Canada
Delivered by: Patrick Chevalier / Canada
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Canada?s Statement
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development ? 19th Session
Mining Theme
New York, 2 March 2011, 3:00 pm
Canada would like to take this opportunity to thank the bureau for the organization of work
and its proficient efforts in preparing the mining thematic profile for the 19th Session.
Recalling Canada?s national report to CSD18, Canada?s approach to mineral resources
development includes a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework; strong
governance to maximize the contribution of Canada?s mineral resources endowment to the
economic and social benefit of communities and the Canadian economy; an emphasis on
science, technology and innovation to improve extraction, processing, remediation of sites
and the mitigation of environmental and human health impacts of mining activity; multistakeholder
engagement and consultation; and the development of partnerships with
federal, provincial, territorial governments; industry; non-governmental organizations;
academia, and international institutions?to leverage knowledge and expertise both
domestically and internationally.
Canada?s proposals for the way forward encourages actions by governments, industry and
other stakeholders in four key areas: improving national governance of mineral resources,
strengthening the national mining policy dialogue, reducing the environmental footprint of
mining, and promoting corporate social responsibility. Prefacing Canada?s proposal is to
emphasize the role that multilateral and international aid agencies play towards building
governance and institutional capacity in the mining sector.
Canada recognises the need for a continued dialogue on mining. Such a dialogue needs
to focus on enhancing capacity building for good governance of the mining sector, actively
engage national ministries responsible for mining, take a multi-stakeholder approach,
avoid duplication with existing activities, and promote cooperation with other work in
mining-related forums and agencies.
The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development
evolved from a joint partnership at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development,
to implement paragraph 46 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. With 43 member
governments, it is currently the only global mining-related forum that seeks to strengthen
governance and facilitates capacity building for developing countries through the exchange
of information, the diffusion of knowledge, and the promotion of best practices to effectively
manage mineral resource development. Members have developed a Mining Policy
Framework as a tool to strengthen governance of mineral resources in key areas identified
by developing countries, such as: legal and policy environment; financial benefit
maximization; socio-economic benefit maximization; environmental management; postmining
transition; and artisanal and small-scale mining.
Canada recognizes the contribution of the Intergovernmental Forum to the Intersessional
process for CSD19, in its capacity as a global consultative body on mining policy to inform
the UN System and encourages CSD19 participants to consider the Forum?s Mining Policy
Framework as a useful global reference on mining sector good governance. Canada also
recognizes the successful partnership with UNCTAD, as both the host of the
Intergovernmental Forum and a contributor to the governance dialogue since the World
Summit in 2002.
Canada believes that strengthening national mining policy dialogue needs Ministries
responsible for mining to pursue a whole-of-government approach to mineral policy
development, ensuring better integration of legislation and regulatory frameworks of crosscutting
issues, as well as the integration of economic, social and environmental
dimensions of mining into national development goals. Mining ministries also need to be
fully engaged directly in mining-related forums, such as the current discussion of mining.
The development of multi-stakeholder engagement processes, including with Indigenous
People, at the local and national levels improves government and industry transparency,
reduces social conflicts surrounding mining , and strengthens information and knowledge
exchange among stakeholders.
Canada recognizes the need for the enhanced coordination of existing science, research
and innovation being carried out by national public-private partnerships, academia,
research institutions and other organizations to reduce mining?s environmental footprint.
This will improve opportunities for: leveraging domestic and international technical
exchanges, upgrading technologies and expertise in developing countries, and creating
regional and global science-based networks. This work could be supported through the
development of a research database hosted on the CSD Secretariat?s website.
Canada supports efforts by all stakeholders to promote existing, internationally accepted
voluntary principles and guidelines related to mining activity. Canada?s Building the
Canadian Advantage: A Corporate CSR Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive
Sector encourages industry compliance with the UN Global Compact, IFC Performance
Standards, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises, and the Global Reporting Initiative.
Canada defines corporate social responsibility as voluntary industry initiatives which
extend beyond compliance with legislation and regula tory frameworks. However, strong
governance and institutional capacity of host governments is required for corporate social
responsibility to be effective in poverty reduction. The contributing role of other
stakeholders must also be taken into account to facilitate economic and social benefits for
citizens.
Canada looks forward to working with our domestic partners and the international
community through multilateral forums to develop policies and actions that will assist
governments to improve mining?s contribution to sustainable development. Canada
remains committed to moving forward with concrete actions, sharing of best practices, and
engaging in productive dialogue to address existing challenges. Canada has several
technical comments related to the Secretary-General?s Report: Policy Options and Actions
for Expediting Progress in Implementation: Mining, which will be submitted to the
Secretariat in a separate document.
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Canada?s Statement
Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development ? 19th Session
Mining Theme
New York, 2 March 2011, 3:00 pm
Canada would like to take this opportunity to thank the bureau for the organization of work
and its proficient efforts in preparing the mining thematic profile for the 19th Session.
Recalling Canada?s national report to CSD18, Canada?s approach to mineral resources
development includes a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework; strong
governance to maximize the contribution of Canada?s mineral resources endowment to the
economic and social benefit of communities and the Canadian economy; an emphasis on
science, technology and innovation to improve extraction, processing, remediation of sites
and the mitigation of environmental and human health impacts of mining activity; multistakeholder
engagement and consultation; and the development of partnerships with
federal, provincial, territorial governments; industry; non-governmental organizations;
academia, and international institutions?to leverage knowledge and expertise both
domestically and internationally.
Canada?s proposals for the way forward encourages actions by governments, industry and
other stakeholders in four key areas: improving national governance of mineral resources,
strengthening the national mining policy dialogue, reducing the environmental footprint of
mining, and promoting corporate social responsibility. Prefacing Canada?s proposal is to
emphasize the role that multilateral and international aid agencies play towards building
governance and institutional capacity in the mining sector.
Canada recognises the need for a continued dialogue on mining. Such a dialogue needs
to focus on enhancing capacity building for good governance of the mining sector, actively
engage national ministries responsible for mining, take a multi-stakeholder approach,
avoid duplication with existing activities, and promote cooperation with other work in
mining-related forums and agencies.
The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development
evolved from a joint partnership at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development,
to implement paragraph 46 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. With 43 member
governments, it is currently the only global mining-related forum that seeks to strengthen
governance and facilitates capacity building for developing countries through the exchange
of information, the diffusion of knowledge, and the promotion of best practices to effectively
manage mineral resource development. Members have developed a Mining Policy
Framework as a tool to strengthen governance of mineral resources in key areas identified
by developing countries, such as: legal and policy environment; financial benefit
maximization; socio-economic benefit maximization; environmental management; postmining
transition; and artisanal and small-scale mining.
Canada recognizes the contribution of the Intergovernmental Forum to the Intersessional
process for CSD19, in its capacity as a global consultative body on mining policy to inform
the UN System and encourages CSD19 participants to consider the Forum?s Mining Policy
Framework as a useful global reference on mining sector good governance. Canada also
recognizes the successful partnership with UNCTAD, as both the host of the
Intergovernmental Forum and a contributor to the governance dialogue since the World
Summit in 2002.
Canada believes that strengthening national mining policy dialogue needs Ministries
responsible for mining to pursue a whole-of-government approach to mineral policy
development, ensuring better integration of legislation and regulatory frameworks of crosscutting
issues, as well as the integration of economic, social and environmental
dimensions of mining into national development goals. Mining ministries also need to be
fully engaged directly in mining-related forums, such as the current discussion of mining.
The development of multi-stakeholder engagement processes, including with Indigenous
People, at the local and national levels improves government and industry transparency,
reduces social conflicts surrounding mining , and strengthens information and knowledge
exchange among stakeholders.
Canada recognizes the need for the enhanced coordination of existing science, research
and innovation being carried out by national public-private partnerships, academia,
research institutions and other organizations to reduce mining?s environmental footprint.
This will improve opportunities for: leveraging domestic and international technical
exchanges, upgrading technologies and expertise in developing countries, and creating
regional and global science-based networks. This work could be supported through the
development of a research database hosted on the CSD Secretariat?s website.
Canada supports efforts by all stakeholders to promote existing, internationally accepted
voluntary principles and guidelines related to mining activity. Canada?s Building the
Canadian Advantage: A Corporate CSR Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive
Sector encourages industry compliance with the UN Global Compact, IFC Performance
Standards, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises, and the Global Reporting Initiative.
Canada defines corporate social responsibility as voluntary industry initiatives which
extend beyond compliance with legislation and regula tory frameworks. However, strong
governance and institutional capacity of host governments is required for corporate social
responsibility to be effective in poverty reduction. The contributing role of other
stakeholders must also be taken into account to facilitate economic and social benefits for
citizens.
Canada looks forward to working with our domestic partners and the international
community through multilateral forums to develop policies and actions that will assist
governments to improve mining?s contribution to sustainable development. Canada
remains committed to moving forward with concrete actions, sharing of best practices, and
engaging in productive dialogue to address existing challenges. Canada has several
technical comments related to the Secretary-General?s Report: Policy Options and Actions
for Expediting Progress in Implementation: Mining, which will be submitted to the
Secretariat in a separate document.
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