Harper Government Supports Placer Mining Development in Yukon

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), and Minister for the Arctic Council, today announced an investment that will  contribute to innovative research techniques and processes to increase gold recoveries in placer mining.

“The Government of Canada recognizes the tremendous opportunities in the North’s resource sector, and supports responsible development that benefits Northerners,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Small-scale mining operations, including placer mines, are important contributors to the Yukon economy and this innovative research has the potential to create more jobs and economic opportunities in the mining sector.”

“The placer mining industry brings jobs and economic development opportunities to small businesses in the territory,” said Yukon MP Ryan Leef. “Improved gold recoveries could lead to significant growth in an industry already worth more than $50 million a year to the local economy.”

“Placer mining has a long and rich history in Yukon and continues to be an important contributor to the territory’s mining sector,” Yukon Economic Development Minister Currie Dixon said. “This project will promote the development of placer mining and contribute to the territory’s knowledge sector by applying Yukon-based research and innovation to the enhancement of placer mining in Yukon.”

“Placer mining has been a cornerstone of the Yukon’s economy and culture since the great Klondike Gold Rush of 1898,” said Stuart Schmidt, President of the Klondike Placer Miners’ Association. “This research project will produce a guide to gold recovery technology as well as detail methods and equipment for upgrading common placer gold concentrates. This information will be circulated throughout the Yukon placer industry.”

CanNor, the Government of Yukon’s Department of Economic Development, and the Yukon Research Centre are together investing more than $444,000 over two years towards a research and testing program to develop more efficient and cost-effective ways to increase gold recoveries in placer mining. If successful, this project will not only improve the profitability of existing placer mines, but may make previous uneconomic gravels profitable to mine.

Investment in this project is made possible through CanNor's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building across the North. SINED is one of several economic development programs within CanNor. CanNor works to help develop a diversified, sustainable, and dynamic economy across Canada’s three territories. CanNor delivers on its northern mandate through funding programs, the Northern Projects Management Office which supports responsible resource development across the North, and by undertaking policy and research.
 

Visit here for more information on this project.

For copies of CanNor news releases, visit: http://www.cannor.gc.ca.

For more information on Canada’s Northern Strategy, visit: www.northernstrategy.ca/index-eng.asp.

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For further information, please contact:

Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Jennifer Kennedy
Director of Communications
819-997-1441

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Erin Macpherson
A/Communications Manager
867-667-3849

Yukon College
Tanis Davey
Communications Coordinator, Yukon Research Centre
867-456-8625

Government of Yukon
Samantha Paterson
Communications Manager
867-667-5387

Klondike Placer Miners’ Association
Randy Clarkson
867-668-3978