Kivalliq Inuit Association, Agnico Eagle ink Meliadine benefit agreement

The Kivalliq Inuit Association and the owner of a proposed gold mine near Rankin Inlet have signed an agreement calling for jobs and other benefits for Inuit beneficiaries.

The KIA inked the Inuit impact and benefit agreement with AgnicoEagle Mines Ltd. on Monday in Rankin Inlet, which is located 24 kilometres from the project.

The agreement comes after more than three years of negotiations. Details are being kept under tight wraps, as is standard with such agreements, but in general they call for jobs, training, contract opportunities for local businesses and payments.

An initial payment of $1.5 million will be made to the KIA now that the agreement has been signed.

David Ningeongan, the president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, says it's hoped that up to 50 per cent of the jobs at Meliadine will eventually be filled by Inuit beneficiaries. About 30 per cent of people currently working at the Meliadine site are Inuit, he says.

The Nunavut Impact Review Board granted AgnicoEagle the project certificate for Meliadine earlier this year, though the certificate came with 127 conditions. A decision to build the mine has not been announced.

AgnicoEagle operates the Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake.