Raglan Mine Closure Plan Subcommittee Annual Report 2018/2019

This is the first annual report for the Raglan Mine Closure Plan Subcommittee.

Through discussions with its Inuit partners from Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq, Raglan Mine came to realize that some of their main concerns were in regard to mine closure practices, including tailings management. Raglan Mine decided to address these concerns by including its host communities in the reviewing process. This will give Raglan Mine the opportunity to improve the concept alongside its Inuit partners and work towards an integrated closure plan that is both environmentally and socially acceptable.

Although the mine is expected to remain operational for at least another 20 years, the Closure Plan Subcommittee was launched in March 2018 to establish and maintain a dialogue with the mine’s Inuit partners about mine closure and integrate the traditional knowledge of the communities of Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq into the closure plan for Raglan Mine. The first meeting of the Closure Plan Subcommittee occurred in March 2018 and a total of five meetings across 11 days have taken place through 2018 and 2019. Through these meetings, Raglan Mine employees, community and regional representatives, and university researchers are collaboratively developing a plan for the eventual closure and remediation of Raglan Mine. The Closure Plan Subcommittee benefits from being multi-stakeholder, organized far in advance of closure, and made up of members who are willing and committed to achieving the goals that have been set. Through the work of the subcommittee, there are consistent opportunities to learn from one another, apply a wide variety ofexpertise (Inuit, industry, and academic), and maximize the strengths and capacities of Inuit communities. The members of the Closure Plan Subcommittee include Inuit partners from both Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq, representatives of Makivik Corporation and Raglan Mine, a technical expert and a researcher from TERRE-Net (Towards Environmentally Responsible Resource Extraction Network).

Vision statement

We will strive for a mine closure outcome that will safeguard Inuit land use, resources, and ecological integrity, create benefits and build capacities in Salluitand Kangiqsujuaq, and ensure the transfer of skills, knowledge, and values between Inuit and industry to ensure efficient, safe, and long-term solutions to closure and remediation at Raglan Mine.

Mission statement

The Raglan Mine Closure Subcommittee is a partnership within the Raglan Agreement that aims to provide assurances for safe water, land, and food resources, maximize community benefits, and contribute to a sustainable future for Salluitand Kangiqsujuaq by mitigating the negative social, economic, and ecological impacts of mine closure. This will be realized through the creation of culturally relevant closure goals and criteria and the integration of Inuit knowledge,enterprise, and values, scientific expertise, and industry know-how.