September 19, 2013 - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie, today met with representatives of companies in Quebec’s world-class extractive sector as part of a series of consultations launched by International Trade Minister Ed Fast. The objective of the consultations is to help guide the Government of Canada as it looks at ways to continue to support the extractive sector and foster success in priority markets around the world.
“Canada’s mining sector—which employs more than 300,000 Canadians—leads the world in responsible practices, and we are proud of the prosperity that this sector is creating here at home and in every corner of the globe,” said Minister Paradis. “Economic growth is the number one way to break the cycle of poverty and build prosperity in places where populations have only ever lived in poverty.”
The Government of Canada is committed to a balanced and sustainable approach to resource development and management. In March 2009, the Harper government launched Building the Canadian Advantage: A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector. The strategy builds on the government’s long-standing commitment to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Canada defines CSR as comprising the voluntary activities undertaken by a company to operate in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner. The CSR practices of Canadian companies operating abroad are of increasing importance to the companies themselves, the various stakeholders and the overall image of Canada.
“Quebec companies—giants in the extractive sector—and mining companies across Canada, are major contributors to the continued growth of our economy and are an important source of high-value jobs both at home and in communities around the world,” said Minister Paradis. “Canada is supporting sustainable, private sector-led economic growth in an effort to create greater prosperity. We will continue to work with our trading partners to pursue policies that support a responsible and sustainable investment environment in the best interests of both workers and businesses.”
Canadian extractive-sector companies operate projects in the United States, South America, Africa, Europe and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information, please visit Cross-Country Extractive Sector Consultations.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
613-992-7332
rudy.husny@international.gc.ca
Margaux Stastny
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development
819-953-6238
margaux.stastny@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
613-995-1874
media@international.gc.ca
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