Developoment, Communities, and Sustainability

Christian faith and values can and should make a difference in the business of natural resource extraction. The industry is quite important in Toronto, and plays an important role in the Canadian economy. Many mining companies are headquartered here, and many of the junior companies that conduct exploration and development activities in the developing world are located here. This course will provide some tools and skills to analyse the impacts that extractive industries have on the people that live around mining projects and facilitate working with those affected in ways that create a sustainable future for them. Being able to impact the decision making processes of this industry is equally important, so that mining improves the lives of people. Companies are becoming aware that their decisions must be taken from a perspective of justice and fairness towards all their stakeholders and not only from the perspective of maximizing profits for owners or investors. Obtaining and maintaining the "Social License to Operate" is critical to their success. The course aims to strengthen analytical skills as well to provide tools to work bottom up with communities, knowing that stakeholders have their own interests and agendas not necessarily seeking to maximize the long term welfare of the communities.