MiningWatch Canada (MWC) is a pan-Canadian initiative supported by environmental, social justice, Aboriginal and labour organisations from across the country. It addresses the urgent need for a co-ordinated public interest response to the threats to public health, water and air quality, fish and wildlife habitat and community interests posed by irresponsible mineral policies and practices in Canada and around the world.

The MiningWatch Canada office opened in April 1999. MiningWatch Canada shares infrastructure and services with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) in a central Ottawa location.

The aims of MiningWatch Canada are to:

* ensure that mineral development practices are consistent with the goals of sustainable communities and ecological health;
* strengthen technical and strategic skills within communities and organisations faced with impacts of mineral development;
* impose appropriate terms and conditions on mining and in some cases prevent the development of projects that would adversely affect areas of ecological, economic and cultural significance; and
* advocate policies to improve the efficiency and reduce the risks of mineral development.

MiningWatch Canada is a direct response to industry and government failures to protect the public and the environment from destructive mining practices and to deliver on their sustainability rhetoric. With technical and strategic expertise from across Canada, MiningWatch Canada carries out and/or supports the monitoring, analysis and advocacy necessary to affect the behaviour of industry and public decision-makers.

A national non-profit with dedicated staff in an Ottawa-based office, and supporting initiatives from partners in affected communities in Canada and around the world, MiningWatch Canada is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of a range of experts, community leaders and activists from across Canada.