Department of Energy Mines and Resources of Yukon : Government of Yukon provides financial assistance to mineral sector organizations

The Government of Yukon has entered into agreements with the Yukon Chamber of Mines and the Klondike Placer Miners' Association to help advance the interests of Yukon's mining industry.

The Klondike Placer Miners' Association (KPMA) will receive $360,000 over a three-year period to supplement its core funding. The funding will assist KMPA with its administration, training and public awareness activities in support of the placer industry. The funding also provides support for hiring of professional consultants for research projects related to placer mining.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines (YCM) will receive $375,000 over a three-year period to support its ongoing activities, including consultation and engagement processes, education and outreach, and other initiatives to support the growth of the exploration and mining industry.

Quotes

'The Government of Yukon supports responsible mining in Yukon, and building collaborative and positive working relationships around resource development will help achieve our goal of growing our economy. Our government is also committed to ensuring Yukon's mining regulatory process is effective, while maintaining responsible development that reflects the values of Yukoners and respects the rights and culture of First Nations.'

-Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai

'We greatly appreciate the Yukon government's support for the placer industry. This stable and predictable funding agreement will assist the Klondike Placer Miners' Association in providing government with professional and technical advice on how to ensure that Yukon's founding industry and its multi-generational families continue to prosper.'

-Klondike Placer Miners' Association president Mike McDougall

'The support shown by Yukon government through this funding agreement will assist the chamber and its partners in engaging with Yukon First Nations to hear first-hand the perspectives of mining in their traditional territory. This funding agreement will also assist the chamber to continue advancing the interests of the Yukon mining industry and ensure the organization remains a partner and conduit for mining interests throughout Yukon.'

-Yukon Chamber of Mines president Mike Burke

Quick facts

• Placer miners recovered 67,270 crude ounces of gold in 2016, valued at $92.4 million. This is the highest annual production recorded in the past decade.
• In 2016, more than $57 million was invested in 65 exploration projects seeking to discover gold, copper, lead, zinc, nickel and platinum group metals.

Contact:

Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-332-0362
[e-mail]

Sue Thomas
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-5809
[e-mail]