MINING Mining in Canada’s North by Daina Lawrence Canada’s North is set to become a min- ing powerhouse within the next decade, according to a recent report by the Conference Board of Canada. Nevertheless, challenges such as lack of infrastructure and misperceptions by domestic and for- eign investors may keep companies in this area from reaching their true potential. Released in January, the Conference Board’s report, entitled The Future of Mining in Canada’s North, outlined posi- tive growth in this sector within the next Rendering of the proposed NICO pit, mill and camp decade. According to the document, “the site in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Photo courtesy Fortune Minerals Ltd. mining sector in Canada’s North is forecast to almost double its output and employ- ment by the end of the decade – staggering – Ekati and Diavik. lion tonnes at 2.8 g/t). growth compared to the Canadian econ- The Centre for the North’s, authors also Fortune Minerals Ltd. [FT-TSX] omy as a whole.” outlined infrastructure, skilled labour is also not shying away from the The report also forecasted that overall access and government red tape as some of northern challenge. Its NICO gold-cobalt- northern metal and non-metal mineral the challenges companies with projects in bismuth-copper project, 160 km north of output will grow by 91% by 2020 from the territories will face. “Infrastructure is Yellowknife, NWT, has so much mineral 2011. The annual gross domestic product definitely the biggest hurdle,” says Jeffrey, potential that the company is willing to of northern mining is also expected to not to mention the cold, unforgiving cli- take on any current and future challenges, expand to $8.5 billion by 2020, up from mate, lack of year-round roads and high explains president and CEO, Robin Goad. $4.4 billion in 2004. costs of fly-in/fly-out projects. In fact, this type of project is what his It’s not that easy, however, the resource There are also plenty of advantages, and company was built on. potential is there, but the challenges are if companies set up shop in the north they “We originally were incorporated and great and not the least of which is an image can take advantage of abundant resources went public with a northern focus,” says issue, says Anja Jeffrey, Director of the and not have to move too far to tap another Goad. “Our projects were historically Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for project after their current mine life is focused on the Northwest Territories.” The the North. “I honestly believe, speaking to depleted – like Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.’s weather is also not as bad as people may different jurisdictions, that there is a per- [AEM-TSX; NYSE] Meliadine gold project think; the project is located well within ception issue here, explains Jeffrey. “There in Nunavut, explains Jeffrey. “In Nunavut, the tree line and the weather is compa- is still the perception that doing business Agnico-Eagle has the Meadowbank gold rable to the northern areas of Ontario or in the in the north is difficult because of mine that will be depleted by 2017,” Manitoba. regulatory hurdles. You can’t just solve she says. “Now what is it that makes it The open-pit and underground NICO these problems with one stroke and, for profitable for Agnico-Eagle to continue project has proven and probable reserves some reason places like the Northwest its operations? They can move south of totaling 33 million tonnes containing 1.1 Territories (NWT) have, unjustifiably, a Rankin Inlet and bring their equipment, million ounces of gold, 82 million pounds reputation that it’s difficult to do business people and expertise.” Agnico-Eagle’s of cobalt and 27 million pounds of cop- there.” However, it’s apparent that NWT open-pit, Meadowbank Mine, is its largest per. The project also contains 102 million challenges can be overcome as the territory gold producer, with 2.2 million ounces of pounds or 15% of the world’s supply of is home to two world-class diamond mines proven and probable resources (24.5 mil- bismuth – an unusual mineral used as a 34 www.resourceworld.com APRIL 2013 non-toxic replacement for lead; it is also Goad adds that having a Fortune duction: Alexco’s Bellekeno silver mine, used in the antacid medication, Pepto- Minerals refinery in Saskatchewan has the Capstone Mining Minto copper mine Bismol. NICO’s mine life is expected to be helped to mitigate staff turnover due to its and Yukon Zinc’s Wolverine mine. almost 20 years. more southern location. Engineers, metal- Changes in jurisdiction, new infrastruc- To be able to function in the area for those lurgists, and other skilled workers at the ture construction and abundant resources two decades and truly reach the maximum refinery are not on a rotational schedule are all working towards the objective of mineral potential, Fortune Minerals plans and can commute home at the end of the developing Canada’s northern mineral on investing heavily in required infrastruc- day, which increases employee retention. resources. Anja Jeffrey says there is a ture. “Infrastructure is definitely something One of the more ground-breaking real opportunity to tap into this virtually we are very aware of in the Northwest aspects of this project is that it will be untapped market, but the main way to get Territories because you have to be operating one of the first mines to get underway in there is through communication and clos- in an area that has the potential to be devel- the NWT following devolution in the ter- ing the current gaps in perception and oped if you’re successful in finding a mineral ritory – meaning regulatory powers and education about what it is really like to deposit and that’s all about being relatively responsibility will shift from federal to operate in the northern territories. “This is close to infrastructure,” says Goad. Subject territorial jurisdiction. “We’ve been doing an area that’s only going to grow and it’s to financing, Fortune Minerals expects to this department by department – [mining] really important we get it right,” she says. have construction underway at the mine by is the last of the big transfers,” explains “We need a much more cohesive and com- next year. One of the first major items on the Shaleen Woodward, executive director, prehensive conversation in this country list is the construction of a year-round road, Devolution Implementation Planning about what the North is contributing.” n which would run from the local communi- and Coordination at Government of the ties of Whati, Gamete, and Behchoko to the Northwest Territories. “This brings us to a site. There is also talk of taking on a hydro functional status where we now look more project in the future, but all of these ven- like a province.” Woodward explains that tures come with a big price tag. the goal is for the transfer to be smooth “The Northwest Territories is an expen- and for the NWT government to mirror sive place to do business. It has a high cost federal legislation. of living, labour is expensive and typically “Initially, we don’t envision a huge the projects that you explore are fly-in/ impact,” says Woodward. “We are aiming fly-out projects,” explains Goad. “We for a seamless transition and, if that works, have winter road access to our site, which the biggest difference you will notice is is good for bringing in some of our bulk less Canadian flags and more bears on materials, but the more day-to-day access things,” she laughs, making reference to to the site was by aircraft.” the NWT symbol of the polar bear. The Fortune Minerals has about $20 million one thing that resource companies may in financing and Goad says the company notice after devolution is in full swing will is looking at strategic investment from be the increased speed in government deci- companies in places like China, Japan and sion making. “We make decisions more South Korea. quickly and we are more nimble,” says Another expensive issue is skilled labour Woodward. She explains that more often access and high levels of staff turnover. than not people work in the same building Due to the shortage of skilled labour in the as the deputy minister, or other high-rank- north, many of these workers must be flown ing individuals and one can simply walk in, explains Goad. “Certain types of labour down the hallway to ask a question and get are hard to source; however, it’s not so dif- an answer. ficult to find people to drive pit trucks or Canada’s third territory, Yukon, is to do less skilled labour,” says Goad. “But unquestionably open for business and has skilled trades are certainly a challenge all seen a great deal of exploration activity in over Canada, not just in the North, and [it the last few years – especially following is difficult] to attract them to a rotational the Underworld/Kinross gold discovery. In work schedule and a camp facility, [and] it’s addition, since 2005, the Yukon has seen expensive to bring them in.” three mines developed and taken to pro- APRIL 2013 www.resourceworld.com 35.