Chilean president tells Canada to follow the law

OTTAWA (AP) — Chile's president on Thursday reminded Canada that a massive Canadian gold mining project in his country must follow the law to continue its work — a week after Barrick Gold was suspended and fined for multiple environmental violations.

Sebastian Pinera met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa, where they signed trade and investment agreements including a commitment to responsible resource development.

The Chilean government last week fined Barrick $15.91 million (CA$16.4 million) for breaching environmental commitments and ordered the suspension of the $5 billion open-pit Pascua Lama project in the Andes Mountains.

Pinera pointed out that Barrick was given conditional approvals in 2001 and 2006 but that his government had identified 23 environmental infractions the company has agreed to address.

"I hope that if they comply with all the conditions — that were set from the beginning when this investment was approved — that the investment will be able to continue," said Pinera.

Harper did not address Barrick's environmental problems in Chile.

A coalition of 11 Chilean civil society groups has spoken out against what they consider an insufficient penalty for Barrick's environmental violations.

The fine levied was "insignificant when measured up against the irreparable damages produced in our headwaters," the coalition said in a statement.