NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Members of the Legislative Assembly assured a delegation from Avalon Rare Metals Inc. that the territory is open to business during a recent post-public hearing tour taken by the proponents of a proposed rare earth mine at Thor Lake.
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board public hearing for the proposed Nechalacho mine and hydrometallurgical plant along Great Slave Lake took place last month.
Avalon president and CEO Don Bubar and a small delegation attended the legislative assembly on March 12 during a three-day whirlwind tour to update regulators, government officials and aboriginal leaders about the project.
"We tried to see as many people as we could who have an interest in the project there, either from a regulatory standpoint or partnering, aboriginal partners, etcetera," said Bubar, characterizing the visit as routine business. "Just trying to meet as many people as I could to find out what they were thinking and move along with various negotiations that we have going on right now.
"Several of the MLAs stood up and made positive comments about what we're doing there."
Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen welcomed the Avalon team and later, in discussions at the legislature, played up the town's reputation as a hub of the North, "open for business."
Spin-off benefits for Hay River have been estimated by the town at up to 150 jobs, from transporting materials on NTCL barges to shipping on the CN rail line.
The ore will be barged to Pine Point for initial processing before being trucked to Hay River to be moved south by rail.
"We look forward to having them in the South Slave and working with them in Hay River," said Hay River North MLA Robert Bouchard, who welcomed Bubar and his team at the legislature.
Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins also welcomed the delegation.
"I appreciate their investment in the North, I appreciate their interest in the North, and certainly their efforts to make strong partnerships with our Northern communities and aboriginal people," Hawkins said.
While an Impact Benefits Agreement has been struck between Avalon and the Deninu Ku'e First Nation, talks have stalled with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, prompting the Yellowknives to pull its support from the project at the public hearings last
February.
The Yellowknives, NWT Metis Nation and North Slave Metis were among the groups Avalon met with during the visit earlier this month.
"I spoke to quite a few people trying to address some of the concerns that were raised at the hearings by some of the groups such as Yellowknives," Bubar said. "So we're getting things going again."
- with files from Angele Cano
