Speech (committee meeting)

{
    "time": "2010-05-25 11:45:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mrs. Shirley-Ann George (Senior Vice-President, Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce)",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"1996666\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Thank you very much, Chairman Allison. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996667\" data-originallang=\"en\">It's a pleasure to be back in front of this committee. As you know, we represent the broad base of Canadian business, with over 175,000 members.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996668\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is a pleasure to appear before this committee again on Bill <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a>. We have resubmitted the presentation that was given by our president and CEO last November. I will not take you through all of that again. Rather, my presentation today will outline the key reasons why our views on this bill have not changed since we last appeared. In fact, we feel more strongly than ever about the harm this bill would cause while at the end of day giving no more protection to people in developing countries where Canadian extractive companies operate.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996669\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bill <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> would cut off companies from government resources when they are alleged--not proven, but alleged--to have behaved badly and when they most need help. Bill C-300 would leave the situation unresolved. It would leave the alleged parties no better off--and potentially worse off. It would leave the company in no position to take any measures to make things right if that were proven to be necessary. It would leave in tatters the reputation of Canada, the Canadian government, and one of our most important industries and economic contributors.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996670\" data-originallang=\"en\">Also, we cannot ignore the impact of reducing the activities of our large extractive companies on the hundreds of smaller firms that serve them, including some companies that reside in your ridings. With the projects of larger companies curtailed, the spillover impacts on Canada will soon be felt.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996671\" data-originallang=\"en\">Canada is a world leader in the extractive sector, and the Toronto Stock Exchange is the world\u2019s largest mining sector capital market. Bill <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> would change that. It would drive Canadian extractive companies, the vast majority of which do behave responsibly and are considered to be globally responsible leaders, to move their base of operations outside of Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996672\" data-originallang=\"en\">Their motivation would be not to escape the punitive measures of Bill C-300, but to allow themselves to operate on a level playing field with their international competitors. On this, they know they can compete. On an unlevel playing field, they know they cannot. Competitors will not have to be constantly looking over their shoulders to see where the next accusation is coming from.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996673\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mining is similar to building a new highway across the middle of your hometown. No matter how much it's needed, and no matter how diligent you are in your preparations, there will be a group that will remain bitterly unhappy. And there are anti-mining groups who make hearsay accusations without the needed due diligence.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996674\" data-originallang=\"en\">This bill provides a taxpayer-funded platform for organizations whose existence depends on their ability to make accusations against extractive companies and for those that wish to do mischief to Canadian companies. Our extractive sector companies\u2019 international competitors could use the Bill <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> process to damage the reputation of our companies and tie up their financing arrangements, as well as delay their entry into new projects and the takeover of existing ones.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996675\" data-originallang=\"en\">Also, if Bill C-300 were passed, many Canadian companies would not take the risk of pursuing new ventures in countries with weak governance. This could be devastating to countries that depend heavily upon the economic contribution of Canada\u2019s extractive companies.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996676\" data-originallang=\"en\"> In Africa, for example, Canadian mining companies had more than $19 billion in assets in 2008. These companies contribute many, many, many times more than the Canadian government does. The impact upon this region of the closing down of projects, or even their curtailment, would be hard and swift for the world's most vulnerable.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996677\" data-originallang=\"en\">Canadian companies would also shy away from taking over operations where companies are behaving inappropriately and then bringing them up to international standards. Why would they do so when the prospect of penalties and reputation damage lies before them? And who would lose most? The very people that the bill means to protect.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996678\" data-originallang=\"en\">Sanctions proposed in this bill could be very serious and potentially devastating for Canadian extractive companies and for their employees, both at home and abroad. It would also harm the projects and the people in the developing countries. To be cut off from EDC financing and political risk insurance, as well as being blacklisted for Canada Pension Plan investment, would mean the cancelling of projects and the cutting of jobs.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996679\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is the view of the Canadian Chamber that Canada shows true leadership by working with companies to give them the tools to prevent getting into difficulties and, even more importantly, to continue working with them to help remedy the situation and preserve Canada\u2019s reputation if they do. Cutting and running is not the answer.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996680\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Some have alleged that Canadian extractive companies want to cling to the status quo. This is not the case. Canadian extractive companies know the competitive advantage afforded to those with solid reputations for responsible conduct. What this is about is measuring companies internationally by the same existing high performance standards and not putting Canadian companies at a competitive disadvantage. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996681\" data-originallang=\"en\">The standards that were cited by some of the other speakers are good standards. They were developed on an international basis and applied across all companies operating in those countries. They don't target companies from one specific country. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996682\" data-originallang=\"en\">It's also about the reputational and economic harm of the process that invites allegations against Canadian companies without any risk to those who make them.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996683\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bill <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> is a classic example of a well-intentioned bill that causes massive unintended consequences. Because this bill was written by those who do not understand the extractive sector, it also will not achieve its purpose.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996684\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is our recommendation that you take a step back and look at what should be done. This committee can meaningfully contribute to improving socially responsible behaviour. You can better understand the industry. My understanding is that this committee has not visited even one Canadian mining site in a developing country. You should go to see them. You should find out what's going on.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996685\" data-originallang=\"en\">You could understand and contribute to international CSR guidance tools, such as the updating of the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises that is under way today. You can review and support more CIDA projects to help build good governance in areas where Canada has mining interests. This would be a significant contribution. You can make sure that the CSR counsellor that was put in place--in part because this bill was tabled and the government responded by putting in place more than what they had originally intended--and the report that's given annually is important, by giving it your priority review each and every year and not forgetting it when you move on to the next thing, and by ensuring that the department provides adequate resources to that office. These measures will make a difference.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996686\" data-originallang=\"en\">As we have said, while it is well-intentioned, Bill <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> cannot live up to those intentions. It would cause significant harm to Canada's world-leading extractive companies, the broader business community, and Canada's overall reputation and economic competitiveness.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996687\" data-originallang=\"en\">The Canadian Chamber of Commerce asks each of you to vote against this bill.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996688\" data-originallang=\"en\">Thank you. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996689\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would be pleased to answer any of your questions.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"1996666\" data-originallang=\"en\">Merci beaucoup, monsieur le pr\u00e9sident</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996667\" data-originallang=\"en\">C'est un plaisir que de revenir t\u00e9moigner devant le comit\u00e9. Comme vous le savez, nous repr\u00e9sentons un large \u00e9ventail d'entreprises canadiennes, et notre effectif compte plus de 175 000 membres.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996668\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je suis heureuse de compara\u00eetre de nouveau devant le comit\u00e9 pour discuter du projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a>. Nous avons d\u00e9pos\u00e9 encore le m\u00e9moire que vous avait remis notre pr\u00e9sident et chef de la direction en novembre dernier, mais je ne vais pas vous le relire. Je compte plut\u00f4t vous exposer bri\u00e8vement les principales raisons pour lesquelles notre opinion sur le projet de loi n'a pas chang\u00e9 depuis notre derni\u00e8re comparution devant vous. En fait, nous sommes plus convaincus que jamais du tort que causerait le projet de loi, alors qu'en fin de compte il ne prot\u00e9gerait m\u00eame pas davantage les personnes dans les pays en d\u00e9veloppement o\u00f9 sont pr\u00e9sentes les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives canadiennes.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996669\" data-originallang=\"en\">Au moment o\u00f9 une entreprise aurait le plus besoin d'aide, le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> la priverait des ressources du gouvernement parce qu'elle fait l'objet d'all\u00e9gations de comportement r\u00e9pr\u00e9hensible, sans que celles-ci aient \u00e9t\u00e9 prouv\u00e9es. Il ne corrigerait pas le probl\u00e8me. Il ne r\u00e9glerait pas la situation des parties pr\u00e9tendument l\u00e9s\u00e9es, voire risquerait de l\u2019aggraver. Il ne permettrait pas \u00e0 l\u2019entreprise d\u2019apporter les correctifs \u00e9ventuellement requis. Il laisserait en lambeaux la r\u00e9putation du Canada, du gouvernement canadien et d\u2019un des secteurs les plus importants de notre \u00e9conomie.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996670\" data-originallang=\"en\">En outre, nous ne pouvons fermer les yeux sur l'impact qu'aurait la r\u00e9duction des activit\u00e9s de nos grandes soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives sur les centaines de petites entreprises qui les desservent, dont certaines se trouvent dans vos circonscriptions. Les retomb\u00e9es auront t\u00f4t fait de se faire sentir.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996671\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le Canada est un chef de file mondial dans le secteur de l'extraction mini\u00e8re, et la Bourse de Toronto est le plus grand march\u00e9 financier du secteur minier au monde. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> changerait cela. Il pousserait les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives canadiennes, dont la plus grande partie se montrent responsables et sont consid\u00e9r\u00e9es comme socialement responsables dans le monde, \u00e0 aller \u00e9tablir leur si\u00e8ge social hors du Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996672\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ces soci\u00e9t\u00e9s ne chercheraient pas ainsi \u00e0 \u00e9chapper aux mesures punitives du projet de loi C-300, mais \u00e0 pouvoir mener leurs activit\u00e9s aux termes des m\u00eames r\u00e8gles de jeu que leurs concurrents de l'\u00e9tranger. Si les r\u00e8gles ne sont pas les m\u00eames pour tous, ces soci\u00e9t\u00e9s ne pourront pas faire face \u00e0 la concurrence. Leurs concurrents n'auront pas constamment \u00e0 se tenir sur leur garde et \u00e0 se demander d'o\u00f9 fusera la prochaine accusation.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996673\" data-originallang=\"en\">L'exploitation mini\u00e8re, c'est un peu comme la construction d'une nouvelle autoroute au milieu de votre ville. Quel qu'en soit le besoin et peu importe la diligence dont vous faites preuve dans vos pr\u00e9paratifs, il y aura un groupe qui en sera am\u00e8rement m\u00e9content. Il existe des groupes d'opposition \u00e0 l'exploitation mini\u00e8re qui r\u00e9pandent des rumeurs d'accusations sans faire preuve de la diligence n\u00e9cessaire. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996674\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi constitue une plate-forme financ\u00e9e par les contribuables pour les organisations dont l'existence d\u00e9pend de leur capacit\u00e9 \u00e0 \u00e9mettre des all\u00e9gations contre les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives, et pour les gens qui veulent faire du tort aux entreprises canadiennes. Les concurrents \u00e9trangers de nos soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives pourraient invoquer le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> pour saper la r\u00e9putation de nos soci\u00e9t\u00e9s, paralyser leurs arrangements financiers et retarder l'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 de nouveaux projets et la prise de contr\u00f4le de projets en cours.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996675\" data-originallang=\"en\">De plus, si le projet de loi \u00e9tait adopt\u00e9, bon nombre d'entreprises canadiennes renonceraient tout simplement \u00e0 lancer de nouveaux projets dans les pays dont le r\u00e9gime de gouvernance est lacunaire. Cette d\u00e9cision serait d\u00e9vastatrice pour des pays qui sont lourdement tributaires de l'apport \u00e9conomique des soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives du Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996676\" data-originallang=\"en\">En Afrique, par exemple, les actifs des compagnies mini\u00e8res canadiennes se chiffraient \u00e0 plus de 19 milliards de dollars en 2008. L'incidence qu'aurait sur cette r\u00e9gion si vuln\u00e9rable l'arr\u00eat des projets, ou ne serait-ce m\u00eame que leur r\u00e9duction, serait consid\u00e9rable et rapide. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996677\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les entreprises canadiennes h\u00e9siteraient \u00e0 prendre en charge les activit\u00e9s d'entreprises qui ont un comportement inappropri\u00e9 dans les pays en d\u00e9veloppement, pour les rendre conformes aux normes internationales. Pourquoi le feraient-elles si cela devait les exposer \u00e0 des sanctions et \u00e0 la perte de leur r\u00e9putation? Qui seraient les grands perdants? Ce serait ceux-l\u00e0 m\u00eame que le projet de loi C-300 entend prot\u00e9ger.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996678\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les sanctions que propose ce projet de loi pourraient \u00eatre tr\u00e8s s\u00e9v\u00e8res et avoir un effet d\u00e9vastateur sur les entreprises et sur leurs employ\u00e9s, tant au Canada qu'\u00e0 l'\u00e9tranger, ainsi que sur les projets et les habitants des pays en d\u00e9veloppement. Le retrait du financement d'EDC et de son assurance contre les risques politiques, et l'inscription \u00e0 la liste noire du R\u00e9gime de pensions du Canada forcerait une entreprise \u00e0 annuler des projets et \u00e0 \u00e9liminer des emplois.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996679\" data-originallang=\"en\">La Chambre de commerce et ses membres des industries extractives estiment que le Canada fait preuve de leadership en collaborant avec les compagnies afin de les munir des outils n\u00e9cessaires pour \u00e9viter les difficult\u00e9s. Et Il est encore plus important de continuer de travailler avec elles pour les aider \u00e0 les r\u00e9soudre et pr\u00e9server la r\u00e9putation du Canada. Renoncer et s'enfuir n'est tout simplement pas la bonne solution.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996680\" data-originallang=\"en\">Certains ont pr\u00e9tendu que les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives canadiennes veulent maintenir le statu quo, mais il n'en est rien. Ces entreprises connaissent l'avantage concurrentiel d'avoir une solide r\u00e9putation en mati\u00e8re de conduite responsable. Il faut \u00e9valuer les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s du monde entier avec les m\u00eames normes de haute performance qui sont en place pour ne pas d\u00e9savantager les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s canadiennes.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996681\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les normes qui ont \u00e9t\u00e9 mentionn\u00e9es par certains t\u00e9moins sont valables. \u00c9labor\u00e9es dans le contexte international, elles s'appliquent \u00e0 toutes les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s, pas seulement celles d'un pays en particulier. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996682\" data-originallang=\"en\">Sans m\u00eame courir de risques, les gens pourraient faire des all\u00e9gations sur les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s canadiennes et nuire \u00e0 leur r\u00e9putation et \u00e0 leur situation financi\u00e8re.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996683\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> est un exemple classique de mesure qui entra\u00eene des cons\u00e9quences non souhait\u00e9es malgr\u00e9 les bonnes intentions. Comme il a \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9dig\u00e9 par ceux qui ne comprennent pas le secteur extractif, le projet de loi n'atteindra pas son objectif.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996684\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous vous recommandons de prendre du recul et de songer \u00e0 ce qu'il faut faire. Le comit\u00e9 peut contribuer de fa\u00e7on notable \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer les comportements socialement responsables. Vous pouvez comprendre l'industrie davantage. \u00c0 ce que je sache, le comit\u00e9 n'a m\u00eame pas visit\u00e9 une mine appartenant \u00e0 une soci\u00e9t\u00e9 canadienne dans un pays en d\u00e9veloppement. Vous devriez visiter des mines pour voir ce qui s'y passe.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996685\" data-originallang=\"en\">Vous pourriez comprendre et travailler aux outils internationaux en mati\u00e8re de RSE, comme les directives de l'OCDE sur les multinationales, qui sont pr\u00e9sentement mises \u00e0 jour. Vous pouvez \u00e9valuer et soutenir plus de projets de l'ACDI afin de favoriser l'\u00e9laboration de bonnes politiques dans les r\u00e9gions o\u00f9 le Canada a des int\u00e9r\u00eats miniers. Il s'agirait d'un apport consid\u00e9rable. Vous pouvez assurer qu'on accorde de l'importance au conseiller en RSE \u2014 qui est entr\u00e9 en fonctions en partie \u00e0 cause du projet de loi, auquel le gouvernement a r\u00e9agi par la mise en oeuvre de plus de mesures qu'il en avait l'intention au d\u00e9part. Vous pouvez \u00e9tudier en priorit\u00e9 et garder \u00e0 l'esprit le rapport annuel de ce responsable et faire en sorte que le minist\u00e8re concern\u00e9 fournisse les ressources ad\u00e9quates \u00e0 son bureau. De telles mesures r\u00e9pondraient aux besoins.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996686\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme nous l'avons dit, m\u00eame si on a de bonnes intentions, le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"4327824\" href=\"/bills/40-3/C-300/\" title=\"An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of  Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries\">C-300</a> ne peut pas atteindre son objectif. Il nuirait consid\u00e9rablement aux soci\u00e9t\u00e9s extractives canadiennes, qui sont des chefs de file mondiaux, au milieu des affaires en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral, \u00e0 la r\u00e9putation du Canada ainsi qu'\u00e0 sa comp\u00e9titivit\u00e9 sur le plan \u00e9conomique. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996687\" data-originallang=\"en\">La Chambre de commerce du Canada demande \u00e0 chacun de vous de voter contre le projet de loi.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996688\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je vous remercie.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1996689\" data-originallang=\"en\">C'est avec plaisir que je r\u00e9pondrai \u00e0 vos questions.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/committees/foreign-affairs/40-3/19/shirley-ann-george-1/",
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