SOCIAL LICENSE: CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITIES
Mining companies and governing bodies alike are paving new ground and offering up frameworks for strong decision making between mining companies and the surrounding communities.
Social license— an unwritten agreement between all stakeholders — takes front and centrein the conversation. “We’ve moved from a situation where there was very little connection at all to one now whereby in an early stage when the company is in its early exploration it needs to connect and engage and talk about what might happen if an exploration proves to show real promise,” says Malcolmscoble, professor and chair of mining Engineering at University of British Columbia.. “that has to happen very early to avoid any prospects for unclear expectations.” He points to increased efforts by mining organizations across Canada to educate their membership on the values of corporate social responsibility ( CSR) and the ultimate business benefits of those practices.
“The industry has been cognisant of this growing need to work together in developing a strategy and developing a strategy for sustainable mining,” says Scoble. “There’s a strong business case for that. And nowadays there’s a natural expectation by most people that there will be that form of approach— it really is impossible to put your head in the sand even if you want to.”
Scoble points out Prime Minister Harper’s latest visit to Australia where he announced plans to develop an initiative in Canada geared towards CSR development, much like the Australian government’s recent efforts.
Scoble says both countries share a similar offshore lending belt and are home to companies looking to develop new mines in close proximity to indigenous people.
“The fact is that these initiatives prompted by their respective federal governments are just in their early stages is significant,” says scoble.
An example of the connection between communities and mining companies with regards to social licenses is the Britannia Mine Museum. The former copper mine— one of the largest in the days of the former british empire — was converted into a museum in 1971 to help showcase the effective remediation, both socially and environmentally of a large scale mining project.
“( It) represents a unique opportunity to prove that an environmental liability can be transformed into a social, economic and environmental asset,” explains Michael Mcphie, co- chair of Britannia Beach Historical Society and vice- chair of the society’s fund raising committee.“the Britannia Mine Museum respects its history and celebrates both the fragility and regenerative powers of the earth, and profiles Canada’s leadership in responsible resource development and environmental stewardship.”