The asks haven’t changed, but the political opportunities have. Will you seize this opportunity to advance mining justice and corporate accountability in Canada? We have a chance now, but we will only be successful if a significant number of Canadians from across the country take action to hold the government to its promises.

 

Canada is home to more than half of the world’s mining companies, with active projects in more than 100 countries. Canadian mining, oil and gas companies are often viewed as representatives of Canada abroad, but human rights abuses, environmental damage, displacement and violations of basic labour rights are increasingly associated with these projects.

 

On November 2nd, 2016 the Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability (CNCA), a United Church partner that brings together faith, labour, and civil society organizations, will launch draft legislation for an extractive sector ombudsperson (attached) as part of its Open for Justice Campaign. This independent ombudsperson will have, among other things, the power to investigate complaints and publically make recommendations, including suspending or ending Canadian government support to companies that do not respect international standards.

​

Help show your MP that this is an important issue to Canadians:

​

1. Write to your MP, using this model letter as a basis for your own personalized letter. If you have already written to your MP, here is a good follow up letter you could use as a model. You can find your MP’s email or postal address by entering your postal code here.

2. Request a meeting with your MP.

3. Ask others to join you—share this request with your email networks or post to social media. The more that MPs across the country hear from us, the more effective our actions will be.

4. Be persistent! Follow up your request for a meeting with your MP with a phone call to their constituency office.

 

In your meeting and correspondence, ask your MP to:

• Speak with Minister of International Trade, François-Philippe Champagne, to ask him to champion the CNCA’s model ombudsperson legislation.

• Report back on what Minister Champagne tells you. Ask them to publicly support the creation of an ombudsperson.

• Take a picture with you! Post it on social media along with information about your meeting.

 

Share what you are up to (no action is too small!). It’s vital to the success of the campaign that we hear what’s happening.

• Copy United for Mining Justice (unitedforminingjustice(at)gmail.com) on your e-mail to your MP.

• Let us know if you have asked for a meeting and the results of the meeting, when it occurs.