Statement from Premier Sandy Silver on the Kudz Ze Kayah project

Premier Sandy Silver has issued the following statement: 

“The Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada have come to a joint decision that completes the assessment phase of the Kudz Ze Kayah project. On behalf of the Government of Yukon, I am pleased to see another responsible mine project advance to the regulatory phase where continued work with Yukon First Nations and communities will help inform the future of this project. The Yukon has a robust and effective assessment and regulatory regime that continues to uphold responsible development in the territory.

“The joint decision document varies the recommendation of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board to include additional measures to address concerns raised around the Finlayson Caribou Herd and ensure First Nation participation in monitoring and mitigation efforts that will inform the next stages of the project. We look forward to continuing to engage with our First Nations partners as the project moves forward.

“The territory continues to shine as a jurisdiction worthy of investment. The proposed Kudz Ze Kayah project would inject up to $720 million into the Yukon and Canadian economy over the course of the two-year construction phase and estimated 10-year mine life. It would also provide hundreds of construction and operation jobs, and provide royalties to the territorial and federal governments of up to $620 million.

“In addition to creating hundreds of new jobs in the territory and local benefits, this project has the potential to provide critical minerals that are essential to support the Yukon and Canada’s transition to a low emission economy.”