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Home > News > Rebuilding Ontario’s Economy

Rebuilding Ontario’s Economy

Aug 25, 2024


Sixteen years of patience and perseverance paid off this summer as Equinox Gold turned Geraldton into a booming mine-town. Local indigenous leaders joined company officials and Ontario Premier Doug Ford along with Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford to celebrate the company’s first gold pour.

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nation Economic Reconciliation, Yvette Metansinine, Chief of Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, Sonny Gagnon, Chief of Aroland First Nation, Sheri Taylor, Chief of Ginoogaming First Nation and Judy Desmoulin, Chief of Long Lake #58 First Nation, all visited the Greenstone Mine on June 18th to witness a gold pour.
“It was an honour to visit the Greenstone Mine and witness the remarkable process of a gold pour,” said Premier Doug Ford. “As we rebuild Ontario’s economy, our government is forming meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities and industry partners, fostering significant opportunities for growth and job creation, especially in critical minerals and resource development.”
Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Mine has agreements in place with Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, Aroland First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation and Long Lake #58 First Nation. Premier Ford and Minister Rickford were in Geraldton to announce renewed partnerships with all four First Nations and funding initiatives to unlock economic and resource development opportunities in northern Ontario, including:
• $1.9 million from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for the Indigenous Workforce Development Program through the province’s Skills Development Fund to provide training and support to secure jobs related to mineral development in the region;
• $2 million to fund construction and maintenance of the Migizi Plaza Rest Stop, which will serve First Nation members, tourists and residents, create jobs, and drive revenue for the First Nations and Municipality of Greenstone. Greenstone Mine donated the land to its First Nations partners for the Migizi Plaza Rest Stop;
• Support for relocation of the Greenstone Ontario Provincial Police detachment, which was moved during Greenstone Mine construction; and
• Maintenance and upgrades to Highway 584 and Highway 11 to help connect more First Nations communities to the province’s highway network.
“Through strategic partnerships and critical infrastructure investments, we are laying the foundation for Greenstone to become the new centre of gravity for mining, in partnership with First Nations,” Minister Rickford said.
“We appreciate the province’s support for development and infrastructure improvements in the Greenstone region and applaud their commitment to developing meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities in Ontario,” said Greg Smith, President & CEO of Equinox Gold.
In May, Equinox Gold completed its acquisition of the remaining 40% of Greenstone Gold Mine GP Inc. from funds managed by Orion Mine Finance Management LP (“Orion”), giving Equinox Gold 100% ownership of the Greenstone Mine.
In connection with the Transaction, Equinox Gold also completed a previously announced US$500 million three-year term loan. “Closing of this transaction consolidates our ownership of the world-class Greenstone Mine, a long-life, low-cost gold mine of significant scale in a top-tier mining jurisdiction,” said Smith. “We again thank Orion for their partnership and support over the last few years and look forward to delivering value to all our stakeholders as we advance the Greenstone Mine towards commercial production.”

Visit Greg Rickford, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation in Thunder Bay at the CEN CAN Expo September 12th as he will be just one of the many speakers at the Indigenous Partnerships - Critical Minerals and Projects in the Pipeline Conference. The Minister will close off the conference with his presentation - Making Reconciliation Real While Building Ontario’s North.

Register today for Tickets which include a trade show and conference pass and includes breakfast and lunch. Tickets are limited. Visit https://virtex.cencanexpo.ca/expoactivity/activitypage/type/expoactivity_pipeline to get yours today. For multiple tickets please call 705-264-2251.

 



Tags: Northern Ontario / Indigenous / Gold / All Articles