Open letter to John Streicker, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Nils Clarke, Minister for the Environment and Premier Ranj Pillai:
We, members of the Council of Canadians Yukon Chapter, add our voice to the demand of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun (FNNND) for an independent public inquiry into the mining catastrophe on their Traditional Land. That millions of litres of deadly cyanide and toxic heavy metals solution continue to spread deeper and wider into the land and waters of a broad area is so horrible it is hard to keep our minds on it.
If mining is to continue in Yukon with broad social license, Yukoners need to know it will be regulated so that foreseeable problems such as those that led to this disaster are prevented. An independent public inquiry will provide facts to guide new practices and the new mineral legislation currently being crafted.
At Victoria Gold’s Eagle Mine, the heap of gold ore had reached at least 120 meters above the valley floor. The heap was planned to cover over a square kilometre by the end of the mine’s life. Following usual procedure, the heap on its impermeable pad was irrigated with cyanide solution to dissolve the gold in the ore.
When the heap failed, of the 400 million tons of material that fell, 200 million tons escaped containment and formed a 1.3 kilometre-long landslide. An inspector hired by Yukon Government estimates that 300 million litres of cyanide/heavy metal solution poured into the area. Work to contain as much of it as possible is underway, but long-term poisoning of soil and surface and ground water in a wide area cannot be prevented.
Victoria Gold embarked on this high-risk operation without enough emergency storage or treatment capability for the cyanide solution. In 2020 and in 2022 inspectors warned Victoria Gold that more storage and treatment capacity are needed. The mine didn’t follow the recommendations and the Yukon Government didn’t enforce them.
Let’s make sure nothing like this happens again. Finding out exactly what happened and what measures will prevent foreseeable mining disasters in future requires an independent public inquiry.
Such an inquiry can examine the systemic issues that led to this disaster and past failed mines in Yukon. It can inform the decision process for the proposed Casino Mine northwest of Carmacks. That company plans a heap of gold ore for cyanide treatment 2.3 times larger than Eagle Mine’s heap.
We believe that the current Yukon Government acted well in taking over Eagle Mine when it was clear the Company did not install containment or other urgently needed measures after the leach heap failure.
Now, in allowing an independent public inquiry and facing any errors or omission for which it may be responsible, the Yukon Government has an opportunity to hold its head high and set a precedent for all of Canada. For sources, contact cofcyukon@gmail.com
Mary Amerongen
Robin Reid-Fraser
Juliana Frisch
