Canadian Zinc Receives Positive Decision to Resume Permitting Process of the Prairie Creek Mine All Season Road

Press Release

Vancouver, British Columbia, July 23, 2018 – Canadian Zinc Corporation (TSX: CZN; OTCQB: CZICF) is pleased to report that it has received a letter confirming resumption of the decision phase of the Environmental Assessment of the Prairie Creek All Season Road Project for long-term, year round access to the Prairie Creek Mine.

Canadian Zinc (“CZN”) has received a letter confirming the positive decision of the Federal Minister of the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (the “Minister”) to resume the decision phase for Canadian Zinc’s Prairie Creek All Season Road Environmental Assessment. This follows CZN’s response to the Responsible Ministers’ Information Request. The Minister, with the concurrence of the Responsible Ministers, will now have 83 days from the posting of the letter to issue a decision on the Report of Environmental Assessment.

As previously announced, CZN is committed to continuing to engage and include the affected Indigenous Governments and Organizations (“IGOs”) in the planning and monitoring of the Prairie Creek All Season Road Project. Also, as discussed in some detail in CZN’s June 11, 2018 news release, Canadian Zinc is committed to negotiate and enter into an Environmental Management Agreement with the IGOs related to the All Season Road Project. Specifically, CZN is working with the Dene communities on all these matters.

Don MacDonald, President and CEO of Canadian Zinc commented, “We are very pleased to receive this positive response from the Minister on restarting the clock on the Decision on the Environmental Assessment for our all-season road access to the Prairie Creek Mine. I have been greatly encouraged by the cooperative nature of our discussions with the Dene communities since joining Canadian Zinc in May 2018. Particularly, I would like to thank the leadership of the Naha Dehé Dene Band, the Łíídlįį Kų́ę́ First Nation and the Dehcho First Nations, without whose support we would have not have been able to achieve this progress. CZN is committed to continuing to engage and include the affected indigenous groups in the planning and monitoring of the Prairie Creek All Season Road Project.”

Background

As discussed in news release dated January 23, 2018 (and updated in news release dated June 11, 2018), the Minister on January 18, 2018 extended the time limit for the Minister’s decision to allow the federal and territorial governments (“Responsible Ministers”) to complete consultations with affected indigenous communities.

Also, on January 19, 2018, the Responsible Ministers wanting to be confident that the Crown had discharged its legal duty to meaningfully consult with potentially impacted indigenous groups, provided CZN with information requests identifying specific issues raised by Dene communities that needed further clarity through proponent engagement.

On June 11, 2018 CZN provided detailed replies to those requests and confirmed CZN is working with the local Dene communities to address the implementation of various measures recommended by the Review Board.

The full text of the Minister’s letter will be available on the public registry website of the Mackenzie Valley Review Board.

About Canadian Zinc

Canadian Zinc is a TSX-listed exploration and development company trading under the symbol “CZN”. The Company’s key project is the 100%-owned Prairie Creek Project, an advanced-stage zinc-lead-silver property, located in the Northwest Territories.

For further information contact:

Don MacDonald
President & CEO
(604) 688-2001
Suite 1710 – 650 West Georgia Street,
Vancouver, BC V6B 4N9
Tollfree:1-866-688-2001
E-mail: invest@canadianzinc.com

Steve Dawson
VP Corporate Development
(416) 203-1418
Suite 1805,
55 University Avenue,
Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Website: www.canadianzinc.com

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