Pillai breaks silence on Eagle Gold mine disaster

Friday, 2 August 2024 15:48

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai speaking with reporters in April, 2024 (Photo: S. Bonell)

Pillai: "Industry cannot operate today – if it is at tomorrow’s expense."

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai has finally broken his silence regarding the Eagle Gold mine heap leach failure on June 24.

During his speech at the Council of Yukon First Nations Annual General Assembly on Tuesday, the Premier delivered his first public statement to address concerns surrounding the mining disaster near Mayo.

“The mining sector has had its fair share of bad actors, unfair practices, and the inherent desire – driven by the greed of corporate executives and shareholders – to cut corners, shirk responsibilities, and break the law,” said Pillai.

“I’m not going to stand before you and paint a rosy picture of mining – we must do better. I will not do so when we see corporations cut their losses and run at the suggestion of financial loss. Not when our people are facing the loss of the safe use of their lands. Not when we are left with a giant mess to clean up.”

“Industry cannot operate today – if it is at tomorrow’s expense. None of us, no matter how great the short-term benefits may be, are willing to compromise the safety of future generations. The future of the Yukon, again, is not for sale.”

Previous statements from the Government of Yukon were attributed to Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, John Streicker.

Another important voice in the Eagle Gold mine incident has finally spoken up. Victoria Gold Corporation CEO John McConnell spoke with CBC Yukon and the Yukon News earlier this week. Aside from sparse media releases, Victoria Gold has been quiet on updates since the incident. McConnell himself had not spoken to media at all since the heap leach failure on June 24, and Victoria Gold has still not responded to CHON-FM’s numerous requests for comment.

In related news, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun is calling for the Yukon government to take control of remediation work at Eagle Gold mine.

Following the Government of Yukon’s sixth technical briefing on August 1, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun issued a media release saying that it has lost confidence in Victoria Gold Corp’s ability to respond to the heap leach failure at its Eagle Gold mine in June.

The release urges the Yukon government to take “immediate and robust action,” and remove Victoria Gold’s management from control of remediation work at the mine.

First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Chief Dawna Hope says in the release that the company cannot rectify the environmental damage caused by the heap leach failure on June 24, and said that CEO John McConnell’s apologies and comments to Yukon media ring hollow and false.

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