Editorial On the winning side

The right side, of course, is the side that wins. And it seems obvious that over the next decade those who seek to “protect” the environment will be the winning side. Those in the business of exploiting natural resources may feel they’re being unjustly singled out as villains in this issue, but the truth is that eventually they’re going to have to live with environmental issues. The only question is, will they insist on continuing in the role of villain or will they get on side and try to guide the issue. Judging by the less than overpowering presence of the mining industry on six provincial “round tables” on the environment and the economy, mining companies are letting this issue guide them.

The round tables were recommended by the National Task Force on Environment and the Economy in 1987. Mining was well represented on that landmark task force with Inco’s executive vice-president Roy Aitken acting as co-chairman. The task force came out in unanimous support for the concept of “sustainable development,” the idea that economic development requires good stewardship of our natural resources and good stewardship requires the prosperity that comes from economic development.

So far, however, the only mining representatives on the round tables are Lorne Ames from Inco on Manitoba’s 16-member round table and Bill James from Falconbridge on Ontario’s 21-member group. In Nova Scotia, William Mundle of Logan Drilling sits on the 19-member group. Quebec has no representative from mining on its 10-member group.

Altogether, government outnumbers all other interest groups with 31 representatives, but environmental lobby groups will also make their presence felt with 17 members. Labor organizations, with four representatives, and native groups, also with four representatives, both outnumber mining.

Now, who do you think is going to set the agenda on those round tables?

Environmental issues will lead to higher production costs and getting involved in committees such as these round tables takes up a lot of time and energy. But refusing to participate will not reduce costs nor lessen the time companies will have to spend on environmental issues. Now is the time to get on the inside and help steer the environmental agenda in a direction that is best for mining. The alternative is to stay on the outside and get run over.

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