Latest news with #JohnStreicker
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Yukon First Nation to oppose all new mining claims on its territory during planning
A Yukon First Nation says it will oppose any new mining claims on its traditional territory as it begins a regional land-use planning process with the territory's government. The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun says in a post on Facebook that it is issuing a notice to the mining industry that it will oppose any claim 'through all available legal and political avenues.' The Nation says any such claim staked during the land-use planning process are 'unwelcome' and 'unlawful,' citing past court decisions that it says 'strongly discourages staking claims in the areas' undergoing such a process. It says the Nation has adopted its own policy on mining that will govern the industry on its traditional territory while the planning process in pending. The notice comes after a catastrophic failure at an ore storage site last year at the Eagle Gold Mine, within the nation's traditional territory, that released about two-million tonnes of cyanide-laced ore and water into the environment. Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker says in a statement that the territory is aware of the notice and recommends any mining proponent to 'engage with potentially affected Indigenous governments and groups as early as possible' for any project development. Streicker says the territory has recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with Na-Cho Nyak Dun to start the land-use planning process, however they haven't reached a consensus on how interim staking of mining claims should be handled while planning is taking place. 'We are committed to working alongside the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun to develop a regional land use plan that considers the diverse land uses in this region,' he says. 'In our view, this includes maintaining a healthy environment and vibrant cultural legacy, while supporting a sustainable economy and ensuring Yukon First Nations and public priorities are appropriately reflected.' Na-Cho Nyak Dun Chief Dawna Hope says in the statement that her Nation 'is advising all mining companies and their financial backers that no new claims should be staked in their traditional territory to protect our planning process and our treaty rights.' 'We will vigorously oppose — through all possible political and legal means — any new claims staked on our territory,' Hope says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Yukon First Nation to oppose all new mining claims on its territory during planning
A Yukon First Nation says it will oppose any new mining claims on its traditional territory as it begins a regional land-use planning process with the territory's government. The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun says in a post on Facebook that it is issuing a notice to the mining industry that it will oppose any claim "through all available legal and political avenues." The Nation says any such claim staked during the land-use planning process are "unwelcome" and "unlawful," citing past court decisions that it says "strongly discourages staking claims in the areas" undergoing such a process. It says the Nation has adopted its own policy on mining that will govern the industry on its traditional territory while the planning process in pending. The notice comes after a catastrophic failure at an ore storage site last year at the Eagle Gold Mine, within the nation's traditional territory, that released about two-million tonnes of cyanide-laced ore and water into the environment. Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker says in a statement that the territory is aware of the notice and recommends any mining proponent to "engage with potentially affected Indigenous governments and groups as early as possible" for any project development. Streicker says the territory has recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with Na-Cho Nyak Dun to start the land-use planning process, however they haven't reached a consensus on how interim staking of mining claims should be handled while planning is taking place. "We are committed to working alongside the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun to develop a regional land use plan that considers the diverse land uses in this region," he says. "In our view, this includes maintaining a healthy environment and vibrant cultural legacy, while supporting a sustainable economy and ensuring Yukon First Nations and public priorities are appropriately reflected." Na-Cho Nyak Dun Chief Dawna Hope says in the statement that her Nation "is advising all mining companies and their financial backers that no new claims should be staked in their traditional territory to protect our planning process and our treaty rights." "We will vigorously oppose — through all possible political and legal means — any new claims staked on our territory,' Hope says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Winnipeg Free Press
06-08-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Yukon First Nation to oppose all new mining claims on its territory during planning
A Yukon First Nation says it will oppose any new mining claims on its traditional territory as it begins a regional land-use planning process with the territory's government. The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun says in a post on Facebook that it is issuing a notice to the mining industry that it will oppose any claim 'through all available legal and political avenues.' The Nation says any such claim staked during the land-use planning process are 'unwelcome' and 'unlawful,' citing past court decisions that it says 'strongly discourages staking claims in the areas' undergoing such a process. It says the Nation has adopted its own policy on mining that will govern the industry on its traditional territory while the planning process in pending. The notice comes after a catastrophic failure at an ore storage site last year at the Eagle Gold Mine, within the nation's traditional territory, that released about two-million tonnes of cyanide-laced ore and water into the environment. Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker says in a statement that the territory is aware of the notice and recommends any mining proponent to 'engage with potentially affected Indigenous governments and groups as early as possible' for any project development. Streicker says the territory has recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with Na-Cho Nyak Dun to start the land-use planning process, however they haven't reached a consensus on how interim staking of mining claims should be handled while planning is taking place. 'We are committed to working alongside the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun to develop a regional land use plan that considers the diverse land uses in this region,' he says. 'In our view, this includes maintaining a healthy environment and vibrant cultural legacy, while supporting a sustainable economy and ensuring Yukon First Nations and public priorities are appropriately reflected.' Na-Cho Nyak Dun Chief Dawna Hope says in the statement that her Nation 'is advising all mining companies and their financial backers that no new claims should be staked in their traditional territory to protect our planning process and our treaty rights.' 'We will vigorously oppose — through all possible political and legal means — any new claims staked on our territory,' Hope says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disastrous collapse of cyanide-soaked ore at Yukon mine happened in seconds: report
An independent review says last year's spill of millions of tonnes of cyanide-soaked ore at a Yukon gold mine unfolded in seconds but resulted from the "accumulation of a series of adverse conditions and events." The 156-page report released Wednesday says the June 2024 collapse was triggered by the failure of a section of Eagle Gold Mine's heap leach facility, which was too steep and had a history of poor drainage. It says that in addition to "geomechanical causations" of the collapse, it's clear that "actions and inactions" of owner Victoria Gold Corp. and third-party contractors also contributed to the failure, directly or indirectly. It says if variability of the ore quality had been adequately managed, or the integrity of parts of the system had been ensured, the failure at the mine about 85 km north of Mayo in central Yukon "would probably not have occurred." The report makes a series of recommendations related to industry practices and regulatory processes. Yukon Energy Minister John Streicker says in a statement that the government is reviewing the findings and recommendations and is "committed to taking appropriate action in response." "We are also seeing encouraging signs on site, with cyanide, mercury and other contaminant levels decreasing. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the response and remediation efforts," he said. The mine has not operated since the collapse and Victoria Gold was placed in receivership in August 2024. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025 Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
CBC
30-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Yukon gov't temporarily extends some placer mining licences while working through permit backlog
The Yukon government is issuing temporary licence extensions to placer miners in the queue for licence renewals as staff work through the backlog of permit approvals and licence renewal applications. On Thursday, the territory made "temporary" amendments to the Placer Mining Land Use Regulation and the Quartz Mining Land Use Regulation to approve extensions to eligible operators — and temporary additions to the Waters Regulation to authorize eligible operators to use water consistent with the terms of their existing licence while seeking a licence renewal. "We feel this will help alleviate the pressure on the overall system," said John Streicker, Yukon's minister of energy, mines and resources. The decision comes after placer miners and advocates went public about delays that were costing them their ability to work. Some had been in limbo for over a year waiting for their approvals. Streicker said extensions will be given to operators whose licences are close to expiring, including 19 operators whose licences recently expired while in queue for renewal. Extensions will also be given to "previously approved projects that have been through the First Nations consultation process and are within the temporal, spatial and activity scope of the decision documents already in place." "The way we're looking at this is because those mines have already been operating, already did consultation and engagement on them, we can allow them to continue in a temporary way while we work through the backlog," Streicker told CBC News. Streicker said this doesn't change the licence renewal or permitting approval process, but it's a temporary way to keep people working while still following regulations. He added that his department has already begun contacting placer miners to notify them of the extension. Will Fellers is the president of the Klondike Placer Miners Association. He said he was very glad to hear about new changes, but he wants to speak with the Minister before he gets too excited about anything just yet. "We know the government's been working on this behind the scenes and I'm glad to see something finally has came out of it," Fellers told CBC News. "I haven't been briefed on it yet. This is just new, so it will be interesting to hear from John [Streicker] exactly what the specifics are of this but if its the case it's a great step in getting the operators back being able to go out on the land and back to work again. "That makes me happy to hear."
