This week, Premier Ranj Pillai, Deputy Premier Jeanie McLean, Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker, and Finance Minister Sandy Silver attended the Association for Mineral Exploration’s (AME) Roundup conference and the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference. Both conferences bring together experts, investors and companies in the resource sector. The Premier and Ministers, supported by Government of Yukon officials, used these conferences as an opportunity to highlight the Yukon as a secure, stable investment jurisdiction with a wealth of mineral potential and to promote the essential role of First Nations governments in resource development.
Premier Pillai and Ministers spoke to conference attendees about recent government investments in strategic infrastructure, which play a pivotal role in supporting resource development across the territory. These include improving access through the Yukon Resource Gateway Project, exploring the possibility of grid connection between the Yukon and British Columbia, and working with the Municipality of Skagway, Alaska to help ensure that Yukon mining companies have access to tidewater for decades to come.
The Government of Yukon remains committed to working with First Nations governments to help ensure that the territory remains a leader in the global transition to a more responsible future of mining through strong environment stewardship and governance structures. The Premier and Ministers were pleased to participate in events hosted by the Yukon Mining Alliance, the Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce and the Yukon Chamber of Mines to promote mineral investment and responsible mining exploration in the Yukon.
Deputy Premier and the Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, Jeanie McLean, in partnership with Yukon Women in Mining and with participation of the Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+, co-hosted a luncheon discussion at AME Roundup focused on the Yukon’s MMIWG2S+ strategy and the role mineral sector stakeholders can play in fostering safer communities and an equitable sector for women, girls and Two-Spirit+ persons in the Yukon. The luncheon concluded with the Yukon Chamber of Mines and Yukon Women in Mining signing on to the MMIWG2S+ strategy.
The responsible and collaborative development of the resource sector is key to the Yukon’s strong, sustainable economy. This involves balancing economic interests with social and environmental considerations to help ensure that the Yukon's natural resources are used to support the wellbeing of the economy and Yukoners.
I was pleased to join members of the Yukon’s mining industry and Yukon First Nations leadership at the AME Roundup and the Vancouver Resource Investment conferences. Here in the Yukon, we acknowledge the pivotal role that mining plays in our economy and communities and we understand that responsible mineral development can foster growth and support well-paying jobs for Yukoners while contributing to the global shift to a cleaner future. Our government remains committed to working in partnership with industry and First Nations governments to strengthen the Yukon’s position as a global leader in mineral exploration. I encourage companies interested in doing business in the territory to sit down with Yukon First Nations governments to start that discussion.
Roundup provides an opportunity to have face-to-face meetings with industry representatives and First Nations governments to showcase why our territory ranks as one of the most desirable mining jurisdictions in the world. With a growing demand for critical minerals, mining also provides an opportunity for the territory to play a significant role in the clean energy transition. Our government remains committed to supporting a strong, sustainable and responsible mining industry.
As co-chair of the Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ representing the Government of Yukon, it was an honour to join YAC co-chair Doris Bill and YAC member Toni Blanchard to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the role that the mining industry must play in ensuring dignity and justice for Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ people. I want to commend the Yukon Chamber of Mines and Yukon Women in Mining for signing on to the territory’s MMIWG2S+ strategy and implementation plan. This inclusion of industry partners demonstrates their commitment to the collective work we all must do to create healthy, safe and violence-free communities where Indigenous women, girls and Two-spirit+ Yukoners are respected, valued and treated equitably.
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Roundup is the world’s premier technical mineral exploration conference, bringing together exploration companies, geologists, governments and interested investors.
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Thousands of people attend Roundup from all aspects of the global mineral exploration and mining sector.
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Geologists from the Yukon Geological Survey presented the results of their fieldwork to the mining and investment community.
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Government of Yukon officials also provided information about mineral development opportunities in the territory.
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The Yukon government continues to explore the possibility of grid connection between the Yukon and British Columbia. This ambitious project would help address the Yukon's long-term needs for clean energy and support mining companies in meeting their emissions-reduction goals.
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The Invest Yukon Pavilion at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference – a showcase of Yukon-based projects, companies and investment partners – was a partnership between the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Mining Alliance.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
John Thompson
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-332-6042
John.thompson@yukon.ca
Linnea Blum
Communications, Economic Development
867-332-2625
Linnea.blum@yukon.ca
Myra Nicks
Communications, Executive Council Office
867-667-5339
myra.nicks@yukon.ca