Summary of Wasamac Task Force meeting, April 27, 2022

This 11^th meeting of the Task Force was an opportunity for the Yamana team to present the preliminary version of its property acquisition program, PROPRIO-Choix: vente et garantie de la valeur marchande des propriétés. It was also an occasion to look back on the inauguration of the community relations office, where the Yamana team welcomed partners, community members and neighbourhood families. The office is open to walk-ins Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 AM to 5 PM and on Mondays and Fridays by appointment.

Updates were also presented to the group: a summary of the meeting between Yamana and its neighbours in the Francoeur, Arntfield and Lac-Fortune mining sites; presentation of the map of Yamana's land holdings in the Wasamac Underground Mining Project (WUMP) sector; and creation of the committee that will work on proximity projects for the WUMP neighbourhood. Finally, the promised presentation of co-existence programs put in place by the Canadian Malartic Mine was also handed out.

This meeting’s main topic was Yamana’s proposed PROPRIO-Choix program which, after consultations, will replace the Property Value Maintenance Program (PVMP) originally proposed by Monarch Gold. The revamped concept would identify a core area with potentially higher risk of strong impacts and would offer those property owners the homeowner value for a set period of time (see presentation for details). For all property owners in the valuation area, from the time of Yamana’s acquisition of the project until site rehabilitation, the mining company proposes a market value guarantee as well as reimbursement of relocation expenses. A preliminary map of the land valuation area was presented to support the discussion; it will be revised in light of the impacts estimated by the ongoing environmental assessment. The objective of the program is to guarantee the market value of properties in the area and to provide a framework for voluntary acquisitions. The aim is harmonious cohabitation, transparency, and fairness, allowing owners to decide to move at any time without risk of being penalized, and evaluating properties as if the mining project did not exist.

A mock appraisal report annotated by the certified appraisers mandated by the Task Force was also prepared at the group’s request to clearly explain how market value and homeowner value are estimated. The document was distributed to members in attendance.