"What this week's Canadian mining company court case means for the future", 8 Oct 2016

Canadian courts appear to be more willing to hear accusations levelled against Canadian mining companies operating on foreign soil...Three Eritrean men who claim they were forced to work at Nevsun Resources‘ Bisha copper-zinc mine have won the right to have their accusations heard in a Canadian court...“This is one of a growing number of cases.  There is one other case in Ontario that is going forward. The Nevsun case is a very significant because it is the first case where the judge ruled a Canadian court has jurisdiction over the foreign activities of a Canadian company and alleged human rights abuses.”...A lawsuit against Hudbay Minerals is also wending its way through the courts in Ontario.  Hudbay and its Guatamala subsidiary being sued by the Maya Q’eqchi people in Guatemala, over the murder and gang rapes of villagers.  That case has yet to be heard...Simons says the number of allegations levelled against Canadian mining companies demonstrates a need for clearer government policy.  “I think we need to have good regulations in place and mechanisms of accountability – the ability for these plaintiffs to have court cases and possibly some sort of other non-judicial mechanism where complaints can be brought.”...