Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) today signed the Amended Mary River Project Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement (IIBA).
The Amended Agreement supersedes the original Mary River IIBA, originally signed in September 2013, and comes into force upon final signature.
Baffinland and QIA have jointly committed to increasing the benefits of the Mary River Mine to Nunavummiut by enhancing the focus on Inuit training and employment. Baffinland and QIA have jointly committed to increasing the benefits of the Mary River Mine to Nunavummiut by enhancing the focus on Inuit training and employment
The focus will be on increasing skills and training opportunities to provide Nunavummiut with the skills needed to gain meaningful employment at the Mary River Mine including: increased financial commitments to training and skills development; development of a state of the art training facility in Pond Inlet; implementation of enhanced pre-employment training opportunities to prepare Inuit for employment at the mine, programs designed to specifically increase Inuit employment in all aspects of Baffinland's organization, and improved support for all residents of the Qikiqtani communities.
"The signing of the Amended IIBA represents another major step in our commitment to deliver on our promise to bring employment and training opportunities to the Qikiqtani region," said Brian Penney, Baffinland president and CEO in a statement.
"It also reflects the strong relationship between Baffinland and QIA, as we continue to find new ways to work in partnership and understand how we can continue to move forward and make a real difference for all Nunavummiut," Penney added.
The Amended Agreement is based on mutual benefit for both Baffinland and Inuit, and ensures the positive benefits of the mine accrue directly to Inuit.