Canada presents itself as a both at home and abroad. But it’s also a global leader in mining, an industry with an abysmal human rights record.
Under the previous Conservative federal government, Canadian foreign aid was more directly . But when Liberal Justin Trudeau was elected in 2015, it appeared to signal a return to more “progressive” values.
The launch of the in 2017 was a powerful symbol in this direction. But despite Canadian mining companies being accused of , the Liberal government continues to actively support mining abroad.
Canada is a , home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining and mineral exploration companies.
, Canadian mining companies operate in 95 foreign countries and the value of Canadian mining assets totalled $336.7 billion. Half of Canadian foreign mining assets are located in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Canadian mining in Peru
Peru is a key mining partner; . Canada has the .
At last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Lima, Trudeau announced investments to create .” These included initiatives to support women’s and girls’ rights as well as improving access to the justice system for Indigenous and Afro-Peruvian communities.
Trudeau also announced the creation of a .
But can Canada be both a human rights champion and a global mining leader? While Canada describes its mining industry as , human rights organizations paint a different picture.
Backing Boluarte government
Canadian mining companies have been accused in Peru of . Canada has also supported in favour of foreign mining investment.
Canada’s support of the current and highly unpopular Dina Boluarte government, which ousted left-wing president Pedro Castillo in 2022, points to the , even those of .
Castillo meanwhile had proposed .
The impact on women
Reports have shown that , which include .
Women human rights defenders confronting extractive industries also face . Indigenous women are often at the forefront of .
Despite the bold ambitions of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy to promote a “more peaceful, more inclusive and more prosperous world,” critics have highlighted several weaknesses and challenges.
Among them: , its (when women are used for broader economic and political goals), as well as its emphasis on .
Some have also highlighted its , including trade and security, its and .
Structural causes not addressed
My ongoing research with civil society organizations in Peru suggests that Canada is providing much-needed and highly appreciated support for women’s rights, LGTBQ+ and Indigenous women’s organizations, namely through its . The positive impacts of such initiatives should not be overlooked.
But even though these projects — often short-term — may benefit some people and some organizations, they often fail to tackle the structural causes of poverty and gender inequality. They also neglect to take into account Canada’s role in creating and maintaining global inequalities through its disruptive mining activities.
For years, have been demanding greater accountability and regulation for Canadian overseas corporations. Despite promises to hold companies accountable for abuses abroad with the creation of the .
With the possible election of a Conservative federal government in the coming months, it’s unlikely that tightening regulations for private Canadian companies operating in other countries will be a priority.
Despite its feminist ambitions, taking a closer look at Canada’s role in countries where it has significant mining interests reveals a more complex and nuanced image of Canada in the world.
Véronique Plouffe receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
