Press Release
Purchaser will begin clean-up of contamination from past mining
May 6, 2019 — Whitehorse, YT — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to working with territorial and Indigenous partners on solutions that protect the health and safety of Northerners, the environment, and also foster a prosperous future for Northern communities.
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, today announced the Yukon Supreme Court’s approval of the sale of the abandoned Mount Nansen Mine site. The unique arrangement with the purchaser, Alexco/JDS Group, allows the purchaser to pursue future work at the mine while obligating them to remediate contamination from past mining activities at the site.
This sale is the product of many years of collaborative work among the Government of Canada, the Yukon government, the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and PricewaterhouseCoopers as the court-appointed receiver for the former owner of the mine. The sales agreement is a significant step towards the remediation of the site and ensuring the clean-up will benefit Yukoners and First Nations.
As a first step, the purchaser — in close collaboration with Canada, the Yukon government and Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nations — will immediately accelerate work on the remediation plan that had been initiated by the Yukon government and prepare it for submission to the environmental regulatory process. Going forward, Canada will work with the purchaser, the Yukon government and Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation to oversee and fund the remediation project, ensuring the site is remediated in accordance with the shared objectives of the three governments.
Quotes
“Collaboration has led to an effective sales process that will clean up the Mount Nansen Mine site and ensure Yukoners and the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation benefit from this important project. Strong partnership is our greatest asset. We look forward to continuing our work together, moving the project forward to environmental assessment and then remediation.”
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
“The Government of Yukon is committed to the successful remediation of the abandoned Mount Nansen mine site. We will work with the Government of Canada, the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, and Alexco/JDS Group on achieving a timely and responsible clean-up and on delivering economic opportunities to the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation and our local business community. As the regulator, we will ensure remediation activities recognize local needs, local interests and lead to local solutions.”
The Honourable Ranj Pillai,
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
“After almost three decades of concern and constant pressure and monitoring from Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation government, the citizens of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation will be pleased to see the finalization of the agreements that will lead to the remediation of the abandoned BYG mine site at Mt. Nansen. Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation’s Council, our Development Corporation and our Senior Staff have worked to ensure our future generations will be able to utilize this site once again for their traditional pursuits and values.”
Russell Blackjack,
Chief of Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation
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Contacts
For more information, media may contact:
Vincent Hughes
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade
Vincent.Hughes@iga-aig.gc.ca
613-943-7111
Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca
Brigitte Parker
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-3183
brigitte.parker@gov.yk.ca
Ed Schultz
Deputy Chief of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation
867-689-0865
867-689-1007
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