Inuit workers at Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine allege discrimination – CBC

Jan 19, 2015

Worker alleges supervisors communicated only in French, leading to safety issues

Some Inuit workers at Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine near Baker Lake, Nunavut, say they’re the subject of discrimination, and that it’s causing some safety concerns.

Cameron Issakiark says when he worked as a mechanic’s helper at Meadowbank, he was harassed by his francophone counterparts.

“The guy, he told me: ‘Us French people, we’re beautiful, and you Inuit are ugly,’” he says. “[The supervisors] talk to me about discrimination, harassment… zero tolerance, but I didn’t see that when it happened to me.”

At one time, Issakiark says, he was left on a blasting site fifteen minutes before a planned explosion, because his supervisor could barely speak English and announced the blast in French. He says he’s reported his treatment to supervisors, but so far, no action has been taken.