The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has launched a new Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) protocol, aiming to bolster performance in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
This development is part of a broader effort to address systemic issues within the mining industry such as the underrepresentation of people of colour and women.
“The global mining industry continues to be very male-dominated and here in Canada it is also homogeneously white,” President and CEO of MAC Pierre Gratton said.
“We need to literally change the face of the mining sector if we are to be able to continue to grow and meet today’s challenges, including producing the products the world needs to decarbonize and develop new technologies,” Gratton said.
“To do this, we also need to ensure those who work in the sector feel safe and supported, including women, visible minorities and the 2SLGBTQI+ community.”
Alongside this, MAC has updated the TSM Safety and Health Protocol, now rebranded as the TSM Safe, Healthy and Respectful Workplaces Protocol. This updated protocol includes a new performance indicator that emphasizes psychological safety and respectful workplaces.
The TSM initiative is a framework that allows mining companies to translate high-level environmental and social commitments into practical actions. It also offers communities valuable information about operational aspects, such as community outreach, tailings management, and biodiversity.
The introduction of these protocols marks a significant step towards improving transparency and performance in the mining industry and tackling long-standing workforce challenges.
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Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM), a mandatory initiative for members of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), is making strides in enhancing environmental and social practices in the mining sector. TSM addresses a range of issues including Indigenous engagement, biodiversity conservation, prevention of child and forced labour, safety and climate change.
The creation of the new Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Workplaces Protocol is a result of a collaborative effort involving experts from within and outside the mining industry, as well as numerous stakeholder groups. These include TSM’s international partners and Community of Interest Advisory Panels. The collective aim was to ensure the commitments and criteria in the new standards align with societal expectations and will drive meaningful progress in the mining industry.
MAC, the first to adopt the protocol, is confident that other TSM partners globally will follow suit. This step marks a significant move towards creating a more inclusive and diverse mining industry that meets societal expectations and promotes progress.
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Industry leaders welcome new protocols
Lana Payne, National President of Unifor, a leading workers’ union, expressed confidence in the new protocols. “Unifor believes in creating meaningful, respectful, and diverse workplaces. We have been actively participating in the development of these protocols that will improve the livelihood of all workers,” Payne stated.
The protocol outlines several performance measures for mining companies. These include the development of a corporate EDI strategy through broad workforce engagement, integration of EDI throughout mine sites via revised processes, and worker involvement in data collection and performance objective setting related to EDI.
Ana Gabriela Juárez, President and Founder of Women in Mining (WIM) Central America, praised the new TSM protocols.
“These protocols represent a significant milestone in promoting inclusivity and gender equality in the mining industry. We are confident that these new standards will foster an environment that promotes equal opportunities and ensures everyone working in our sector feels valued and respected,” Juárez said.
The updated TSM Safe, Healthy and Respectful Workplaces Protocol now includes standards that promote psychological safety and respectful behaviour in the workplace. These standards are designed to address and respond to incidents of psychologically unsafe, harmful, or disrespectful behaviour in the workplace.
Ryan Montpellier, Executive Director of the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), emphasized the importance of diversity in the industry.
“Attracting diverse sources of talent is a necessity for Canada’s mining industry. The new and revised TSM protocols will drive sector-wide change through industry collaboration and commitment to attract, recruit and retain diverse talent. Everyone deserves to feel welcome, safe and valued in the workplace,” Montpellier said.
The introduction of these protocols marks a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse mining industry that meets societal expectations and promotes progress.
Natalia@mugglehead.com
