Development and Peace members from Prince George Diocese presented a booth at the Minerals North Conference in Fort St. James on April 21-23, 2009. The conference is an annual event where presentations are given by various mining staff and related groups.  450 delegates attended this year, most of which worked for the mining industry. Members of the community, school groups and local politicians browsed the booths and had their questions answered by the members. Many delegates were very impressed with the Development and Peace campaign and saw this as an opportunity for northern British Columbia to take a lead role in bringing responsible mining to the South.  The Development and Peace delegates included Sergio Petrucci, Joe Haddock, Louise Evans-Salt and Pat Short.

Liberal MP John McKay’s Bill on the corporate social responsibility of Canadian mining companies operating abroad was passed in the House of Commons on April 22, with a vote of 137 for to 133 against. Development and Peace staff members Ryan Worms and Love St-Fleur were in Ottawa to hear the news. “We are very excited” reports Ryan Worms, Education Materials Officer, “this victory is without a doubt due to the hard work of our members across Canada.” Bill C-300 will now go to a consultative committee and to the Senate for another vote.

 
Ottawa Development and Peace members Philippe Crabbe, Richard Pommainville and Suzanne Lozano met their MP, David McGuinty, in March to discuss Bill C-300. They also presented him with his Fall Action 2008 postcards signed by supporters of the campaign asking the Prime Minister to implement the recommendations of the report of the National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Mr. McGuinty is knowledgeable on the subject, and supportive of the campaign. He offered to help Development and Peace by making a presentation on the subject when the bill goes to a parliamentary committee, which he thinks is likely to happen in the autumn.

Three Development and Peace members meet with Gary Lunn, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands and Cabinet Minister.

On February 20, Nancy Stuart, Victoria DC Chair, Margie Noonan, former president of the National Council, and Donna Thompson, chair of Mr. Lunn’s parish Development and Peace committee met with Mr. Lunn for a second time.

Questioned about the lack of response by the government to the National Roundtables, Mr. Lunn answered that his government had made good progress in the area of corporate social responsibility.  He noted that Cabinet had approved Canadian standards for mining companies operating abroad in collaboration with the Canadian Mining Association. Mr. Lunn agreed to provide more information on that agreement and on the status of the Development and Peace call for an independent ombudsperson.

The members reiterated the need for legal mechanisms which would hold Canadian mining companies accountable for their actions overseas.

The Victoria DC in British Columbia has set a goal of meeting all MPs in their Diocese to get their support for the current campaign.

On February 17, Jocelyn Schaeffer and Bibiana Cujec met Dr. Keith Martin, MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. Dr. Martin has worked in the Global South as a physician, and was familiar with and supportive of the current Development and Peace campaign. He offered to share his ideas and experiences at a future Development and Peace meeting.

Two important bills related to our recent campaign demands on corporate social responsibility have gone through first reading in the House of Commons.  At this moment, we are suggesting members contact their MPs to get their support for the second one, Bill C-300.

Bill C-298, sponsored by NDP MP Paul Dewar, re-opens the call for the creation of an ombudperson’s office initially tabled by former MP Alexa McDonough in June 2008.

Bill C-300, tabled by Liberal MP John McKay, is up for second reading and debate on Tuesday, March 3 or Wednesday, March 4.  If passed, this Bill would require that Canadian government support to companies in the mining, oil and gas sectors would depend upon the highest corporate social responsibility standards for human rights and the environment being met by Canadian companies in the developing world.

This is an important moment for members to contact their MPs and ask for their support of Bill C-300. Please review the attached Talking Points for more on how you can participate.

Ontario Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle met with a delegation of Development and Peace members on January 23. The members spoke with him about the current Development and Peace campaign to have the government put in place the necessary legal mechanisms to hold Canadian companies responsible for their actions in other countries. They were impressed with Mr. Gravelle’s understanding of the behaviour of Canadian mining companies in the Global South. Mr. Gravelle had already signed the card in his parish and supports the campaign.

Archbishop Prendergast of Ottawa signed the Development and Peace Action card in December. The card asks the Prime Minister to hold Canadian Mining companies to account.

In November, 2008, Alexandra Mendes, Member of Parliament for Brossard-La Prairie, received over 1,000 postcards from the annual Development and Peace campaign. These cards called for the federal government to hold Canadian mining companies responsible for their actions overseas.

Mrs. Mendes responded very positively to the campaign and officially signed a card addressed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She expressed her intention of officially presenting the cards in the House of Commons.