This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.Patricio Cumming is a senior associate with the Mexican law firm Gonzalez Calvillo SC. Christie Stephenson is executive director of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.
Mining is a significant part of the Mexican economy and, according to Global Affairs Canada, roughly 70 per cent of foreign-owned mining companies operating in the country are based in Canada. Mr. Lopez Obrador has promised to scrutinize the treatment of Indigenous populations and the environmental impacts of mining. Many investors worry that the risk of contract cancellations and project delays are higher under Mr. Lopez Obrador.
During the past 40 years, successive Mexican governments have not clarified the application of Indigenous consultation and social impact assessment in the context of mining . This regulatory uncertainty means that according to CartoCritica, a Mexican non-governmental organization, today there are 137 active social conflicts in Mexico related to mining.
Mining is an industry where Mr. Lopez Obrador is clearly seeking to find that balance. As a hint to future public policy, the government has published guidelines that suggest comprehensive Indigenous consultation and social impact assessment. Interestingly, the Mining Association of Canada and its Towards Sustainable Mining initiative, have been actively cited in these publications.
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