A panel to discuss John McKay's private member's Bill C-300: An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries
Aimed at creating a corporate accountability framework for the Canadian extractive sector in light of the National CSR Roundtable recommendations of March 2010, Bill C-300 has been controversial and polarizing. Championed by a large number of Canadian and international NGOs and civil society groups, and facing strong opposition from the mining sector and industry representatives, the third reading of this bill is scheduled for late October, 2010. The Law and Development Society has arranged for a panel of experts to discuss the implications of the House vote and C-300 in general. The focus of the panel will be both the desirability of the proposed legislation, along with the legal viability of the bill.
Speakers will include:
Catherine Coumans, Research Co-ordinator with MiningWatch Canada, a national non-profit supported by environmental, social justice, Aboriginal and labour organisations and addressing issues of threats to public health, the environment and community interests posed by the Canadian extractive sector. Ms. Coumans has been actively involved in MiningWatch’s efforts to advocate on behalf of Bill C-300 since it was introduced in February 2009.
Hon. James S. Peterson P.C, former federal Minister of International Trade between 2003 and 2006 and Secretary of State between 1997 and 2002 and currently Counsel at Fasken Martineau. In May, 2010 Mr. Peterson was appointed Co-Chair of the Canada/US Law Institute. Mr. Peterson represented Fasken Martineau before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development to oppose Bill C-300 in November 2009.
Malcolm Rogge, Toronto-based documentary filmmaker and lawyer. Since 1994 he has
been examining the justice concerns arising from environmental conflicts related to the global extractive industry, particularly in Latin America and Canada. He has extensive on-the-ground experience with affected communities in Latin America. In 2008, he produced and directed the international award winning feature documentary film, Under Rich Earth.
Michael Bourassa, partner at Fasken Martineau and coordinator of the Global Mining Group. Named by Who’s Who Legal as “Mining Lawyer of 2010” and also mentioned in International Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers, which has ranked Fasken Martineau as the number one firm for mining legal expertise in the world for 5 years in a row.
Professor Audrey Macklin will moderate the panel.
Food will be served.
Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 12:30 in
FLB
at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
For more information, please e-mail
Ben Liston at
ben.liston@utoronto.ca
