Question Period Note: Faro Mine Remediation Project

• The health and safety of Canadians and the environment is a priority for our Government.
• The Government continues to work in partnership with the Government of Yukon, and Indigenous partners to advance the long-term remediation plan while managing immediate risks to both human health and the environment. We hope to have all approvals in place for implementation of the final closure plan in 2024.

Background

FARO MINE – The Faro Mine is a former lead-zinc mine in the Yukon and is now one of the largest contaminated sites in Canada. Currently, CIRNAC is concluding negotiations with the government of Yukon and affected Yukon First Nations to transfer the site to full federal control. The Yukon Devolution Transfer Agreement left Canada financially liable for remediation of the Faro Mine with the Government of Yukon responsible for the management of the remediation project. This joint governance model has been ineffective for the management of a complex, high-risk, and large-scale project.
In order to align the project management to best practices and effectively manage the risks, the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada have negotiated a transition agreement to alter the roles of each government and transition the site to full federal control. This structure now allows Canada to exercise more control at the project management level and provide key decision making that will influence the projects’ scope, schedule and budget.
Site activities over the next two years will focus on construction of advanced remediation works, finalizing the conceptual remediation plan, working through the environmental assessment and completing ongoing care and maintenance.

If pressed on the Governance Transition from the Yukon Government to Canada
• The Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon and its First Nation partners have agreed to transition the Faro Mine Remediation Project. As part of this agreement, the Government of Canada is assuming responsibility for the overall delivery of the project.
• The agreement helps streamline processes and provides role clarity for the project by establishing a single line of responsibility and accountability for each government.
• This is part of our Government’s due diligence in implementing good project management practices.

If pressed on the increases in spending at Faro
• While our Government continues to work in partnership with the Government of Yukon and Indigenous partners to advance the long-term remediation plan, we are now doing construction work to stabilize the site and to manage immediate risks. The overall increase in yearly spending is attributed to these planned works.

If pressed on increases to the Faro Mine Remediation Project’s timelines for clean-up
• We submitted the plans for the complete remediation of the Faro mine site to the Executive Committee of the Yukon Environmental and Socio economic Assessment Board in May 2019; the first step of the regulatory process.
• Community consultations formed part of the Project Proposal which was developed with Indigenous partners.
• Permitting usually takes approximately four to five years; therefore, we hope to have all approvals in place for implementation of the final closure plan in 2024.

If pressed on legal action under the Yukon Health and Safety Act against Parsons Inc and one of their employees at the Faro Mine
• We are aware of allegations filed in Court to the effect that Parsons and one of its employees have committed offences under Yukon’s Occupational Health and Safety Act; we also know that a trial is being scheduled to take place later this year in the Yukon regarding these allegations.
• CIRNAC officials continue to monitor this matter with a view to ensuring that Parsons and its employees are complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act while providing services to Canada.