The ‘revolving door’ practice is not new and has often incurred the wrath of social and environmental activists. In sum the practice involves a politician or bureaucrat leaving the public office and taking up strategic position within a corporation. Or vice versa, a corporate officer taking up a public office position. Such practice always raises issues of conflict of interest and transparency.
A famous scandal in Canada that had opened the public debate on the cosy relationship between business and politics was the initial approval of the recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) by Health Canada. Subsequent studies by Health Canada scientists found significant irregularities with Monsanto’s (the maker of rBST) studies. They had a gag order placed which restricted their contact with the media. Nevertheless Shiv Chopra, a government scientist at Canada’s Health Protection Branch, made public their study, sparking a country wide debate on the use of bovine hormones and leading to Canadian Senate committee investigations on stolen files and an offer of a million dollars in research funding by Monsanto if the hormone were approved. Fortunately Canada rejected the approval of rBST in 1999.
Osisko Mine (source:www.optative.net)
Ten years later business is still politics’ BFF. This time controversy has ensued around an open-pit goldmine in the Malartic region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Osisko, the mining company which plans to develop the Malartic mine, has already started displacing some 200 households in the region, well before the EIA was concluded and without having received the necessary authorizations.
More recently, the media reported that Isabelle Fontaine, the president of Parti Quebecois(PQ) youth division in Abitibi, is a registered lobbyist for Osisko. Her mandate with the company Ryan Affaires publiques (RAP) reads as follows: “representation to obtain the necessary permits under the Mining Act and the Environmental Quality Act for the mining project Canadian Malartic”. Osisko also retained the services of Patrice Ryan, another registered lobbyist that is also member of the political commission with the Liberal Party.
Quebec Solidaire has brought up the issue in parliament accusing the two parties of being under industry influence which explains in part their non-interference surrounding the displacement of 200 households in the region. In addition in Quebec, mining is one of the least regulated industries. A recent General Auditor report found that 14 mining companies have not paid any royalties to the provincial government between 2002 and 2008, period during which they extracted $4.2 billion worth of minerals. Given the lax regulatory regime, mining companies pass under the public’s radar and the local communities rarely benefit from such development.
For her part Isabelle Fontaine maintains that her professional life does not influence her political responsibilities: “In my work, I am transparent. The Parti Quebecois people know what I do in life”. Not so, says Denis Trottier the PQ opposition delegate concerning matters of natural resource development, who was not aware of Miss Fontaine’s professional affiliations before the Le Devoir broke the news.
In today’s Le Devoir (June 25) Osisko has published an editorial defending their consultation practices and listing the great benefits that their investment will bring in the region. By building a new residential infrastructure for the 200 households, that includes a school and a community center, the company maintains that its practices are transparent and respectful towards the region’s residents. Nevertheless, one might conclude that by going ahead with a $60 million investment in needed infrastructure, Osisko secures a speedy approval for its project which would not have been possible otherwise. No mention of the two lobbyists is made in the editorial.
A group of concerned citizens in the region have started an awareness campaign regarding the negative effects of open-pit mining and are hoping that the public at large take part in the debate surrounding irresponsible mining practices. You can watch their video here
There are more revolving doors today than we could ever have dreamed of 50 years ago. But now we know the bitter truth. No excuse now to keep up the pretense that we trust our politicians and leaders.
No wonder people are cynical about politics when we know that we are no longer a democracy, but are controlled by Big Business / Big Agra / Big Pharma. It is they who run our governments – to the detriment of we, the people.
To defeat this attitude, and to look after our own interests and health, we need to vote with our $$$. That is the only thing Greed understands. Buy green, support green, ensure your future health and that of your children.