Abstract
In Canada and globally, demand is increasing for minerals and metals sourced in a sustainable way (environmentally, socially, economically). Mining companies are subsequently under increasing pressure to take more responsibility for their impact on communities, including leaving a positive economic and social legacy beyond the life of mine. In Canada, this work also needs to respect Indigenous rights and offer opportunities for Indigenous peoples.
Through CSA Group Research, two recent research reports were published investigating the role of standardization as per the topic area of the socio-economic transition of closed mining sites. In March 2020, CSA published a research report on the Assessment of Gaps and Needs for Environmental and Sustainability Standards for the Canadian Mining Sector. A key gap, and need, was that of the topic of socio-economic transition. CSA Group then published a research paper in 2021 entitled Socio-Economic Transition for Mine Closure in Canada—Investigating Standards-based Solutions.
Developing a formal guidance document or Standard that sets the foundation of socio-economic transition considerations for mine closure could support a community’s transition after a mine site closes, specifically by having this strategically planned with the input of affected stakeholders. This could also be an opportunity for the Canadian mining sector and the Indigenous rightsholders to reflect on successes and challenges in terms of the socio-economic impacts of mine closure and respond to these opportunities and expectations in a way that improves outcomes for communities and builds Canada’s mining leadership and expertise. Developing a credible Canadian-based document, could further help position Canada’s mining sector internationally being seen as a leader and also establishing Canadian-based best practices in this area. Such a document could also help Canadian companies attest to socio-economic transition being adequately planned for when a mine is closing, thereby helping Canadian companies gain further ‘social license to operate’ within Canada.
CSA Group continues to investigate this topic area and we would like to use this forum to share our research findings as well as generate and solicit feedback from mining sector stakeholders.