LETTER TO THE EDITOR — Ensuring the industry’s future

I must respond to Bryan Lee’s unwarranted attack (“Keep mining in Canada, but at what cost?”, T.N.M., April 3/95) on the Canadian mining industry, in which he states that mining “has not been environmentally friendly, not caring to employees, nor totally honest with the public.”

On the first point, Canada is a world leader in its environmental practices and technologies. For example:

* the Mining Association of Canada was the first national mining association in the world to adopt an environmental policy for all of its members; * last year’s Whitehorse Mining Initiative united industry, government, labor, native and environmental groups in an unprecedented roundtable consensus on environmental and other issues critical to the industry’s future; * last month, the industry released its report on Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics, which will see 13 of the country’s largest mining companies voluntarily reducing their emissions by more than 70% by the year 2000;

* the industry has also received praise for a proposal to treat mine reclamation funds like “environmental RSPs,” an innovative solution in keeping with the principles of sustainable development.

Second, it is frustrating to see Lee criticize working conditions in South America which “would not be tolerated in Canada,” but then turn around and call Canadian employers “uncaring” to their employees. Yet Lee himself benefits from holding a union position in one of the highest-paid industries in Canada, and one with strict guidelines to ensure job safety. In fact, not only is the Canadian mining industry the valuable employer of hundreds of thousands of Canadians; it is also responsible for as many jobs outside the mining sector — jobs in technology, transport and manufacturing. Natural Resources Canada says that for every 10 jobs created in mining, eight spinoff jobs are created in other sectors. The mining industry is one of Canada’s most valued employers.

Lee’s third claim, that the mining industry is not honest with the public, is absurd. The Keep Mining in Canada (KMIC) campaign is in fact the voice of thousands of Canadians from mining communities across Canada. The Standing Committee on Natural Resources backed KMIC recommendations before the last federal budget, and KMIC has been carrying out open and honest public discussions in its efforts to help the Canadian mining industry. Whether it is through seeking government action to stimulate exploration, deferring the tax on mine reclamation funds, or streamlining regulatory procedures to increase investment opportunity, the purpose of KMIC is clear: to help ensure the viability of the Canadian mining industry. Gisele Jacob

Vice-president of Public Affairs

Mining Association of Canada

Ottawa