Question in the House on Mining and Corporate SocialResponsibility/Barrick

Gold: Thursday Nov 22nd 2007 (Hansard)

Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is developing a habit of visiting the
offices of Barrick Gold when he travels abroad. First in Chile and now
tomorrow in Tanzania the Prime Minister will lend credibility and
promote the business interests of Barrick. This Canadian company is
operating in a most erratic way.

Why is the Prime Minister promoting the practices of Barrick Gold?

Answer
Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is in Tanzania because we have a great
relationship with that country and the promotion of Canadian businesses
working in Tanzania. As far as we are concerned, the roundtable
conference on social corporate responsibility of which the government
will be giving its response pretty soon and we are very proud of
Canadian businesses that comply with the regulations that are in Canada.

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Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, CPC) :

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is always promoting Canadian businesses.

We expect all Canadian businesses to follow Canadian practices, Canadian
laws and Canadian regulations and we expect that company to do the same
thing. That is why that company participated in corporate social
responsibility and we are positive that all Canadian companies follow
the rules that have been laid down in Canada.

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