QIKIQTAALUK/BAFFIN ISLAND
Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation has shown a renewed focus in committing resources toward Inuit employment at the Mary River Project, Qikiqtani Inuit Association officials said during a board meeting in Iqaluit Feb. 18.

Member at large Enookie Inuarak, left, member at large Olayuk Akesuk and director of major projects Stephen Williamson Bathory report to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association board about the status of the Mary River Mine Project and community consultation Feb. 18. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"This year, for the first time, Baffinland's committing resources for training Inuit," director of major projects Stephen Williamson Bathory told the board. "That hadn't happened before. The IIBA (Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement) requires it, but this year they're putting money on the table."

He stressed the importance of developing processes and committing resources for Inuit employment with a long-term view of the mine's life.

In the past, said Williamson Bathory, people Baffinland had nominated for committees to deal with this subject "did not have an interest to see the IIBA succeed."

He cited recent changes in senior management at the company and said Baffinland now seems committed.

Member at large Olayuk Akesuk said that current Inuit employment at the Mary River Mine Project is 17 or 18 per cent, measured in person hours, not people hired. The goal by the end of the year is to make that number 25 per cent.

"We now have our first minimum Inuit employment goal since the IIBA was signed," said Bathory. "That's a starting point, but that alone won't get Inuit into jobs. We need processes to achieve that goal."

By the end of 2017, said Akesuk, the goal is for 30 per cent Inuit involvement in the mine.

"We need to work harder on this so that Inuit could gain employment at the Mary River Project," said Akesuk through an interpreter.

Secretary-treasurer Joe Attagutaluk asked if there would be training centres for mechanics and engineer jobs.

"Inuit are just waiting to be hired instead of applying," he said through an interpreter.

Akesuk said there are plans in place for training in the mining project.

"I truly believe, too, that the percentage (of Inuit employment) needs to go higher," said Pangnirtung community director Peter Evvik through an interpreter.

Williamson Bathory said QIA would be focusing on hiring and retaining Inuit workers.

Railway idea explored

Meanwhile, Baffinland filed a letter Feb. 17 to the Nunavut Impact Review Board indicating that the submission date for its environmental impact statement with for Phase II of its project will be delayed until September, instead of the previous expected delivery of April, because the company is now exploring the idea of a railway connecting the mine site to the port at Milne Inlet.

"Baffinland is evaluating the various means of transporting and shipping the proposed additional iron ore to market while considering technical, economic, social, cultural and environmental perspectives," states Baffinland's director of sustainable development Oliver Curran in request for the new submission date to NIRB.

The company has determined that a railway would be an "integral facet" of the Phase II proposal, for which it needs additional time to incorporate required information into the environmental impact statement.

The company also states in its September submission will address the issue of winter shipping and will "assess the most effective means of transporting ore from Milne Port along the northern shipping route whilst considering technical feasibility, economic, environmental, social and cultural realities."

Justin Buller, assistant director with QIA, told the board Feb. 18 that the organization will develop a set of questions to share with the impacted communities, engaging residents and finding out people's perceptions of the change of plans.