancy. A diversified mining company with operations in Canada, the U.S., Chile and Peru, Vancouver-based Teck produces steelmaking coal, zinc and copper.

Teck was singled out from more than 20 applicants for the environmental award by a panel of judges who assessed companies on criteria such as industry leadership, measurable improvements in environmental practices, and transparency in communications. Runners-up this year were Bell and bathroom tissue manufacturer Kruger Products.

Rewarding mining companies for improving is not just “greenwashing” public relations, say organizers. “Everybody uses mining resources in consumer products, so (good practices) have a prolific impact,” said Nancy Wright, vice-president of marketing for the GLOBE Foundation.

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Taxation with representation in Peru: Incentive for infrastructure improvements benefits host communities (Barrick Beyond Borders.com – April 23, 2014)

http://barrickbeyondborders.com/

Ensuring tax dollars from mining flow back to the communities where mining actually takes place is a frequent concern among local leaders. A new tax credit program created by the Peruvian government is helping to address the issue, giving companies the option to invest a portion of their taxes in local infrastructure projects.

The tax credit program, known as Obras Por Impuestos (Public Works Through Taxes), was introduced as Law No. 29230 in 2009. It allows a company to pay up to half of its income tax through contributions to public infrastructure projects in communities near its operations. To date, the program is responsible for the construction of roads, hospitals, schools and other forms of public infrastructure throughout Peru.

Companies can choose to invest in projects on a “priority” infrastructure list developed by local and regional governments. In circumstances where a project is not listed as a priority, communities can work with a company to obtain priority status for the project. In this way, the program helps communities to access state funds while allowing companies to see their taxes directly benefit communities where they operate.

“Part of the challenge up until now has been promoting use of the program,” says Napoleon Vilca, President of the Special Committee for Law 29230 for the Region of La Libertad, which promotes the fund to private companies on the government’s behalf.

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Social development shortcomings blamed for mining project failures – Danielson – by Dorothy Kosich (Mineweb.com – March 31, 2014)

http://www.mineweb.com/

Although mining’s record on social license to operate is often seen as poor, sustainability expert Luke Danielson is confident mining can “lead the way in pioneering new and more effective social relationships”.

RENO (MINEWEB) – “A large and growing number of project failures are a direct result of the inability to deal successfully with the combination of environment, community and social” concerns, said former Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development project administrator, Luke Danielson.

In a speech to the 2014 Mining and Land Resource Institute in Reno, Nevada, attorney Danielson observed, “(Mining) Project failure and conflict resolution resulting from lack of social license is extraordinary expensive.”

“Lengthy conflicts are all too frequent and debilitating” for companies, governments, communities, shareholders and other stakeholders, he said. Danielson, now the president and co-founder of the Sustainable Development Strategies Group highlighted several major mining projects which have had difficulty with issues stemming from social license to operate.

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Martu Rangers Help Bring Australia’s Desert to Life for Newmont – by Joe Kirschke (Engineering and Mining Journal – February 20, 2014)

http://www.e-mj.com/

In the immense expanse of the Australian Central Western Desert that engulfs Newmont Mining Corp.’s Jundee complex in the Yandal goldfield 1,100 km northeast of Perth, water, food and people are often equally scarce.

In a good year, the dry, unicolor land will absorb 200 milliliters of rainfall. The native Martu people, however, have long since adapted: with one of the world’s oldest living cultures—dating back 40,000 years—the aboriginals are exceptional at spotting, tracking and catching elusive goanna lizards and bush turkeys—both on foot and by setting fires.

Such skills have not gone unnoticed. Through Australia’s Central Desert Native Title Services (CDNTS), Newmont is now tapping it for a landmark Martu Ranger land management program. It’s an endeavor exemplifying mining-sector Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at its best: While generating indigenous employment, the initiative provides for the environment alongside a cultural awareness eagerly promoted by a government.

In wake of a 2011 pilot program, a fee-for-service compliance contract has since evolved into a large-scale biodiversity restoration project that is drawing new partner interest, while increasing Martu employment levels three-fold.

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NEWS RELEASE: MINERS FOR CANCER RAISES OVER $80,000 WITH HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

(L to R) Jay Mancini (Controller/General Manager Mid City Mortorsports), Phil Perras (Miners for Cancer Board Member), Mike Buckner (1st Place Prize Winner) and Wayne Tonelli (Miners for Cancer President/Co-Founder).

Visit the Miners for Cancer: Digging for a Cure website: http://minersforcancer.ca/

Sudbury, February 18, 2014 – Miners for Cancer has done it again. Their annual Allan Epps Memorial Hockey Challenge sponsored by Sandvik that took place January 23-26th at the T.M. Davies Community Arena raised over $80,000. Funds raised will go towards cancer research, patient care and equipment in Northern Ontario.

“This has been our most successful fundraising event to date,” said Wayne Tonelli, President, Miners for Cancer, “and we will keep on fundraising for cancer research, equipment and patient care as long as cancer keeps affecting our community.”

To help with fundraising efforts, Miners for Cancer held a raffle draw and throughout the weeks leading up to the hockey challenge, board members and participating hockey players took part in selling tickets. The draw took place on Saturday, January 25th, and the winners were:

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Book Review: ‘Insight Trading,’ 
a Roadmap to Mining Sustainability – by Joseph Kirschke (Engineering and Mining Journal – January 20, 2014)

 http://www.e-mj.com/

In 2006, Nick Fleming and Susanne Cooper, chief sustainability officer and sustainability practice leader, respectively, with engineering and consulting firm Sinclair Knight Merz, joined a team of miners developing a major new copper asset in Southeast Asia.

On evaluating the project, however, Fleming and Cooper noticed a potentially serious complication: the planning of a road alongside a slurry pipeline—one that could facilitate haphazard development, rainforest clearing and a mass influx of job-seeking migrants.

“The potential for unrest, disease and impacts on nearby villages was high; in short, a technology that worked well in other situations was inappropriate,” they write in “Insight Trading: Collaborating to Transform the Infrastructure that Shapes Society,” (Sinclair Knight Merz Pty. Ltd. 2013). “So the team went back to basics—using river barges. This solution eliminated social and environmental risks, created community benefits and enhanced the mine’s social license to operate.”

Through these and other examples, Fleming and Cooper have compiled a compelling road map for miners, engineers, and others seeking to understand the core nuances of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in natural resource and infrastructure projects in a world where the only constant is change.


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Vale in Canada: The deeper we dig down, the further we extend our reach

  http://www.vale.com/canada/EN/Pages/default.aspx “Every day, Vale works with our partners, employees and their families across Canada to better understand and support our communities, our planet and our people. Over the past four years we have invested more than $26 million in community-building initiatives in education, social services, health & wellness and the environment, helping to build …

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New institute promotes sustainable mining in developing countries – by Derrick Penner (Vancouver Sun – January 29, 2014)

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html

Joint venture between UBC, SFU and Ecole Polyechnique de Montreal wins $25 million in federal funding

From Vancouver, academics in a new $25-million resource-sector research institute can see how training artisanal miners in Ecuador to use more sustainable practices can lead to better government policies and a more prosperous mining sector.

A pilot project to train small-scale miners in better techniques is one of the initial efforts of the just-launched Canadian International Institute for Resource Extraction and Development, but it is already gaining traction, and in a nutshell sums up what the institute’s job will be.

“Trying to formalize artisanal mining hasn’t worked well,” said Bern Klein, acting executive director of the institute. “You just give someone a piece of paper to do what they’ve always done. But education is transformational.”

Klein said the pilot project capitalizes on research done in the mining school at the University of B.C., which is one of three academic partners in the institute along with Simon Fraser University and Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal.

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