Locals worry that a new deal will kickstart the development of a long-opposed mining project

by HEATHER ROBB

MIRROR (30-06-2011)

For over 10 years, folks in the Oka region have been fighting Montreal-based mining company Niocan’s plans to operate an underground niobium mine in the Sainte-Sophie mountain range. The rare element is used in high-grade steel production for things like pipelines and automobiles. Recently, the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake, and the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) of Deux-Montagnes, as well as a citizens’ coalition, put together a petition of 5,600 signatures in opposition to the mine, which was presented to the Quebec National Assembly this spring by Mirabel MNA Denise Beaudoin. Niocan, according to its website, intends to begin the project to extract niobium as soon as it receives authorization from Quebec’s Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.

Despite the show of solidarity among those in opposition to the mine in a region where there is a history of division between the native and non-native communities, their leaders are concerned that Oka municipality mayor Richard Lalonde may have other ideas. On June 8, he announced he had struck a deal with another mining company, Augyva Mining Resources, to allow them access to an old niobium mine site in the area which was operated by the St-Lawrence Columbium company from 1961 until 1976, and has since been left in a state of neglect. The agreement grants Augyva three months to evaluate the “economic potential” of the waste and the tailings in the old mine site.
CLEAN UP OR BACK DOOR?
Though the mayor has presented the deal as a clean-up project, some are concerned it might in fact be a back door move to get the unpopular Niocan niobium mine—which is located not far from the old mine site—up and running, particularly in light of the fact that Augyva has made several offers to purchase Niocan, even as recently as last week.

“They’re hiding their real agenda and trying to make it socially acceptable by suggesting they are going to create a park there,” says Ellen Gabriel, spokesperson for the Mohawk traditional council. “We immediately wrote a letter to the mayor of Oka about it. We don’t want Augyva to be securing the site for Niocan so that they can dump their waste into the old site.”

Nicolas Villeneuve, president of the local farmer’s union (the UPA), is also skeptical. “I don’t know why [Lalonde] is doing this,” he says. “The coalition wanted to promote a project of deconta­mination on that site. And now here’s the mayor with this new deal with Augyva. Why would he hire a mining company for a decontamination project?”

Mayor Lalonde did not return the Mirror’s repeated calls asking for comment.

Augyva president Georges-Yvan Gagnon states that for now, his company’s sole intention is to recuperate the leftover minerals from the old St-Lawrence site—a project he suggests could be economically viable for several years, and could create as many as 200 local jobs. He also says he thinks locals should be relieved that the site will finally be cleaned up. “If you have a ton of garbage in your backyard, what’s going to bother you more—the garbage, or the fact that someone is going to take it for you?” he asks.

Both the old site and the Niocan site are located on traditional Mohawk territory currently under land claim negotiations. As such, Gabriel suggests, according to the Canadian constitution, as well international conventions such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Mohawk people must be consulted on how the land is used. She adds that her people’s main concern has always been about the health risks.

“What are the health hazards for people who live close by?” she asks. “When they disturb the tailings, how far will the dust travel?”

LOSING THE FARM
According to Villeneuve, local farmers worry that the massive quantity of water required to operate the mine would lower levels in the aquifers and impact agricultural water supplies—an issue cited in the 2005 environmental hearings report. Another problem is the potential impact on agrotourism.

“Making our way in agriculture today is not easy,” he says. “Agrotourism is a new way to put our product on the market. We invite people to visit us and spend money on the farm. We’re afraid that the mining project could spoil all the work we’ve done over the last 15 years.”

A protest against Niocan was held today, Thursday, June 30, outside their shareholders’ meeting, at 9 a.m. at the Best Western Ville Marie Hotel, 3407 Peel (at Sherbrooke).