Mining feminism to support Canadian corporations abroad

 

An important component of Justin Trudeau’s international branding exercise is his “feminist foreign policy”. Government officials emphasize feminism/women’s empowerment in public statements, diplomatic twitter accounts, Global Affairs websites, etc. As part of these efforts, government officials have increasingly promoted women’s role in the patriarchal mining industry.

The Trudeau government’s feminist rhetoric on mining largely seeks to legitimate aid to Canada’s odious global extractive behemoth. Three weeks ago, for example, international trade minister Mary Ng tweeted a photo with company officials and the statement, “Add women. Change mining. This is the kind of sentiment which sets Torex apart and sets the standard for the mining industry, in Canada and abroad in Mexico.” A few days later Canada’s ambassador to Ecuador Stephen Potter participated in a Women in Mining event in that country to support an “inclusive mining industry”. In the Spring Canada’s ambassador to Peru Louis Marcotte spoke at a feminist mining forum and last month tweeted “Did You Know: Women only represent 6% of the workforce in the mining sector in Peru. So much talent that is not being used… But things are changing thanks to initiatives such as those advanced by La Sociedad Nacional de Minería, Petróleo y Energía, Australian embassy in Peru and Women in Mining Peru.” Three months ago Canada’s ambassador to Panama Kim Ursu posted, “Thank you, Women in Mining, for the opportunity to dine with this inspiring group of leaders in Latin American mining. Increasing representation and diversity will build the sustainability of this important sector.”

While a feminist lens is much needed in the male-dominated sector, the Liberals are mostly putting a ‘progressive’ gloss on their encouragement of corporate pillaging. Minister Ng boosted Torex Gold despite the company’s highly controversial mine in southern Mexico displacing hundreds and being linked to the killing of four workers involved in union activities. In February the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability actually published a case study headlined “Torex Gold Resources Inc. – Freedom of association and threats of violence/death”.  (more...)

Mining feminism to support Canadian corporations abroad