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New Brunswick strikes deal to explore recovering metals from old mine waste
Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-26 21:19:48.0
Tags: [New Brunswick, Resources, Mining, Environment, Industry]The Government of New Brunswick has struck an agreement with U.S.-based firm Regeneration Enterprises to explore recovering valuable metals, such as copper, lead, zinc, and silver, from decades-old mining waste at the closed Nigadoo mine site near Bathurst, N.B. The site currently represents a $35 million environmental liability for the province, which the company aims to remove from the provincial balance sheet by using recovered critical minerals to fund full site restoration and environmental remediation. Regeneration Enterprises, which is working alongside the Pabineau First Nation, expects to determine the financial viability of the project within a year, with potential processing operations beginning in two to three years if regulatory approvals are secured.
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Minister to Yukon gov’t corporations: no more coal
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-26 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Environment, Mining, Governance]Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking issued a directive to the Yukon Energy Corporation and the Yukon Development Corporation prohibiting them from pursuing or considering coal-fired power projects. The directive coincided with an opposition motion brought by NDP MLA Carmen Gustafson, which urged the territorial government to direct the Yukon Utilities Board under section 17 of the Public Utilities Act to reject any applications for energy projects using coal. The political debate was prompted by Vancouver-based Strategic Metals proposing a coal exploration project near Braeburn, Yukon, and evaluating coal-fired power generation despite the federal government's mandate to phase out coal-fired power by 2030.
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Minister directs Yukon gov’t corporations not to mull over coal-fired power projects
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-26 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Environment, Mining, Governance]Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking issued a directive instructing the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation to refrain from pursuing or considering coal-fired power generation projects. The ministerial directive coincides with an opposition motion brought by NDP MLA Carmen Gustafson, which urged the territorial government to direct the Yukon Utilities Board under section 17 of the Public Utilities Act to reject any applications for energy projects using coal. The debate highlights ongoing friction surrounding Vancouver-based Strategic Metals' coal exploration project near Braeburn, Yukon, and its potential application for power generation despite federal plans to phase out coal-fired power by 2030.
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'Ideal outcome,' minister says as Yukon's Eagle gold mine set to be sold for $140M
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-22 20:34:22.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Resources, Environment, Economy]Singapore-based Boroo Pte. Ltd. has signed an agreement with the mine's receiver, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to acquire the troubled Eagle gold mine in central Yukon for $140 million and committed to spending $1.5 billion to restart operations and perform cleanup work. The transaction follows a disastrous heap leach facility failure at the site owned by Victoria Gold Corp. in 2024 that spilled toxic cyanide into the environment and triggered intensive remediation efforts partially funded by a $220 million loan from the Yukon government. Subject to court approval expected by the end of the year, Boroo will pay $40 million in upfront cash, take over all remediation and site stabilization work from 2027 to 2029, and fully repay the territorial government for its emergency cleanup expenses.
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Effort to restart Con Mine discussed at Yellowknife town hall
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-22 16:17:16.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Resources, Environment, Economy]Gold Terra Resource Corp. CEO Gerald Panneton hosted a town hall in Yellowknife to discuss aggressive timelines for restarting gold mining operations at the historic Con Mine site, driven by gold prices exceeding $4,000 USD per ounce. The company aims to secure a permit by 2027, followed by 12 to 16 months of construction, targeting a production threshold of 1 million ounces to support a mine life exceeding 20 years. Public concerns raised at the event focused on localized impacts, including energy consumption via liquefied natural gas, workforce housing, arsenic pollution legacy risks, and exploratory drilling at Tin Can Hill and Walsh Lake.
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New water treatment plant at Giant Mine site set for operation in spring 2027
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-19 23:52:03.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Mining, Environment, Resources]The Giant Mine Remediation Project announced that its new water treatment plant is scheduled to begin operations in spring 2027, replacing an obsolete system dating back to the 1980s. Built within a current $4.38 billion budget and forming part of an 18-year cleanup timeline ending in 2038, the state-of-the-art facility will reduce arsenic levels down to Health Canada's 10 parts per billion drinking water quality standard before discharging treated water directly into Yellowknife Bay. The project also features real-time sensors to halt discharges exceeding thresholds, alongside ongoing underground containment efforts utilizing thermosyphons to freeze 237,000 tonnes of toxic arsenic trioxide.
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Environmental Assessment Bulletin
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-16 17:05:18.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Environment, Infrastructure, Mining, Resources]The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change announced two environmental assessment updates under Part 10 of the Environmental Protection Act. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure registered the 6-hectare Baie Verte Quarry (Reg. 2439) on Route 410 to supply aggregate for regional highway work over a 10-to-15-year period, with public comments due by November 30, 2026. Additionally, the Crémaillère Harbour Marine Port Development (Reg. 2429) proposed by Great Northern Port Development was formally released from environmental assessment subject to ministerial conditions.
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Q&A | Years in the making: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in chief weighs in on proposed Dawson regional land use plan
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 01:16:47.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Resources, Mining, Environment, Governance]Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation Hahke (chief) Darren Taylor expressed hope that a final agreement on the Dawson regional land use plan will be reached with the Yukon government in 2027. The proposed plan outlines acceptable land uses across 40,000 square kilometres in north-central Yukon, balancing environmental protection, stewardship, and historic preservation with economic development and critical mineral resource extraction. Chief Taylor emphasized that without the plan, the First Nation will withhold support for regional mining and development projects unless companies negotiate direct Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs).
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Whitehorse City Council rejects potential mineral exploration expansion
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 00:11:57.0
Tags: [Municipal, Mining, Resources, Environment, Governance, Indigenous]By a 4-to-3 vote, the Whitehorse City Council rejected a petition by Gladiator Metals to amend municipal bylaws and the official community plan to permit mineral exploration across three areas currently designated as greenspace within the Whitehorse copper belt. The defeated amendments drew divided public and council opinions concerning industrial environmental impacts versus economic reconciliation and resource development opportunities supported by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch’än Council. Council members opposed to the changes cited a lack of sufficient scientific and environmental justification, leaving the restrictive zoning status quo in place.
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Environmental Assessment Bulletin
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-09 19:25:43.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Environment, Mining, Infrastructure, Transportation]The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change issued an environmental assessment bulletin under Part 10 of the Environmental Protection Act regarding multiple industrial and infrastructure projects. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure registered the 4.22-hectare St. Lawrence Quarry (Reg. 2438) and the 11-hectare Greenspond Quarry Extension (Reg. 2437) for public comment until November 13, 2026, with ministerial decisions due by November 23, 2026. Additionally, the minister issued approved Environmental Impact Statement guidelines for Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc.'s St. Lawrence South Ridge Fluorspar Mine Extension project (Reg. 2406). Finally, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited's Zone 7 Five-Year Operating Plan (2027-2031) (Reg. 2424), the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands' Crown Zone 7 Five-Year Operating Plan (2027-2031) (Reg. 2428), and 44980 NFLD Inc./JJs Trucking's Happy Valley – Goose Bay Peat Moss Quarry (Reg. 2431) were released from environmental assessment subject to conditions.
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Proposed framework would nearly double land available for mineral exploration in Whitehorse
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-08 00:41:19.0
Tags: [National, Municipal, Mining, Resources, Governance, Environment]City of Whitehorse staff have tabled proposed amendments to municipal policies, zoning bylaws, and the official community plan to establish a new mineral framework. The framework will nearly double the amount of land available for mineral exploration from 1,128 to approximately 2,200 hectares through the inclusion of "future planning areas," while implementing explicit regulations such as a 500-metre buffer between homes and exploration sites, a 100-metre setback from watercourses, mandatory bonding, and site reclamation standards.
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Gov't consultations underway on shutdown of N.W.T.'s Ekati diamond mine watchdog
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-07 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Resources, Governance]The Northwest Territories and federal governments have initiated consultations on the proposed dissolution of the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency (IEMA), the watchdog organization that has monitored developments at the Ekati diamond mine for nearly three decades. The mine, operated by the now-receivership Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, ended production earlier this year and is currently a public liability managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers using a $326-million reclamation security fund. Territorial and federal officials are considering whether funds allocated to IEMA should be redirected directly to site reclamation activities. Indigenous governments—including the Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, North Slave Métis Alliance, and Kitikmeot Inuit Association—alongside IEMA executive director Mark Casas, are participating in the input process regarding the future of the environmental agreement and independent oversight.
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Survey shows broad support for mining activity in Whitehorse greenspace
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-06 21:29:47.0
Tags: [National, Municipal, Mining, Resources, Environment, Indigenous]Gladiator Metals is petitioning the City of Whitehorse to amend its top land-use policy by rezoning copper belt parcels designated as greenspace to allow expanded mineral exploration drilling. A city staff report released following nearly 1,000 written public submissions and a public hearing indicates that 64 per cent of respondents support the proposed amendment, while approximately one-third express opposition or concerns regarding environmental impacts, wildlife disruption, and potential mine failures. Local First Nations, specifically the Kwanlin Dün First Nation led by Chief Sean Smith and the Ta'an Kwäch’än Council, have expressed support for the exploration project to improve understanding of local mineral potential, while city councillors debate the residency and validity of survey respondents under the Municipal Act alongside the city's parallel development of a proposed mineral framework.
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N.W.T. minister won't reconsider wind-down of Diavik oversight board
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-29 18:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Environment, Resources, Mining, Governance]The Northwest Territories' Environment and Climate Change Minister, Jay Macdonald, has rejected a formal request from the Environmental Monitoring and Advisory Board (EMAB) to reconsider the scheduled wind-down of the Diavik diamond mine oversight board by March. EMAB chair Charlie Catholique and advocacy groups like Alternatives North argued that terminating independent monitoring before full site remediation is complete violates the mine's original social licence and public commitments. Meanwhile, the Ekati diamond mine remains under public receivership managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, raising ongoing concerns among policy analysts and former legislators regarding the adequacy of territorial oversight, Indigenous co-management resources, and long-term environmental protection.
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Nearly 2 years later, tailings leak at Yukon’s abandoned Wolverine mine continues
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-29 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Resources, Indigenous]Nearly two years after a tailings leak was first identified at the abandoned Wolverine zinc mine in the Yukon, the Yukon government has been unable to locate or fix the liner issue beneath the facility due to technical water-level challenges and high precipitation. The mine, abandoned by Yukon Zinc Corporation in 2015 after financial difficulties, left the territory with a costly environmental legacy that included a failed attempt to increase financial security from $10.6 million to $35.5 million in 2018 and $42 million in government spending by 2024. While the Yukon government maintains that current water effluent being discharged into the creek meets the terms of its water licence, groundwater monitoring updates from May 2026 show ongoing metal and inorganic exceedances above Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment guidelines. Ross River Dena Council Chief Dylan Loblaw has expressed serious concerns regarding watershed safety, fish habitat impacts, and a lack of meaningful First Nations consultation in the site's closure and remediation plans.
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The ins and outs of the Yukon's biggest proposed mine
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-23 12:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Economy]Western Copper and Gold and the Casino Mining Corporation are proposing the Casino mine project in the Yukon, located between Carmacks and Dawson City, with an estimated 27-year lifespan to extract approximately 4.27 billion pounds of copper, 346 million pounds of molybdenum, alongside gold and silver deposits. The project is projected to create up to 1,400 construction jobs, 700 operational jobs, and contribute roughly $1.3 billion annually to the Yukon economy while generating 25 of the 34 critical minerals designated by Ottawa. However, the project faces major regulatory scrutiny, undergoing its first-ever panel review by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) due to concerns from First Nations and conservation groups over impacts on the Klaza caribou herd, fish, wildlife habitats across five First Nation territories, and risks associated with tailings dams and heap leaching.
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Clean-up almost done at abandoned mine site on First Nation settlement land in Yukon
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-22 17:54:56.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Resources, Governance]The Yukon government spent approximately $750,000 to remediate the abandoned Discovery Creek placer mine site located on Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation settlement land west of Carmacks. Contracted through KBL Environmental, crews removed 300 cubic metres of contaminated soil and over 19,000 litres of diesel fuel hydrocarbons, alongside machinery, vehicles, and trailers, after land guardians discovered the site in 2022 following the owner's death in 2021. First Nation officials criticized the four-year gap between the site's discovery and cleanup, advocating for a formalized territorial framework and contingency fund to ensure rapid responses to environmental contamination on settlement lands.
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First Nations Chief threatens legal action against province if tailings water is released
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-21 15:59:11.0
Tags: [Alberta, Indigenous, Energy, Environment, Resources, Mining]Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam has threatened a 20-year legal battle against the Alberta government if provincial or federal regulators approve plans to treat and release oilsands mining wastewater from companies like Suncor Energy Inc. into the Athabasca watershed. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation strongly oppose the "treat and release" approach for the 1.4 billion cubic meters of fluid tailings, citing severe local health concerns and threats to Treaty rights along the 1,230-kilometer river. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated that wastewater release is governed under federal jurisdiction and oilsands leases, while Environment Minister Grant Hunter maintains that treated mine water release is necessary to achieve site reclamation and return land to a self-sustaining boreal forest.
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Upcycling waste: researchers pitch newest solution for Giant Mine’s arsenic trioxide
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-20 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Resources, Technology]Researchers led by Tamara Etmannski at the University of British Columbia have successfully converted arsenic trioxide samples from the Giant Mine into metallic arsenic suitable for use as semiconductors in electronic devices. The process involves dissolving the toxic byproduct in water and adding a chemical reductant to separate out pure metallic arsenic. The Giant Mine Oversight Board, chaired by Graeme Clinton, is reviewing the research alongside alternative permanent solutions—such as turning the waste into glass—to address the 237,000 tonnes of toxic waste currently stored and frozen underground in Yellowknife. While scaling the process to an operational plant would take approximately 10 years and does not fully offset the plant's capital cost through market sales alone, proponents note it could eliminate long-term maintenance and storage liabilities.
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First Nation opens work camp at Faro mine cleanup project in Yukon
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-18 20:54:45.0
Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Infrastructure, Resources]The Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation, owned by the Ross River Dena Council, has opened the Tsē Zūl work camp at the abandoned Faro mine site in central Yukon to house workers for a massive federal remediation project. Located 200 kilometres northeast of Whitehorse, the facility is designed to accommodate nearly 300 workers and provide long-term revenue and employment opportunities for the First Nation. The Faro mine complex, which operated for nearly 30 years as a lead-zinc mine before its bankruptcy and abandonment in 1998, represents one of Canada's most complex industrial cleanup sites, expected to take decades to complete.
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