Baffinland Iron Mines granted land use plan exemption by federal minister

The minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Developmenthas given Baffinland Iron Mines the green light to take its latest plans which include almost year-roundshipping of iron ore directlyto the Nunavut Impact Review Board.

Baffinland'sMary Riverironmining operation is located about 160 kilometres southwest of Pond Inlet, Nunavut.

"At this point there is no reason to believe that the project cannot be assessed and potentially approved, regulated and carried out in a manner that is consistent with the existing and future well-being of the residents and the communities,"Bernard Valcourtwrote in a letter to the Nunavut Planning Commission.

In April, the Nunavut Planning Commission determined that Baffinland's plan to ship iron ore 10 months of the year through Baffin Bay was too disruptive for wildlife and did not conform to the North Baffin Land Use Plan currently in place.

It asked Baffinland to revise its plans or apply for an exemption from the land use plan.Baffinland chose the latter option.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and theQikiqtani Inuit Association, as well asOceans North Canada,urged Ottawa to reject the request, saying it would undermine the territory's regulatory process.

However, NunavutPremierPeter Taptunaand the mayor and council of Pond Inletbacked the company's request for an exemption.

In thereasons for hisdecision, Valcourtwrites,"In Premier Taptuna's letter to me on May 8, 2015, he stressed the importance of 260 jobs, millions of dollars of wages and benefits, as well as other future benefits that might flow from this project proposal. Premier Taptuna was concerned that any delay may put these benefits at risk."

He added thatBaffinlandhas suggested the economic viability of the existing Mary River project depends on its latest proposal.

"We must consider not only the risks of proceeding but also the risks of not proceeding," he wrote.

It's now up to the NunavutImpact Review Board to review the environmental and socio-economic impacts ofBaffinland's plans.