Mining in Canada and internationally is affected by complex legal and regulatory instruments that govern sustainable mining practices.
Allard’s Executive Learning Program in Mining Law and Sustainability provides an overview of these instruments, and offers a new framework for making sustainable mining and business decisions: one that goes beyond business as usual to consider Indigenous participation, climate change, human rights and anti-corruption laws and regulations that advance sustainable mining.
The program also offers rigorous cultural competency training to equip those in the mining industry in Canada to engage in respectful and empowering consultation processes with Indigenous peoples impacted by extraction industry projects.
By the end of this program, you will have the skills to contribute to the success of current and future mining industry and extractive industry projects with an understanding of:
- today’s complex legal and regulatory instruments that affect the business operations of mines in Canada and internationally
- the participation of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian and global mining industries, including Indigenous law and governance
- the role of corporate social responsibility, and how CSR has evolved into a discussion of business and human rights
- Canadian anti-corruption legislation and international efforts that affect mining activities
- the role of mining in Canadian and international climate change efforts.
Who is this program for?
This program benefits:
- in-house counsel
- lawyers in private practice
- mining industry professionals
- mining industry service professionals (in finance, investment, consultancies, etc.)
- Indigenous business and community leaders
- government representatives.
Meet your instructor and course co-authors
Instructor and course co-author Daniela Chimisso Dos Santos, BA, LLB, LLM, SJD, is a sustainable mining and extractives expert. She has practised law in the oil, gas and mining industries for more than 20 years, and has extensive national and international experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Asia.
Course co-author Chastity Davis-Alphonse is a member of the Tla’amin Nation and is Principal/Lead Consultant for Chastity Davis Consulting. She has worked with Indigenous and non-Indigenous companies and organizations, including BC Hydro, BCLC and the Federal Department of Justice, to build strong, meaningful and productive relationships between Indigenous communities, corporations and government. Ms. Davis-Alphonse is the founder of Deyen - An Invitation to Transform, an online learning platform that centers the voices, knowledge, wisdom and lived experiences of Indigenous women.
Course outline
The program comprises five online modules over five weeks that follow the business lifecycle of a mine.
Week 1: Introduction to the business of mining and sustainability
Week 2: Introduction to Indigenous peoples, governance, law and FPIC
Week 3: Exploration, land tenure and resource ownership
Week 4: Developing and operating a mine
Week 5: Closing a mine
How am I assessed?
This is a pass/fail course without formal grades. Weekly mandatory pass/fail quizzes check for your learning. You also interpret and critique a domestic or international case study to demonstrate your understanding of how Indigenous peoples and sustainable mining and business decisions intersect within the context of the mining industry.
Expected effort
Expect to spend approximately 5–7 hours per week to attend live online lectures and to complete all learning activities and coursework. We suggest you allow a maximum of 10 hours for the case study.
Technology requirements
To take this course, and for the best experience, we recommend you have access to:
- an email account
- a computer, laptop or tablet
- the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
- a reliable internet connection a video camera and microphone.
Course format
This course is 100% online and instructor supported. Live online sessions are held once a week. Please refer to Available Session below for information. During these sessions, explore course topics in depth with your instructor and visiting experts, participate in Q&As, explore mining industry case studies, and network with your peers. Please note attendance is not mandatory, and any questions or notes can be addressed by your instructor or Program Director. These live sessions are not recorded.
In between sessions, access a rich library of course resources, including video lessons, required and suggested readings, more than 20 videos of interviews with experts, case studies, legislation documents and primary and secondary sources.