MANILA, Philippines — Despite some discouragement on certain fronts in the mining sector, Canadian mining companies continue to stay put and invest here but are looking up to the government for action to resolve issues on peace and order and indigenous people, among others.

Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley told reporters at the sidelines of the inauguration of the Canadian Tourism & Hospitality Institute (CTHI) that mining companies have been satisfied with government action.

“Peace and order is an issue for anybody, any threat to peace and order provides instability. But, I don’t think anybody is considering pulling out at this stage, companies are continuously looking for this market, they do an assessment,” the ambassador said.

“I think Canadian companies, which invested in the country understand how best to deal with these, have looked at look solutions, ethical and legal and they have strategies,” he added.

Thornley even cited the approach of the current administration as much more encouraging although he said there are also factors which are negative that provide lesser degree of consistency and stability and predictability that publicly traded companies need.

Earlier, the mining community was alarmed over security when armed men stormed mining operations resulting in the death of some workers and damage to properties.

There have been serious issues between the religious and civil societies opposed to mining operations in the country.

The ambassador, however, said that mining companies go to areas where minerals abound and they cannot choose where these minerals should be located, which are mostly in remote barangays.

“Canadian companies have experienced that the Philippines is not the most difficult,” he added.

Meanwhile, Julian H. Payne, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, has called for equal application of laws to small-scale and large-scale mining operators.

He noted that small scale miners can get away with the stringent regulations that are imposed on large-scale miners. (BCM)