October 1994, Mining Association of Canada (MAC)
The Canadian mining industry is facing major challenges as it prepares to enter the 21st century. Mining helps to make Canada one of the most favoured societies of the world. We are resolved that it should help lead us into an equally bright future.
This Accord forges a key to that future. It is a summons to change, framed within the context of a commitment to social and environmental goals. What we seek is a sustainable mining industry within the framework of an evolving and sustainable Canadian society.
The specific challenges facing mining in Canada are complex. Some are outside Canada's control. We cannot escape the reality of the nature of global competition. Numerous mineral rich countries have liberalized their economic and political systems to attract investment. Many of the challenges, however, do come under our control and can be addressed through the cooperation of different sectors within Canada.
Against this background, the mining industry concluded that it needed support, assistance and advice within a non-adversarial framework, to help it develop a new strategic vision and to create solutions for the 21st century.
The Mining Association of Canada, on behalf of the mining industry, took a suggestion for a multi-stakeholder process to the mines ministers of all senior governments at their annual conference in Whitehorse in September 1992. The ministers agreed to become co-sponsors and trustees of the process and named it the Whitehorse Mining Initiative. Representatives of five sectors of society agreed to participate. They were the mining industry, senior governments, labour unions, Aboriginal peoples, and the environmental community.
Full scale discussions began in February 1993 and, eighteen months later, culminated in this Accord.
The Accord adopts a strategic vision for a healthy mining industry in the context of maintaining healthy and diverse ecosystems in Canada, and for sharing opportunities with Aboriginal peoples. It calls for improving the investment climate for investors, streamlining and harmonizing regulatory and tax regimes, ensuring the participation of Aboriginal peoples in all aspects of mining; adopting sound environmental practices; establishing an ecologically based system of protected areas; providing workers with healthy and safe environments and a continued high standard of living; recognition and respect for Aboriginal treaty rights; settling Aboriginal land claims; guaranteeing stakeholder participation where the public interest is affected; and creating a climate for innovative and effective responses to change.
