A Comparative Analysis of Voluntary Environmental Initiatives in the Canadian Mineral Industry

Mineral development companies with operations in Canada are becoming increasingly aware that they need to publicly demonstrate their capability of dealing with environmental and social concerns in a responsible manner. As such, voluntary initiatives have become a common part of mining activity in Canada. While there are many different categories, voluntary measures can include on-site work during operations and monitoring to ensure the health and safety of the built and natural environments, habitat conservation and reclamation, community participation and consultation, research partnerships, financial contributions and education of the workforce and relevant stakeholders. A review of the Canadian mineral industry's activities in this area, with specific focus on wildlife and habitat protection, suggests that many mining companies use voluntary initiatives as an integral part of their operations. From the perspective of the industry, the goal of these initiatives is threefold: to ensure that adequate envi...