Finland imports Canadian CSR expertise

A little over a decade ago, the Mining Association of Canada launched with little fanfare a unique stewardship program called the “Towards Sustainable Mining Initiative (TSM).” It was the only program that measured and reported on social and environmental performance at the mine site, where performance matters most. And it introduced independent verification of performance, so that communities could believe what the mines were reporting.

And now, the Finnish Mining Association (FinnMin) has announced it is adopting TSM, taking the made-in-Canada program to a second country.

So how does TSM work in Canada?

The program is mandatory for all MAC members’ Canadian operations, and many voluntarily apply it to their international sites. TSM requires that mining companies annually assess their facilities’ performance across six areas: tailings management; aboriginal and community outreach; safety and health; biodiversity conservation; crisis management; and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management.

The results are available to the public, and externally verified every three years.

While FinnMin will tailor its performance areas so they reflect its domestic mining sector, they will still closely resemble those of Canada’s.

To ensure TSM reflects the expectations of civil society and industry stakeholders, it was designed and continues to be shaped in Canada by an independent, multi-stakeholder advisory panel. FinnMin has also set up a similar advisory body to provide this valuable oversight.

FinnMin’s adoption of TSM is not just a milestone for the program — it is another example of Canadian mining leadership. Canada has long been recognized for its mining expertise in the areas of finance, equipment and technical services, but milestones like this show a growing recognition of Canada’s leadership in responsible mining practices.

Exporting Canada’s expertise in environmental and social stewardship is one way that Canada can contribute to responsible mining practices around the world. In fact, FinnMin’s adoption of TSM is part of a larger commitment by the MAC to freely share TSM with other countries seeking tools to improve the environmental and social performance of their mining industry, including engagement with civil society, and enhanced transparency and accountability.

FinnMin and MAC will work together to spread TSM even further. 

— Pierre Gratton is president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. See www.mining.ca for more information.