GEOG 2EI3 - Lecture 15 –

Mineral Resources

1. Framing Questions
2. Non-renewable Resources
3. Canada’s Record with Mining
4. Mining and Human Rights

@ Luc Bernier [2019]

 Learning Objectives
• Describe the framing questions to consider when
developing non-renewable resources
• Explain what are stock and flow resources
• Describe the importance of Canada as a producer
of mineral resources
• Describe the importance of the mining
industry to Canada’s economy
• Describe the contrast between the Canadian
mining industry position on sustainability and its
record in Canada and abroad
• Describe the human rights issues associated
to mining in developing countries
• Describe what are conflict resources
@ Luc Bernier
[2019]
 1. Framing Questions (1)
• Renewable resources:

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 Framing Questions (2)
• How to use the proceeds from extraction?
•

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 Framing Questions (3)
•
Extraction Transformation
Disposal
Consumption Transformation
Extraction

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 Framing Questions (4)
• How to create improved socio-economic
relationships with stakeholders?

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 2. Non-renewable Resources
•

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Non-Renewable Resources in Canada

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Pollution: Acid Mine Drainage
• Liabilities in the Canadian industry
related to acidic drainage may:

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Pollution: Sulphur Dioxide
• Sulphur dioxide emissions:

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Pollution: Metal
Toxicity
• Advances in research
highlight:

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 3. Canada’s Record with Mining
• Global production
of 16 major
minerals and
metals:

• Of the world’s
publicly traded
mining
companies:
Nov. 2017
@ Luc Bernier [2019]
Canada’s Mining Industry and
Sustainability

Towards Sustainable
Sustainability
Mining, July 18, 2019 @ Luc Bernier [2019]
indicators
 Canadian Mining Industry and
Environmental Impacts
• CESD’s report, Spring

CESD, 2019:

Released acid mine

drainage since

B.C. requests CESD, 2019:

clean up
proposals:

Tulsequah
Chief Mine
@ Luc Bernier [2019]
Site, B.C. The Narwhal; Chris Miller via CSM Photos
“Canadian mining firms worst for
environment, rights: Report”
• Reports indicate that Canadian companies:

• Significant
pollution
•

•
• Negative
impacts on
local
economies
@ Luc Bernier [2019] Working Group on Mining and
Human Rights in Latin America,2014
The Sustainability Concept

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 4. Mining and Human Rights
• Economically
important
minerals extracted
in countries with:

Siddharth Kara

Democratic Republic (DR) of

• E.g.: Congo:
•

Michael Robinson Chavez

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 Conflict Resources
•

• E.g.: Rebel groups

used profits from
sale of diamonds
to finance civil
wars in Angola,
DR-Congo, and
Sierra Leone @ Luc Bernier [2019]
ACLED, Nov 9, 2014
 Coltan: A Conflict Mineral
• Columbite–tantalite:
tantalum is extracted to
manufacture electronics

• Used to manufacture
tantalum capacitors:

• Profits used to:

•
@ Luc Bernier [2019] Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com
 Conclusion
• Economic development based on non-
renewable resources needs to address a series
of framing questions to address potential issues
and maximize positive returns
• Canada is a leading producer of minerals
• Canadian mining companies play a key role in
the Canadian economy but their environmental
and human rights records does not correspond
to their stance on these matters
• The manufacturing of new technologies
often depends on minerals extracted in
countries at war, with poor records for the
protection of human rights, and under
unsafe working conditions @ Luc Bernier [2019]
 Things To Consider

1.What are the implications of

non-renewable or stock
resources for strategies related
to “sustainable development” or
for “resilience”?

@ Luc Bernier [2019]

 TO DO!
1. Next lecture: Chapter 12 in the textbook
2. Tutorials next week: Debates start
• Print and bring a copy of the Debate
Evaluation Form
3. Quiz 3 ends on Friday, Nov. 1, at 10:00
p.m.
4. Term Paper due on Friday Nov. 8 at 4:30
p.m.
• Dropbox will open on Sunday November
3rd @ Luc Bernier [2019]
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© Luc Bernier [2019]

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