Mining exec salutes watchdog group

Development and Peace helps change corporate culture – Goldcorp VP

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

Goldcorp Inc. has been under the spotlight as Development and Peace campaigns to ensure Canadian resource companies live up to the highest ethical standards when operating abroad.

The campaign is getting the attention of the company, which is one of the world's top gold mining firms.

Social conscience

The vice president who built controversial mines in Honduras and Guatemala (WCR, May 7) credits organizations like Development and Peace with making companies like Goldcorp strive for sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

"There's been a change in the mentality of people who are in charge of companies and the corporate culture," said Tim Miller, Goldcorp's vice president for Central and South America, in a telephone interview from Guatemala May 8.

"Having people who are providing you with the type of monitoring and conscience out there is a key part of any industry, not just the extractive industry."

Miller, a Catholic, said groups like Caritas Honduras and others have helped bring industry "into the modern world." An American-born chemical engineer with 30 years experience in Africa and Latin America, he has seen big changes in recent years. In the days of the British Empire, mining companies used to bring their culture with them and remain isolated, he said. "You would have your tea, sitting out on the veranda overlooking the mine."

Now, companies like Goldcorp strive to become involved in the local community, he said. Goldcorp acquired the Honduran mine when it bought Glamis Gold, where Miller worked since 2000.

"It's very encouraging to hear this reaction from them," said the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace's (CCODP) executive director Michael Casey. "It shows our approach can be effective, because at least it results in thoughtful dialogue and that's the first step.

Recently, Development and Peace joined its sister organizations CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) based in the United Kingdom and Caritas Tegucigalpa of Honduras in sending Goldcorp a May 2 open letter, coinciding with the Vancouver-based company's annual general meeting.

Casey said the letter supported a local environmental group seeking to make sure the Goldcorp "cleaned up" before it closes its San Martin mine.

Miller said he is "in full agreement" with the requests called for in the open letter. Caritas Honduras has not taken that approach, and has been in dialogue with Goldcorp, he said. He welcomes the pressure from groups like Caritas Honduras and Development and Peace. "I think it's part of their job."

Sustainable development

Miller said Goldcorp is already implementing a socio-economic plan, one that started with identifying local entrepreneurs who have been supplying the mine. The goal is to have these local businesses become increasingly self-sufficient to avoid a boom and bust cycle.

Goldcorp also plans a land reclamation project that already includes operating cattle, hog and chicken farms. If the community decides to develop a local hot spring into a spa, Goldcorp will help make it a viable tourist attraction.

Cyanide is an expensive reagent the company reclaims from water before discharging it into a pond. "We make sure it meets all international standards."

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