terrylee

On CBC Business today was an article called “Mining Watchdog Agency Called “Bogus PR Job“”  This article states that Canada’s federal mining watchdog agency, which is supposed to keep Canadian mining companies operating abroad accountable for their actions in developing countries,  is not performing its job competently, letting companies damage the environment and culture in developing countries.  This connects to the topic of Occupy Wall Street, as well as sustainability and business ethics.

First, the investigations are completely voluntary and the mining companies have the right to refuse investigation by the agency as a result of heavy lobbying by the mining companies against a bill that would’ve made the investigations mandatory.  This presents a case of corporate influence in government decisions, which Occupy Wall Street is fighting against.

Furthermore, although the companies can refuse investigations, they cannot escape bad publicity, or bad company morale.  The article names Excellon and HudBay Minerals as some of the offenders, which have been accused of being involved in violation of human rights.  Not only is this concerning for the reader, but also for stockholders, who do not want to be associated with bad publicity.  It is true that “great companies are good companies”