abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

2 Sep 2015

Author:
Yves Engler in Pambazuka News (Africa)

Africa: Author claims Canadian mining companies profit from exploiting lax regulatory environment, fear human rights-friendy policy changes

'Canada in Africa: 300 years of aid and exploitation', 3 Sep 2015:…Canadian mining companies have been accused of bribing officials, evading taxes, dispossessing farmers, displacing communities, employing forced labour, devastating ecosystems and spurring human rights violations…Indifferent to the deleterious impacts of the sector…Canada…blocked legislation – bill C-300 – to withhold diplomatic and financial support from companies found responsible for significant abuses abroad. They also opposed legislation, modeled on the U.S. Alien Torts Claims Act, to allow lawsuits against Canadian companies responsible for major human rights violations or ecological destruction abroad…[and] negotiated Foreign Investment Protection Agreements (FIPAs) with more than 10 African countries. FIPAs give corporations the right to sue governments…for pursuing policies that interfere with profits…[M]ining companies operating on the continent fear a reversal of these policies…[and] have sought to ensure that the continent’s mining policy serves the interests of foreign corporations, the majority of Africans be damned.