Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on June 6th, 2013

[Brent Bergeron]

I always say that if every one of those were true, I'd probably be in jail by now for everything I'd been doing.

At Goldcorp, as a Canadian mining company with standards that are very high in how we operate here in Canada, we take those lessons learned and bring them to other places.

We have a responsibility to get out to all of our stakeholders and make sure we provide the right information as to what is actually going on at our mining operations and in the communities. That's something the industry has probably not done well in the past, but I see many companies and associations right now stepping up to make sure we try to get the information out regarding exactly what is happening.

I have to admit, some of the issues will come out. Sometimes publicity about an issue at a mining operation will make it look a lot bigger than it is. But the companies are listening to that type of information coming out to make sure we are sensitive. Sometimes we ask ourselves if when we consulted with the community there was somebody we didn't reach. We ask if there is somebody we need to talk to, to make sure they understand exactly what the company is trying to do. If there are certain issues from their side, we can work with them in terms of a constructive dialogue.

We take that information a bit more seriously. We look at it and make sure that, number one, it's true, and then we move forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Scott Reid]

Mr. Sweet, one of those seven minutes is still left.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Just quickly, I haven't heard you mention today corporate social responsibility of the Canadian mining regime and the CSR counsellor. Is Goldcorp in compliance with that regime?

[Brent Bergeron]

We are. Our corporate social responsibility activities are in compliance with what Canada is trying to promote. We work with and are in contact with the Canadian corporate social responsibility counsellor.

We often have discussions with Ms. Marketa Evans about the challenges we have in different countries, in terms of implementing corporate social responsibilities. We have a contact person who actually understands some of the challenges and realities that Canadian companies need to deal with at the international level.

[The Chair, Conservative, Scott Reid]

Is there anything else?

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

No, that's fine, Mr. Chair. I'm certain we consumed a minute.

[The Chair, Conservative, Scott Reid]

Okay.

Mr. Jacob, you have the floor.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My thanks to the witnesses for joining us today.

I would like to go back to the Marlin mine. Does Goldcorp intend to do anything about the contamination from the Marlin mine?

In 2007, an elevated level of heavy metals was detected in the blood tests of 42 individuals. In addition, engineers from Newcastle University tested the water sources; they report arsenic and lead levels far in excess of the levels permitted by the World Health Organization.

What concrete action are you taking to clean up the water sources?

[Brent Bergeron]

Excuse me, Mr. Jacob, but there was an echo when you started. Are you talking about the mine in Honduras?

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Yes, the Marlin mine in Honduras, which is no longer in operation.

[Brent Bergeron]

Actually, the Marlin mine is in Guatemala.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Oh, right.

[Brent Bergeron]

The mine in Honduras is the San Martin mine.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Okay, that’s the one in Honduras.

[Brent Bergeron]

Yes.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

So I am talking about the Marlin mine.

[Brent Bergeron]

Okay.

In terms of the studies that the government conducted in the area, there is nothing to prove that people there were contaminated by certain metals. However, we are continuing to provide extensive health care, not only to mine workers, but also to the people who live in the area.

Based on a joint assessment conducted by the government and a community association, we are making sure that mining activities are in conformity with WHO standards for water contamination.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

So, if I understand you correctly, you are concerned about environmental rights, but you sometimes challenge the expertise of the scientists.

[Brent Bergeron]

The expertise?

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

The expertise of the scientists.

[Brent Bergeron]

Here is an example of what we are doing in terms of the environment. In Guatemala, three organizations are presently considering how to work together so that, when samples from various areas outside the mine come back from the international laboratories to which we send them, we can be sure that we always meet to verify the results and to decide whether there has been any contamination.

If another organization takes samples without our knowing when and where it was done, it is hard for us to look at the results in any concrete way. We have to consider the fact that three other organizations have had the same results for the last nine years.

If organizations like the university you mentioned want to work with us and decide how possible it would be for them to work with us, not on just one occasion, but over the long term, once a month or once every three months, as we are doing at the moment, we are open to that.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Very good. Thank you.

Last April 23, Karen Spring, from an NGO called Rights Action, came to testify at this committee. She told us that, under new mining legislation in Honduras, companies have to pay the country’s police force about 2% of the value of the mineral extracted.

Could you tell me whether you are aware of that new legislation now in effect in Honduras and of the risks involved in subcontracting with organizations like that, given their significant history of brutality and corruption?

Are you aware that Goldcorp could be held responsible for actions that the organization might commit while it is employed by you?

[Brent Bergeron]

Since we have no mining operations in Honduras and we are not planning any activities in the country, I cannot comment on that new legislation.

[Pierre Jacob, NDP, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

You say that you are concerned with environmental and human rights.

What do you think about respecting the freedom of association, which protects both the right of workers to form unions and the right of employers to form associations to protect their interests?

[Brent Bergeron]

In some of our operations around the world, employees are unionized, in others, they are not. We have always respected the right of employees to fully exercise their rights with company managers. In mines that are not unionized, we have also set up a number of ways for workers’ fears to be heard and dealt with by the system, so that a resolution is reached.

In Canada, employees at some mines are unionized and at others, they are not. In Mexico, two of our mines are unionized. We are even working with the union in a very positive way by providing training for its leaders. The goal is for them to acquire the skills they need to negotiate directly with us.