How Canada can better its brand in the Philippines
Canadian mining companies are often the face of Canada in the Global South. For those affected by these companies, this face may be a far cry from how Canadians like to see themselves. This week a delegation from the Philippines will be in Ottawa and on Parliament Hill to help Canadians understand how human rights […]
If human rights ombudsman is created, learn from experience
OTTAWA—In a recent op-ed in this newspaper, several professors call for the creation of a mining ombudsman, but dismiss the Mining Association of Canada’s recommendation that it employ a joint fact-finding process. The authors wrongfully conclude that such a process would be ineffective on the basis that companies would not opt to participate, ignoring recent […]
Need for pipeline capacity in Canada under debate
Pipelines and how to get oil to seawater is a hot topic in Canada, made all the more so with the revived talk of Keystone XL by U.S. President Donald Trump. One non-profit that advocates for the transition away from fossil fuels says the industry does not need more pipelines, and if those that are […]
Independent accountability needed for Canadian mining companies abroad
Over 20,000 people from the mining industry gathered in Toronto for the annual conference of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada last week. This is known as one of the largest mining conferences in the world and reflects Canada’s worldwide dominance in the mining industry. However, some Canadian mining companies have come under criticism for […]
Canadian jobs on the line as Liberals play catch-up on trade
With projected Liberal deficits until 2055 our country cannot afford a second-place finish when it comes to our trade policy. It takes the execution of a plan and commitment to a forward direction that separates followers from the leaders. Unfortunately, those currently in charge of Canada’s trade policy have been lacking just that: forward direction […]
Pipelines to be a ‘fundamental’ issue for NDP leadership race: Julian
Pipelines could shape up to be a defining issue in the NDP leadership race, as the party’s members and provincial wings have clashing views on resource development and the construction of new oil pipelines. During the last election, federal leader Tom Mulcair (Outremont, Que.) didn’t commit to being either for or against the Energy East pipeline. […]
After the signing ceremony, Canada will wear the behaviour of mining companies abroad
It is time for Canada to establish a human rights ombudsperson for the Canadian extractive sector for people affected by companies operating overseas. A convincing case has most recently been made by the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability. The conclusion drawn by the network coincides with my own when I worked within the Canadian government […]
Canadian politicians have been using ‘alternative facts’ for years
MONTREAL—Contrary to an increasingly popular Canadian belief, the Trump administration does not have a monopoly on so-called alternative facts. Nor did it invent the concept. Deliberate distortions of reality have been part and parcel of the Canadian political discourse for years, and no party including the one that is currently in power at the national […]
Liberal trade record a concern as Canada embarks on NAFTA negotiations
Trade between Canada and the U.S. is well-balanced, highly integrated, and has far-reaching implications on all industries. Canada and the U.S. are the world’s largest trading partners, with almost $900-billion in goods and services crossing the border annually and millions of jobs dependant on trade with the U.S. Yet here we sit: waiting for NAFTA renegotiations […]
Countering Sen. MacDonald’s ‘Canadian oil needs to get to world markets’ argument
Conservative Senator Michael MacDonald’s Feb. 27 column in The Hill Times, “Canadian oil needs to get to world markets” includes errors in fact. Access to world markets for Canadian oil has been available since 1956 when the Westridge dock was constructed in Burnaby, B.C., and linked to the Trans Mountain pipeline. The dock’s export capacity has […]
