26 May 2022
May 26, 2022
Iqaluit, NU -Today, Baffinland submitted a request for an emergency order from the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Honourable Dan Vandal that would allow the company to truck and ship 6.0 million tonnes for the 2022 calendar year, in compliance with all environmental permit limits, as the company has done since 2018. This request was made in order to protect our employees and the economy of North Baffin. Baffinland currently represents 23% of Nunavut’s economy
Should the order not be granted, once production reaches 4.2 million tonnes, the Company will be required to suspend operations for the balance of 2022. This will result in the layoff of over 1,300 Baffinland employees and impact more than 400 contract employees, many of whom work for Inuit businesses.
“Baffinland is committed to working with the Federal government and all stakeholder groups to do everything possible to avoid the necessity of layoffs and to protect our employees and their communities.”
Given the uncertainties of the permitting process and the emergency order application, Baffinland is preparing to file a notice with the Nunavut Labour Standards Compliance Office (“LSO”) of termination of staff at its Mary River operations and Nunavut offices. Should this step be necessary, Baffinland will notify the more than 1,300 employees, including 209 Inuit employees, 16 weeks after its notice to the LSO.
See full news release here.