QIA still in talks with Baffinland
QIA still in talks with Baffinland over iron mine benefits: Eegeesiak
"This takes time"
NUNATSIAQ NEWS : Nunavut April 11, 2013 - 8:47 am
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association said April 10 that the organization continues “to work hard” with Baffinland Iron Mines Corp to reach impact benefits and commercial production lease agreements.
Baffinland wants to build an iron mine that would produce 3.5 million tonnes of iron ore a year from the Mary River mine in northern Baffin Island — down from the much larger mine that the company planned to build until this past January when owners announced they would go ahead with a scaled-down project.
In an April 10 news release, Okalik Eegeesiak said QIA is happy with the level of progress being made in the negotiations with Baffinland.
“While we understand Inuit in the Qikiqtani region are impatient for news, QIA is following the agreed-to process to make sure we get the best agreement possible and this takes time,” she said.
“We are working with Baffinland to find a path forward that will provide Inuit with the benefits that economic development can bring while at the same time ensuring that this development is balanced with our cultural and societal values.”
Eegeesiak is scheduled talk to delegates at the Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit April 10 to discuss the importance of community engagement during the development process.
