Evidence of meeting #36 for International Trade in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was panama.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Thank you, Mr. Clarke.
I don't know whether we lost our feed again, but that is the time allocated to Mr. Julian, with a little extra time for my involvement.
We're going to go now to Mr. Keddy.
November 29th, 2010 / 4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Welcome to our witnesses. I realize we have a video link here and can't look directly across from our seats. I have to look down in order to see our witnesses. I apologize for that.
I have a couple of quick questions, Mr. Kneen.
First of all, maybe just for the record, I was on the same mission to Europe to discuss the free trade agreement with the European counterparts. For the life of me, I'm trying to remember which meetings the investor-state provisions came up in and all of the discussion around them, but I'm having a very difficult time. I actually don't recall them being brought up at all, and I think it's important to get that on the record.
I would ask you, because you've named several examples of mining operations that are less than stellar, at least in your opinion, whether you could name some mining operations in Central America that you think are doing it correctly.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Communications Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
I've asked that question a number of times in other fora, whether people can provide examples of positive projects and—
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
I'm just a little stuck on the name, but you may be able to enlighten me. I think it's Goldcorp that is in Honduras with the mine in San Andrés.
Are you familiar with that mine?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
And you don't think they're doing it correctly either?
[Technical difficulty--Editor]
4:30 p.m.
Communications Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
... I would say there are a number of examples of where companies are trying to manage both the environmental and social aspects of their operations.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
I also want to ask this question—and I want an answer, because I want to have enough time for Mr. Clarke to interject—on the level of governance. We know that in many of these countries there's a lack of development of a civil service as we understand it, a lack of development of a regulatory regime. All of this gets put on the shoulders of the developer, in this case a mining company.
4:30 p.m.
Communications Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
Yes, and even governance is a sort of—
4:30 p.m.
Communications Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
No, the issue is almost just one of capacity. You don't need to invoke corruption or influence or anything like that, if the technical capacity isn't there. We had the Guatemalan minister of mines, and I'm still trying to find the quote, but he said at one point that they have trouble just keeping track of what's going on, looking at the environmental impacts. So yes, it's up to the company, and there is no exchange going on with either the academics or the bureaucracy.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
I appreciate that.
I don't have much time, so I want to go to Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke, do you understand—
4:30 p.m.
General Manager, Clarke Educational Services
You know, it's very easy to—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
—what I was saying about the local governance? From what I hear from you, that's exactly what your company is attempting to do: build some capacity amongst the local population and, I would also expect, liaise with local government officials.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
I don't think he's getting it at all. I don't think his cellphone is working either.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
Can we try that again, Mr. Clarke? Do you have...?
No.
I don't know whether there's any time left, Mr. Chair.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
Well, we'll come back. How is that? We'll try to get the line back.
Mr. Cannis, did you want to direct your questions to Mr. Clarke as well?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Lee Richardson
We'll carry on, then, because we're not getting any feedback from Panama at this moment.
We're going to have to wrap it up, though, and have a quick intervention.
Mr. Cannis, I'm sorry we have to be brief. It's going to have to be the last question.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
I'll be brief, Mr. Chairman. There are a few things I just want to....
Have you been to the Molejón mine, Jamie? You mentioned the Molejón mine.
4:30 p.m.
Communications Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada
I have not been to the site; I've been to the community.