Question Period Note: Baffinland Iron Mines Lay-Offs

• The Government of Canada recognizes the social and economic importance of the Baffinland Iron Mines Mary River Project to Inuit and Northerners, and the benefits of getting these employees back to work at the Mary River Mine.
• Our Government supports a strong resource development sector, one that is sustainable and respects the environment.
• The department will continue to participate in the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s impact assessment process of this proposed project, to ensure the project is environmentally and socially responsible.

o Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation’s Mary River Project is an iron ore mine located in the Qikiqtani Region of North Baffin Island. Initially approval in 2012, the mine has undergone a number of amendments to increase the project’s viability. The most recent proposal referred to as Phase 2 is seeking an increase in ore produced from 4.2 to 12 million tonnes per annum, transported by rail and shipped through a northern route at Milne Inlet.
o On November 6, 2019, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated requested an adjournment of the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s final hearing for a period of up to 12 months. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated cited deficiencies in the consultation with the Inuit of Nunavut and technical inadequacies with Baffinland’s proposal.
o Following the final public hearing, Baffinland issued a notice that as of November 15, 2019, 96 Inuit (and 490 non-Inuit) Contractor employees from the five impacted communities would be negatively impacted by the demobilizing of works. Baffinland indicated that the demobilizing effort is an immediate cost cutting measure required due to the uncertainty of Phase 2.
o The Nunavut Impact Review Board will be holding a meeting December 8-9 to consider the way forward, then will issue correspondence describing next steps.

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