He's scheduled to visit mining company Barrick Gold's headquarters in Santiago Wednesday. The company is accused of contributing to the melting of three glaciers, displacing indigenous people in the area and damaging river water quality - charges Barrick denies.

One Chilean environmental activist says it's not appropriate for Harper to visit the company's Santiago office and that he should instead urge Barrick to comply with environmental laws.

But Harper shrugged off the controversy Tuesday, saying Barrick "follows Canadian standards of corporate social responsibility."

Harper is set to start the next leg of his tour Wednesday; he'll be visiting Barbados and Haiti.