Tanzanian minister calls for Bill C-300 adoption 

Tanzania’s foreign minister has enthusiastically thrown his support behind a private member’s bill legislating more stringent corporate social responsibility standards for Canadian mining companies operating abroad. In an exclusive interview with Embassy last week, Bernard Membe also encouraged Canada to re-engage the continent, and reported encouraging signs African views are being taken into account for this year’s G8 and G20 summits. Last year, Liberal MP John McKay introduced Bill C-300 in Parliament. Among the bill’s features is a framework for filing and investigating complaints against Canadian companies operating in developing countries. It also includes mechanisms for the government to withhold financial and political support from companies that fail to adhere to local and international standards.

Canadian mining companies and the Canadian government have voiced strong opposition to the legislation for a variety of reasons, but Mr. Membe described it as “a very welcome idea. If the Canadian government would have that capacity to hold their mining companies responsible and accountable to a number of reports that they would be receiving formally and informally from the government of Tanzania or the people of Tanzania,” he said, “that would be a very, very good idea. So I encourage Bill C-300 to pass. It is very important [that] you have a responsible government taking charge of its own companies that are doing bad things in developing countries, rather than waiting for the developing countries to risk taking action against them.”

Last month, a Canadian diplomat was recalled after allegedly spitting on a Tanzanian police officer and a journalist. Mr. Membe said the situation had the potential to be a major embarrassment and international incident, but Canada defused it through a “quick and immediate response.” “We were so relieved, because for a friendly country, for me to say, ‘I’m going to chase you out,’ it’s so difficult for us to do,” he said. When it comes to the economic issues, mining issues, that Bill C-300 is important. Once it passes, our role in Tanzania is just to whisper to the embassy or anybody, ‘There is this thing, please take charge….’ So I encourage it to pass and it would be a good thing for Canada to take issues into its own hands to resolve crises or seeming problems in developing countries in respect  of their mining companies.”

Barrick Gold is the largest Canadian mining investor in Tanzania, with its North Mara gold mine a major source of contention. There have been allegations Barrick has caused environmental damage to the area and hired paramilitary guards who have shot and killed local villagers. Mr. Membe said the issues at North Mara are being addressed, and he didn’t detail any specific issues besides environmental concerns. However, he felt the presence of Bill C-300 could have helped resolve things faster than has so far been the case. “That is where it should come in, because it would empower the Canadian government to play its role,” he said. “And we’ll be there to support the Canadian government to help us resolve issues pertaining to their own companies.”

The government has refused to act on allegations against Canadian mining companies, arguing it would encroach upon the sovereignty of developing countries. Mr. Membe said that wasn’t an issue for him. “To the contrary, we would be seen to be encroaching upon the sovereignty of other countries if we went straight to Barrick and  other companies to intervene and tell them: ‘Do this, do this,  do this,’” he said. “So we are creating a balance…. We will meet at the mid-point.” The Tanzanian government is currently reforming its own mining act, which Mr. Membe expects to be voted  on and approved in April. The proposed reforms include legislation on procurement, labour practices, dispute settlement, private-public partnerships and environmental regulations.

There have been reports of concern from some foreign investors— including Canadian mining companies—that the reforms are unfair and will increase their operating expenses. Mr. Membe tried to reassure them. “Tanzania will try to be very accommodating,” he added. “We are very cautious, very cautious, and we will try not to come up  with a document that will be more expensive  [for companies].”
G8, G20 input

Last year, CIDA Minister Bev Oda revealed the government was cutting down on the number of countries receiving bilateral Canadian aid, and shifting focus from Africa to Latin America. While Tanzania was not among the seven African countries dropped from the list, several of its neighbours—Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia—were. Mr. Membe said he met with African ambassadors in Ottawa during his five-day trip who asked him to plead their case to Canada during his visit. “My ears were full of this response, ‘Please tell the Canadian government to change its policy. We are being hurt. We don’t feel so good. Please help,’” he said. “Certainly other countries are caught up in a state of disbelief. My call, my humble request to the government of Canada, is to ask for a review of Canada’s African relations with the intention of re-engaging the whole continent if it is possible. Engaging the entire continent in terms of development assistance, partnership, trade, and investment because Canada is a big name in Africa.”

Mr. Membe said Africa has historically felt extremely comfortable relying on Canada and seeing it as a champion for their interests because of its legacy of peace and assistance. That has also paid dividends for Canada through such things as being elected to the UN Security Council, he said. Mr. Membe said the Canadian government has not yet explained the reason for its shift away from Africa, but he says there are encouraging signs it is considering the continent’s interests in the context of this summer’s G8 and G20 summits, both of which will be held in Ontario. “The government of Canada has given me indications…that they would love to have the participation of the African countries in the G8 and the G20 here,” he said. “They would also like to have the inputs of Africa’s concerns in the G8 and the G20, through them, through Canada. And I very much welcomed this.”

Contact: lee@embassymag.ca  

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