          
LE SAVIEZ-VOUS?Les ècoservices naturels fournis par la règion borèale, comme le stockage du carbone et la filtration de l'eau, reprèsentent plus de 2,5 fois la valeur de l'extraction des ressources comme les minèraux et le bois d'œuvre. |
Centre des m?diasLa For?t Bor?ale dans l?actualit?Corporate Social Responsibility Begins at HomeLarry Innes Amidst the international clamor over "blood diamonds" and increasing scrutiny of mining companies operating overseas, the Canadian government and industry are taking steps to bolster their reputation and protect market share. Canada is setting its sights on becoming a global leader in responsible practices in the diamond and precious metal extracting industries. In many respects, measuring Canada against its colleagues around the world is important, but misses the point. A more relevant and useful comparison would be to measure Canada's performance against the rising expectations of consumers and investors. While there are many examples of Canadian companies and operations leading the sector globally. there is still much work to do before declaring Canada a model of sustainability in the mining sector. With support from human rights and environmental organizations, society is growing ever more savvy and concerned about the impacts of mining. In turn, investors and retailers in the metals and jewelry sectors are starting to recognize the importance of verifiable corporate social responsibility practices by mining and exploration companies. A recent landmark in this regard is the release of the Canadian Extractive Industry in Developing Countries' Advisory Group Report, detailing several well-thought-out and innovative approaches to tackling CSR in overseas operations. However, if Canada wants to be recognized as a global CSR leader?by both industry and consumers?it must be sure it is implementing and documenting best practices at home as well as abroad. One priority concern on the domestic front is the ongoing collision between the expanding conceptions of First Nations' treaty rights and the booming mineral exploration industry. There is a clear conflict between the existing system of mineral tenure?which automatically grants rights to prospectors who stake mineral claims?and the government's constitutional obligation to consult with First Nations communities and meaningfully accommodate their rights. Outdated policies and practices are leading to litigation and expose Canada and the mining sector to a substantial gap in credibility, as well as serious operational challenges to accessing land in the future. Today's mining industry has the opportunity to draw upon technological improvements in extraction practices and a better understanding of land-use principles together with the recognition of First Nations communities' rights to determine whether and under what conditions they will consent to developments within their territories. Negotiations between\companies and First Nations around the development of diamond mines in the Northwest Territories have shown some innovative and integrated approaches to these challenges. While not without problems and ongoing challenges, these initiatives are examples of progress down the CSR path. From the jewelry retail side, CSR leadership has recently come from Birks & Mayors, a major jeweler and Canadian corporate icon, which signed on to the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework?a balanced vision for the conservation and development of Canada's Boreal region that commits signatory companies to the highest standards of corporate social responsibility. Through this commitment, and by committing to the "Golden Rules" articulated by the No Dirty Gold campaign, Birks has taken a significant step along the road towards environmentally and socially responsible diamonds and gold. Elsewhere in the sector, voluntary programs such as the Prospectors and Developers' Association of Canada's Environmental Excellence in Exploration, and the Mining Association of Canada's Towards Sustainable Mining initiative are codifying some best practices from an industry perspective. These principles and practices also indicate progress, but must be more widely adopted by individual companies and better reflected in the government's policy and regulatory standards. As part of the CSR commitment, resource companies are expected to be transparent and accountable to local communities when reporting on their activities, to advocate for leading edge public policy and regulations, and to treat as top priorities the maintenance of ecological and cultural integrity. These actions are all key measures of success and support for sustainability. The diamond and precious metal industries are by no means alone in facing these challenges?similar pressures have led to the creation of the Forest Stewardship Council for the forest industry and the Equator Principles for the finance and banking industry, with varying degrees of success. The steps that progressive members of Canada's extractive industries have taken are indeed positive ones, but there is still a long way to go on the CSR path at home and abroad. The reward for living up to the demands of consumers and investors will truly be golden. Larry Innes is the interim director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative. |
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