Yukon government says no to First Nation demand for a halt to mining and offers few details regarding dead fish found at Haggart Creek

Thursday, 8 August 2024 09:08

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai speaking with reporters in 2023 (Photo: S. Bonell)

Pillai offers two month pause for consultation for new mines on First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun traditional territory, but says a full halt of mining activity would have "significant legal and economic consequences."

The Government of Yukon has declined the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun’s request to halt all mining activity on its traditional territory over a month later.

In a statement released late Monday afternoon, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai said that acting on the First Nation’s request would have significant, far reaching consequences for all Yukoners.

Pillai went on to say that while the Yukon government won’t halt all mining and exploration activities, it will apply a prohibition on staking claims in areas of cultural or environmental significance. The government will also pause existing consultation processes and stop taking new consultations on Na-Cho Nyäk Dun traditional territory for two months.

The statement closes with a commitment to not license another heap leach facility in the territory until after an independent review of the June 24 heap leach failure at Eagle Gold mine.

In related news, an August 6 media release from the Department of Environment says that Victoria Gold personnel discovered dead fish in Haggart Creek on Friday. According to the release, the company stopped discharging water from the treatment plant at the mine. Victoria Gold has been instructed to install fish barriers both upstream and downstream from the discharge location.

The Department of Environment was unable to clarify details with CHON-FM, including the number of dead fish, the species, and the effectiveness of fish barriers.

No additional dead fish had been found in Haggart Creek since August 2.

The next technical briefing on Eagle Gold mine is scheduled for Friday, August 9 at 10:30 a.m.

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