July 26, 2005
The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0G2
Dear Mr. Pettigrew,
In my capacity as a staff person with the Social Justice Committee (SJC), I have visited Guatemala frequently for close to thirty years. Until quite recently, I was always impressed by the high esteem in which Canada, people and governments, was held by most of the Guatemalans I met. My personal experiences convinced me that this esteem was often merited.
However, it now seems that the situation is changing. People who spoke highly of Canada are now asking whether we have become the "new conquistadors". One of the main reasons for this change in attitude has to do with the development of the Marlin open-pit gold and silver mine in the department of San Marcos. Many people, especially those living in its vicinity, are opposed to this mine because they were not consulted about it and because they fear its environmental and social consequences.
What has this to do with Canada's image, you may ask. Several things. First, the Marlin Mine is owned by Glamis Gold Ltd., a Canadian mining company. Second, the Canadian representative at the International Financial Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank voted in favor of a $45 million loan to Glamis for the mine, even after Guatemalan aboriginal communities had informed the IFC of their concerns. Third, the Canadian embassy in Guatemala City has been very active in its support of Canadian mining companies in general and the Marlin mine specifically.
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade's latest report to parliament positively addresses all three of these issues. In particular, the Committee urges the government to:
Put in place stronger incentives to encourage Canadian mining companies to conduct their activities outside of Canada in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and in conformity with international human rights standards. Measures in this area must include making Canadian government support such as export and project financing and services offered by Canadian missions abroad conditional on companies meeting clearly defined corporate social responsibility and human rights standards, particularly through the mechanism of human rights impact assessments;
Actually, this report is a good follow-up to commitments already made. The Government of Canada, by virtue of its membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has already "committed to continual improvement of both domestic and international policies with a view to improving the welfare and living standards of all people." (OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises). The same guidelines state that enterprises should "respect the human rights of those affected by their activities consistent with the host government's international obligations and commitments." This is applicable to the Guatemalan international obligation to include indigenous communities in the decision-making process regarding any development project that affect those communities (Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization).
Moreover, successive Canadian governments including the present one have spoken with pride of Canada's commitment to human rights on a global scale.
We, at the SJC, join with many other Canadians in urging you to positively respond to the Standing Committee's requests. The activities of Canadian mining companies working abroad, especially in poorer countries and those with weak governments, such as Guatemala, are of great importance to the people living there. It is not an over-statement to say that their well-being and perhaps even their lives are at stake.
As alluded to in the opening paragraph of this letter, the Social Justice Committee has many years of experience working alongside Guatemalans in their quest for a society based on justice and peace. It was at the request of people living in the vicinity of the mine and those working with them, that we called upon the Guatemalan government to halt work on this mine until the people affected by it gave their free and informed consent to it. We recently hosted a visit to Canada (including a meeting with representatives of your ministry) by Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini of San Marcos diocese who has consistently expressed his concerns over the mine's social and environmental impacts.
It is as a result of our experience and commitment to peace and justice for all that we ask you to respond positively to this report. We do not wish to see other communities suffer the consequences of un- or poorly-regulated mining projects as has happened with the Marlin project. It is in your power to do something. We trust you will.
Sincerely,
Ernest Schibli
Public Education Coordinator
c.c. The Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources
The Honourable David L Emerson, Minister, Industry Canada
Ms. Marlene Jennings, M.P. Cote-des-Neiges N.D.G.