Editorial Passing grades for environmental policy

In its favor, the association has committed all its members to a policy that recognizes the importance of environmental issues. Most Canadian mining companies strive to be good corporate citizens regarding environmental issues, but the MAC’s policy statement formalizes that. In fact, the association says future membership in the association will be conditional upon accepting the policy, a stand that emphasizes the industry’s solidarity on environmental issues.

But when it comes to the six statements that make up the policy, there is less of substance. One provision says association members will comply with all applicable legislation regarding the environment. The fact is, however, that they would have to comply with such legislation whether the association had a policy or not. Would any responsible company have a policy to knowingly break the law?

Another provision says members will maintain a self- monitoring system to ensure compliance with government and company requirements. Well, if they have already said they will comply, to say they are going to self-monitor their compliance is redundant. It’s like saying “we will comply and we’ll make sure we comply.”

A third provision says members will “enhance communications and understanding with governments, employees and the public,” a statement that, in fact, communicates very little. Enhancing communications and understanding is a laudable objective, but the proof of the pudding is only in the eating.

On the plus side, three provisions of the policy appear to have some meat to them.

One commits members to apply “cost-effective best management practices to advance environmental protection and to minimize environmental risks” in the absence of legislation. That puts a considerable responsibility on mining companies, because, given the often hysterical dialogue surrounding environmental issues, legislation is usually the only comprehensible guide to what is environmentally acceptable.

MAC’s members are also committed by this policy to foster research into the relationship between the industry and the environment. The mining industry is slowly realizing the importance of research and development on improving productivity; now it is committed on an association-wide basis to expanding that research effort into environmental issues.

And lastly, members of the association are committed to work “pro-actively” with the government and the public on future legislation and regulations regarding the environment. The association is aware of the folly in constantly reacting to environmental issues thereby always being on the defensive and being seen as the villain defending its actions. This commitment is meant to prompt association members into taking an active role in setting the environmental agenda, something it has failed to do in the past.

Altogether, the environmental policy is an important step for the association, both as a public relations initiative and as a substantial effort to prepare the mining industry to play a significant role in Canada’s economy in the 1990s and beyond.

The policy statement is not a prescription for environmental perfection, but if the industry follows through it could be the foundation for important improvements.

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