Principles and Goals of The
Whitehorse Mining Initiative
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Maximizing Our Principle
Community Benefits
From Mining The economic benefits for workers
and communities from mining
exploration, development, and
operations are maximized when
these activities are planned carefully,
taking into account both direct and
indirect impacts.
Our Goals
To produce the maximum practicable socio-economic
benefits of mining for communities.
To minimize the consequences of mine
closure on workers and communities by
fully integrating plans for the life
cycle of mining operations into the
economic development plans of
mining-dependent communities.
To reduce any negative social, economic,
and labour relations consequences of
long-distance commuting to mining
operations, and to address fly-over
effects of long-distance commuting.
Aboriginal Lands Our Principle
and Resources
Aboriginal peoples have rights
protected under the Constitution Act,
1982, which include, among others,
rights to lands and resources.
Our Goals
With a view to providing a more certain
climate for mineral exploration and
development, so ensure that:
- Aboriginal land claims are settled
expeditiously, efficiently, and fairly;
- the structure for negotiations is well
defined and clearly understood;
- the negotiation process is supported
by adequate resources; and,
- third-party rights relating to land
and resources are recognized and
referenced in land-claim agreements.
To develop and maintain enhanced
communications between the mining
industry and other stakeholders and
Aboriginal groups concerning the status
of negotiations and, in the
post-settlement period, an explanation
of the rights and obligations
established under any land claim and
related agreements.
To have timely, consistent, dependable,
and simple rules and processes for
resource development in
claims-settlement areas and in
post-settlement mechanisms where such
development is desired by an Aboriginal
community.
To establish in claim settlements simple
and effective regulatory regimes
governing land use and environmental
management.
To develop interim business agreements
and/or participation agreements between
the mining industry and affected
Aboriginal communities.
Aboriginal Our Principle
Involvement in the
Mining Industry Aboriginal peoples are entitled to
opportunities to participate fully in
mineral development at all stages of
mining and associated industries and
at all employment levels.
Our Goals
To remove the barriers -- real and
artificial -- to education, work place, and
business opportunities that often
prevent Aboriginal peoples from
maximizing benefits from the mining
industry.
To allow increased participation of
Aboriginal peoples in all parts of the
mining industry, including direct
employment and related economic or
business opportunities.
To allow the mining industry, Aboriginal
peoples, and other interested
stakeholders to develop formalized
partner relatonships in which there is a
better awareness of respective issues,
needs, and concerns, and a higher level
of mutual understanding.
To support policies, legislation, and
agreements that encourage growth in
business relationships between the
mining industry and Aboriginal
communities.
To ensure regular and open consultations
between exploration companies and mine
developers, and Aboriginal communities,
and to ensure that the Aboriginal
communities are involved in
decision-making processes that concern
exploration, infrastructure development,
mine development, and reclamation.
To remove any impediments in the Indian
Act and the Indian Mining Regulations,
in provincial and territorial
legislation, in federal provincial
agreements, or under development
policies, to full participation of
Aboriginal peoples in economic
opportunities in mining and related
businesses.
Open Our Principle
Decision-Making
Processes Decisions are improved when
reached through open, transparent,
timely, and well-defined processes
with meaningful and responsible
participation by stakeholders.
Our Goals
To expand the opportunity for meaningful
and responsible participation by
governments, the mining industry,
employees and their representatives,
Aboriginal peoples, the environmental
community, and local communities in
decision-making processes that affect
the public interest.
To ensure that stakeholders have access
to necessary information and, within
clearly established cnteria; resources
that enable them to participate.
To enhance public trust in
decision-making processes by ensunng
that stakeholder viewpoints are fairly
heard and considered.
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