Successful mining companies operate in partnership with communities. This ensures local benefits, including training, employment, and business. These partnerships are formalized through impact-benefit agreements and participation agreements.
Additionally, mining companies provide financial support through donations, sponsorships, and through scholarships. In the North, mines have set new standards demonstrating a new level of industry commitment to community benefits.
Through scholarship programs, the mines invest significantly to support higher education. Because of the mines, several thousand northerners have benefited from several million dollars in scholarship funding which has assisted students in their educational pursuit and career development.
The North’s minerals industry also invests in communities through support for community cultural programs and events, and by volunteering.
Through its training, employment, business, and community investment work, the minerals industry is making great strides with Indigenous reconciliation.
In 2015, the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued 94 Calls to Action for all Canadians to join in the goal of Indigenous reconciliation. Call to Action #92 asks the corporate sector to take steps that would see meaningful consultation and respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and their land and resources, including equitable access to jobs and training with long-term sustainable benefits. The Call to Action would also have businesses provide education to staff on Indigenous history.
Chamber of Mines member companies working in the North demonstrate their commitment through many initiatives and are delivering results to meet Call to Action #92. The North has a unique national success story where Indigenous and territorial governments, communities, Inuit regional organizations, and industry have significantly changed the role of Indigenous peoples in resource development. One major example of reconciliation is unique northern legislation founded in Indigenous land claims, which sees co-management of resource development.