b"CEO SPOTLIGHTWAS THERE ANYTHING forward with a request, and the four probably since the Diefenbaker days IN THE FINDINGS THAT YOU IDCs then collaborated with a letter of were talking about Nation-building FOUND SURPRISING? support. As a result, the governmentand the infrastructure gaps in the North.Not really. I know the space well, as dogave them tax breaks and increased the other players. But its one thing tovaluations to help with cash flow, andForty per cent of Canadas landmass is go and speak about it andanother tothey'renowworkingonarequestin the three territories, and weve got say, Hey, this is real. So, I think it waswith the federal government to helpvery limited infrastructure [compared more telling to be able to at least have[with] winter road costs. That's a realto]otherNortherncountries.The [numbers] that could be validated. collaboration between industry, localpopulation of the three territories is just government, the territorial government,over 130,000 [so it's] a low population THERE ARE MANY OTHER and the IDCs. densityand,asaresult,alowtax CRITICAL MINERALS BECOMINGThere'scertainlyanunderstandingbase. Weve got to think differently in MORE VALUABLE BY THE DAY. ISabout the importance of mining to thehow we advance infrastructure in the THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FORcommunities. I would say that it's a fairlyNorth, because there isnt a tax base OTHER MINING OPERATIONS TOmining-friendlyjurisdictionhere,allto support it, so some of that thinking COME INTO THE AREA TO MITIGATEthings considered. Mining has been ahas to be, Build it, and they will come. SOME OF THE JOB LOSSES ON THEbig part of the territory. Diamond mines, DIAMOND SIDE? in particular, have been very good forIthinktheresanopportunitynow Absolutely. That being said, you don'tIndigenous communities, generatingwithNATOobligationsatfiveper just get to turn on a mine and [say],alotofemployment,trainingandcentofCanadasGDP,with1.5per Oh, there we go, we've got a minedevelopment.We'vebuiltalotofcent for infrastructure. Five per cent operating. You've got to go throughcapacity. It would be such a shame toofCanadasGDPis,Ithink,around permitting,etc.Sothat'sgoingtowaste that now if we have no diamond$150 billion, so 1.5 per cent of that is take time. mining.Criticalmineralswouldbe$40 billion. Canada is saying that the five or 10 years out. [Then] all of aNorth is the priority, and you can do a One of the challenges that we've gotsudden you get that brain drain, andlot with $40 billion a year in Northern in the North is a large infrastructureits going to be very difficult to get that gap.OneNation-buildinginitiative[talent] back. infrastructure, so I think thats where is a corridor that would extend frommy optimism lies. Canada, for the first the Northwest Territories to Nunavut,WHAT MOST URGENTLY NEEDS TOtime in a long time, is recognizing those and if that were to go forward, a bigBE DONE TO MITIGATE CLOSURES,gaps, recognizing their part to play in push around that is going to be theAND BY WHOM? it,and,mostimportantly,bringing development of infrastructure that weWe need to look at how we supportforward the tools to do it. Now its up can then use to go out and mine forand preserve the diamond mines. Soto us, from an execution standpoint, critical minerals in the area. again, winter road costs, for example,to get prepared, make sure weve got are approximately $25 million a year.community readiness and support at IT'S NOT JUST MINING JOBS THATWeknowthatDiavik,whichisRiothe community level, and then look at ARE LOST. THERE IS A RIPPLE Tintos mine, has a planned shutdownwhat projects we can advance.EFFECT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF set for March of next year. For those THE ECONOMIES OF THE whoaredisplaced,wevegottwoIS THERE ANYTHING YOUD LIKEAFFECTED COMMUNITIES. other mines, De Beers Gahcho KuTO ADD?Absolutely.YouvegotprimaryandandtheBurgundyEkatimine,andYes,itsinthebestinterestofall secondary industry. Primary is goingwell have a plan to get local peopleto be those direct jobs at the mines.Indigenous or community members Canadianswhenwehavehealthy, Secondaryisgoingtobesupportinto those mines over time when thererobust Indigenous communities and services,likesupplychains.Then,are vacancies. Then its advancing netcorporations. Were seeing that more tertiary includes things like restaurants,new projectsmines and infrastructureand more when we talk about Nation-entertainment and money that's justprojectsso we can put those peoplebuilding projects and advancing new basicallyinyoureconomybecausetoworkandbuildoutthenextmines and diversifying our economy. of that trickle-down effect. All of thatgeneration of opportunities. So,itsnotjustabout,Hey,thisis becomes quite impactful. great for X or Y Indigenous community IS THERE OPTIMISM THAT IT CANorcorporation.AllCanadians CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUTHAPPEN OVER THE LONG TERM? benefit,andIwanttocontinueto THE STATE OF RELATIONS BETWEENYes. Its going to take big thinking, andseeawarenessgrowing[about GOVERNMENTS AND THE IDCS? its going to take bold moves, mostly bythefactthat]Canadaisastronger I think it's positive. We've got a workingthe federal government. Its awesomecountry when we have strong, healthy grouprightnow.Theminescamethat for the first time in a very long timeIndigenous communities.58A CCIB PUBLICATIONFall 2025"