Goldcorp, a major Canadian conglomerate, was ordered recently to shut down the companies mine in northern Chile.  The mine was met with opposition from local indigenous communities, who filed an appeal regarding the mine.  The supreme court recently upheld the appeal, forcing Goldcorp to redo the consultation process to gain the necessary environmental permits.  What this article proves is major companies now have to consult with indigenous communities, to receive approval on projects which take place within there territory.  The objective of a corporation is to generate profits, and the extra consultation process will cost the company both time and money.  It is vital for Goldcorp to meet with the Diaguita people, to build a good relationship and discuss economic and environmental issues.  Building good relationships with communities like the Diaguita, may be the only way companies like Goldcorp will be able to continue thriving in countries like Chile.  Consulting these communities will give mining companies a chance to prove they are in fact ethical, caring about all stakeholders views.  While mining proposals have been rejected more today then in the past, there is still vast opportunity in places like Chile, which currently has among the largest untapped gold reserves in the world.  No matter how environmentally conscious countries become, there will always be an industry for resource development.  With communities like the Diaguita having a greater influence on government grants for mining projects, it would be in the better interests of companies like Goldcorp, to start builiding good relationships with these people, in order to have a sustainable future.

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Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29531430

Source Media: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29531430

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral+park+declared+Tsilhqot+includes+Prosperity+mine/10192766/story.html

A recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada will have significant effects on economic development in the Interior of BC.  Companies now wanting to develop land for resource extraction in the Tsilhqot’in region of BC will need full approval of the First Nations group.  The Supreme Court of Canada made the decision in June, giving the Tsilhqot’in band 1,700 square kilometers of land.  This decision has already had an effect on certain projects such as the Taseko Mines Fish Lake project, which actually lies outside of the Tsilqot’in territory.  However the First Nation group plans to declare the area a tribal park, which could lead to some problems for Taseko mines in the future.  If the First Nations group were to dispute the mine, the project could take years to complete and the dispute could be taken to the courts, costing both sides millions of dollars.  This goes to show how the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling will impact resource development in BC, especially if rulings like this one continue.  Businesses will now have to improve relations with First Nations groups in order to receive approval on projects. They will also have to give the First Nations added economic benefits, such as a greater sharing of profits.  Companies will now need First Nations approval on all projects inside of their borders, which will make decisions more lengthily and costly, as they will need to take into consideration additional environmental issues they may have been able to sidestep with only government approval.  Both of these factors will need to be taken into account by Taseko Mines, as damaging their relationship with the group regarding the disputed fish lake project, may effect their ability to negotiate with the group in the future.  Companies will need to adapt and learn to negotiate with the First Nations groups, more then they did in the past.

Source:

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2014/07/26/Tsilhqotin-With-Gloves/

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral+park+declared+Tsilhqot+includes+Prosperity+mine/10192766/story.html