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VOISEY’S BAY EXPANSION TO BRING SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY
In June, Vale announced plans to resume its expansion in Voisey’s Bay, Labrador, which will create 1,700 jobs and is expected to extend the life of the mine by at least 15 years. The mine is getting a new lease on life due in part to increasing demand in electric vehicles, of which copper and nickel are key components.
“Extending the life of the mine will ensure long-term stable employment and provide further opportunities for social and economic growth in Nunatsiavut. The expansion will mean hundreds of construction jobs, and the permanent workforce once the underground mine is up and running is expected to double,” explained Johannes Lampe, President of the Nunatsiavut Government. “Right now, Vale and its contractors employ up to 225 Labrador Inuit, just over 40 per cent of the total workforce. This expansion will provide more training and employment opportunities for Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.”
This mine, which has been in operation since 2005, will undergo a $2 billion expansion which will transition it from surface to underground mining, a change that will require significantly more employees in the process. This expansion will not only provide crucial growth opportunities that will benefit the people who live and work in the local community, but also will produce important resources that are critical to the daily lives of Canadians across the country.
“Our operation in Voisey’s Bay is a huge source of pride for Vale, and we have always been intent on going underground there as it is the natural evolution of our operations in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Eduardo Bartolomeo, Executive Director of Base Metals for Vale. “We are excited to unlock the value of this great resource and continue working with the government, our Indigenous partners and our employees to bring benefit to the people of this province.”
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GROUNDBREAKING ANNOUNCEMENT ON WORLD’S LARGEST PROTECTED AREA OF BOREAL FOREST
This past spring, Syncrude Canada Ltd., in collaboration with the governments of Alberta and Canada, announced the creation of the world’s largest protected area of boreal forest. This conservation announcement is the result of a partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Tallcree First Nation and represents just one example of the commitment MAC and its members have to environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection.
“We are committed to responsible development, so we’re delighted this opportunity presented itself. Creating the world’s largest boreal conservation area also shows what’s achievable when industry, government and NGOs work together towards a common goal,” said Kara Flynn, Chair of MAC’s Aboriginal Affairs Committee and Syncrude Canada Ltd.’s Vice President for Government and Public Affairs. “This protected area covers more than 60,000 square kilometres, an area twice as large as Vancouver Island. This will be key habitat for 68 species of conservation concern and three species at risk, including the wood bison, woodland caribou, peregrine falcon and number migratory and song birds.”
Conservation efforts are an important aspect of Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM), a MAC lead initiative that focuses on enabling mining companies to meet society’s needs for minerals, metals and energy products in the most socially, economically and environmentally responsible way. TSM requires mines to publicly report and verify their environmental and social performance on a series of indicators including biodiversity conservation. This announcement is one example illustrating how mining companies in Canada are finding projects to put these objectives, specifically as they pertain to the environment, into action.
“We began working on this initiative three years ago and are immensely gratified to see this agreement. We would like to thank the federal and provincial governments, the Tall Cree First Nation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada for this opportunity to join in a world-class conservation project,” concluded Flynn. “We are proud to be part of an initiative that helps Canada achieve its goal of protecting at least 17 per cent of the country’s land mass and inland waterways by 2020.”
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MINING INDUSTRY THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND CANADA’S RAIL SYSTEM
One of the relationships affiliated with the mining industry that tends to be most overlooked is the connection the sector has to rail. During the engagement that took place with government decision makers regarding Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act, it became increasingly clear that there is a need for greater understanding on the essential role mining plays when it comes to rail.
“It is important that people understand that with mining accounting for over one-half of total rail-freight revenue of Canada’s major railways, that this relationship is critically important, not just for our sector but for Canada’s competitiveness internationally,” said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of MAC. “Given miners’ dependence on rail transportation to ship products to market, we need legislation that is effective in mitigating the effects of market power in a marketplace that is dominated by two service providers, and where many shippers are captive to one railway.”
Contrary to the popular belief that grain producers, who already benefit from a rail freight subsidy in the form of a revenue cap, are the most significant rail customer, mining is in fact the largest industrial customer group of Canada’s transportation sector with shipments of coal, iron ore and other minerals and metals representing over 50% of total rail freight revenue.
“It is disheartening to see how many politicians and officials tend to be widely unaware of how Canada’s mining and minerals sector essentially ensures the viability of the rail freight system,” explained Gratton. “In the end, and despite heroic efforts by the Senate and the opposition parties, Bill C-49 missed the mark by failing to meet the needs of captive shippers. In the future, it is our hope that the government will become more aware on how the legislative decisions being made on this issue seriously impact Canada’s ability to be seen as a reliable partner in providing essential goods to customers, both within Canada and internationally.”
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GOLDCORP’S BORDEN PROJECT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY IN MINING
Canada’s mining industry is committed to innovation and environmental sustainability, and these two priorities are being realized at Goldcorp’s Borden project, which aims to be the country’s first all-electric underground mine.
“Sustainability is increasingly important in our industry, and the concept of an all-electric mine, complete with electric-powered trucks to operate within it, is an exciting game changer for the sector,” said Brent Bergeron, Goldcorp Inc.’s Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. “This initiative showcases how serious we are when it comes to innovation, in addition to being a partner in the fight against climate change.”
Not only does this project, which aims to start commercial production in 2019, showcase how a Canadian mining company can lead the way in reducing carbon emissions, but it also serves as an important example on how the industry can be a leader for change when it comes to the resource economy. In its all-electric focus, the Borden mine will eliminate the use of vehicles powered by fossil fuels, which will have a positive impact in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are proud to be part of a project that could have lasting impacts on the future of the mining industry,” concluded Bergeron. “Innovation, clean technology and environmental sustainability are key parts of our business, and we are looking forward to seeing what other projects come to fruition with this goal in mind in the years to come.”
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NEW CAMPAIGN DIGS INTO HIGHLIGHTING IMPACTS OF MINING IN CANADA
Increasing awareness of mining is crucial, as many can be unaware of the benefits associated with the industry, which are integral to the every day life of Canadians. Not only is the mining industry a major economic driver and significant employer in communities across Canada, but it is also the sector on which many leading technologies, such as computers and smartphones, rely. It was with this goal in mind that MAC initiated a public awareness campaign to highlight several themes which are essential to Canada’s mining sector, with an emphasis on sustainability, Indigenous participation, reclamation and innovation.
“Given the fact that most mining operations take place in locations far outside the cities and communities in which the vast majority of Canadians live, it is important that the public has the opportunity to learn more about the positive impact the industry has on their daily lives,” explained Tom Ormsby, Head of External and Corporate Affairs for De Beers Canada and Chair of MAC’s Public Affairs Committee. “This year, we are really pleased to showcase some of the key values of the sector, and our hope is that not only will these ads increase overall awareness on mining in Canada, but also start a conversation on some of the lesser known aspects of the industry where Canadian mining has taken a leading role both in Canada and globally.”
The campaign, which focuses on real stories involving Canadian mining in different communities across the country, aims to provide greater detail on the people who participate in one of the country’s most significant sectors.
“We want to connect Canadians to the mining industry in a more tangible way, demonstrating that we are at the forefront of the sustainable economy and working to prioritize other important issues that matter, like investing in a low carbon future, and reconciliation efforts, just to name a few,” concluded Ormsby. “We will continue to highlight these vital aspects of mining in Canada to politicians and the public alike in the months to come.”
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ABOUT THE MINING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (MAC)
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada’s production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, and mined oil sands, and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.
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