Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) has found itself at the centre of a Canadian political controversy following its failure to properly report three separate lobbying discussions with Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff.
iPolitics writes that Barrick, the world’s largest pure gold miner, failed to report on schedule the three separate discussions it held with Wright in the month of May.
Lobbying rules stipulate that all three conversations with Wright should have been reported to the federal lobbying commissioner by June 25. Yet Barrick only submitted reports on the first two conversations, held on May 14 and May 15, at the end of July, and reported the May 29 conversation with Wright as late as Monday.
Barrick’s recent disclosures heavily undermine efforts by the Harper government to defend one of Prime Minister Harper’s key advisers.
According to Global National the controversy surrounding these lobbying efforts is heightened by Wright’s close personal ties to Barrick Gold, as Wright is reportedly godfather to the grandson of senior Barrick executive Peter Monk.
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Image courtesy of Global National via Youtube.
