Market externalities of Canadian mining operations

 1.      Human rights violation. Canadian mining companies operate their mines outside Canada and are accused of human rights violations. External actors often influence the absence of adequate mining laws, especially in South America, causing violent deaths and severe injuries to mineworkers. For example, 5,000 persons will be displaced by the activities of Gran Colombia Gold. In addition, there is disregard for the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. These companies' attitudes are like those of the colonial era. They are only concerned about earning money, with no space for human rights. The Canadian Government needs to make some strict laws and implement them to fix this problem. In the long run, this attitude will cause human migration towards North America. 

2.      Poverty. The mining projects change the sources of income and livelihood, resulting in increased poverty. These companies buying lands from the farmers, sometimes by force, are taking those lands with minimal money. These people have nowhere to go or no other way to earn money. They had to join the mining company to survive, and though the payment was very low, they couldn’t have a healthy life with their family. Because of their poor lifestyle and poverty, their health condition is in danger of malnutrition. 

3.      Serious environmental harm concerning air, water, and ground pollution, whether actual or potential. Human health in that area is in danger. Polluted and contaminated air and water directly harm their health. This ecological condition also directly affects the livestock and agricultural livelihoods of communities, such as decreased water for irrigation, deaths of animals, and contamination of ground, water, and air. The productivity of the soil is in danger, which also economically affects the local farmers. 

4.      Socio-economic conflicts: 148 socio-economic conflicts in Latin America because of Canadian Mining Operations. For example, irrigators of Valle de Huasco signed an agreement with Barrick Gold, stipulating payment of US$ 60 million over 20 years as compensation for harm to the image of the area’s agricultural products because of the gold deposits. In time, that money divided the irrigator group, as there were complaints of corruption in managing the funding.

5.      Cultural harm. Before the mining started, the areas were mainly agricultural land. The communities and their culture were based on agriculture. After mining started, their forced labour and abusive behaviour changed the total culture of that area. People are not happy mentally, physically, or economically. They are losing their cultural activities, peace, and everything related. 

6.      There is a violation of various rights, including the right to life, humane treatment, health, and property of the neighbouring communities. It looks like a colonial process is going on. 

7.      Criminalization of rights advocacy and closure of institutional spaces for dialogue, in addition to the exacerbation of violence, threats, harassment, deaths and serious injuries. Not only the mining company but also the community is involved in different criminal activities because of the cultural change. 

8.      Aggressive police behaviour: The rich mining companies use police to continue their violations. For example, in Panama, Penonomé police anti-riot units entered the camps on May 26, 2009, without any prior attempts at dialogue with protesters; officers threw teargas canisters at those present and arrested 19 farmers, who were beaten and jailed in the town of Coclesito. In Oaxaca state, Mexico, 23 persons were detained in May 2009 after evicting residents who had spoken out publicly against groundwater contamination in the area. On November 27, 2009, Mariano Abarca Roblero was murdered after receiving threats and after being arrested in August of that year for participating in peaceful protests against the project. 

The Canadian embassy failed to respond to complaints about these acts. The Canadian government provides broad support to the extractive sector without requiring sufficient guarantees from Canadian companies that they will not harm the environment or cause human rights violations abroad.

Consumers are loyal, corporates should be too

 I believe Canadian consumers are doing their part. They are buying Canadian products. However, Canadian corporations should do some favour to Canadians, too. They should make the price affordable. If the other country's product's price can be low with transit costs, Canadian home country products should be low too, at least near that price. 

People are already suffering from unnecessarily high prices. The prices went high for every reason, such as war, COVID-19, oil prices, or anything else. Actually, they didn't suffer that much, and this way, the owner became richer and richer. That price didn't go down, actually. Now, they have started using the new tariff cause. Some product prices have become high already.

I will request all wealthy corporations to make all products' prices reasonable. Canadians should be together in all matters, right?

A story of self

 I am Shahana Shafiuddin. I am from Bangladesh, a South Asian country. Now, I am a Canadian Citizen. I came to Canada nine years ago with permanent residency and started to live in Saskatchewan. I lived in that province for six years. The region is well known for its harsh, cold weather.

The challenges I faced: I came from a tropical country where I had never seen snow. Then, I started living in a place covered in snow for eight months. I also faced language challenges because of my different accent and some new Canadian terms. Like here, people understand what is "a toilet" or "trial room." I started working with minimum wage, and I felt it was complicated to get a good pay job to live well. I didn’t know where I should go for recreation. I didn’t have any idea about the indigenous people. I had learned some misperceptions about them from the whites and other races people.

In this situation, two social organizations helped me. I joined “The Saskatoon Open Door Society” as a volunteer and registered as a newcomer to “Global Gathering.” They helped and supported me in organizing all forms to apply for major benefits as a newcomer and my child’s benefit. We joined and visited different historical places in the province and learned about Indigenous history; I worked with them and gained experience. Mostly, they let me join a city corporation meeting as a consultant, took me to city hall for a general meeting, and gave me an idea of how the City works in Canada. Here I must inform you that I have already completed my Master in Geography & Environment (Group: Urban Planning) from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

These experiences led me to decide to work as a community worker. Since I have been helped by the Canadian community, I can give something back to the Canadian Community.

Respect

 During the lunch break, I was with my co-workers in the lunchroom. Actually, they came from another company to do some contract work. Their skin is white and I don't know what is their origin. It's a little difficult in Canada to know who is from where. Those guys were speaking in English.

From my cell phone app, the Azan sounded. Those guys stopped the music that they were playing and after the Azaan they again started it. I prepared (I always keep a small mud tray to make tayammum) and sit in a chair in a corner to say a prayer. They again stopped the music, even they were not talking with each other. Then I had completed my prayer and again they started everything.

I surprised. They were showing respect to my prayer. I even didn't expect these from unknown people. Hats off to you guys. Real Canadian.