The Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) is a not-for-profit grassroots organization with a mission to protect, conserve and restore riverine ecosystems in Ontario.  ORA advocates for effective policy and legislation to ensure that development affecting Ontario rivers is environmentally and socially sustainable.

The ORA commented on the Initial Project Description (IPD) and requested that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (Agency) require a full federal Impact Assessment on the Upper Beaver Gold Project (Project), due to its potential ongoing cumulative effects on the environment, Indigenous communities and the public, and to ensure a more environmentally and socially sustainable outcome. We strongly support the Agency’s decision to require a full federal Impact Assessment and appreciate the opportunity for the public and Indigenous communities to provide meaningful input into the Project.

The Agency has deemed the Project to be within federal jurisdiction and required it to undergo a federal Impact Assessment, and yet Agnico Eagle (AE) is planning to move forward with their advanced exploration as soon as weather permits. ORA objects to the Project moving forward with any advanced exploration activities that would result in any damage to the environment...