The Wasamac Mining Project Team Continues Its Public Consultation Process

Over the past few months, the Wasamac mining project team has continued its dialogue with various community groups to present the project’s progress and gather their questions, comments, and suggestions. These meetings are part of the ongoing consultation process leading up to the submission of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), scheduled for the end of 2026.

In addition to regular meetings of the monitoring committee, consultations with local residents, and discussions with nearby Indigenous communities, the team met with the City of Rouyn-Noranda, environmental groups, and several socioeconomic organizations in the region. A public meeting was also held in Arntfield to present the project to the public.

These discussions provided an opportunity to present the optimized version of the project, which calls for the operation of an underground mine whose ore would be processed at the Canadian Malartic complex. This approach reduces the project’s environmental footprint by eliminating the need to build a processing plant and a new tailings pond in Wasamac.

Constructive discussions with local stakeholders

Discussions with the City of Rouyn-Noranda focused on ongoing studies, particularly those related to hydrogeology and road traffic. These discussions addressed groundwater management, measures being developed to ensure a drinking water supply for residences located above the future mine, and the potential impacts of ore transportation on the road network.

Environmental groups also shared their expectations regarding the project’s impact analysis and the mitigation measures that will accompany the submission of the Environmental ans Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Several discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration to protect and enhance biodiversity in the area. Projects related to serpentine turtle habitats, bats, wetlands, and environmental knowledge acquisition were among those discussed.

The socio-economic stakeholders discussed various issues of interest to the community with the project team, including housing, the workforce, local services, transportation, and quality of life. Participants proposed several courses of action aimed at promoting sustainable benefits and the project’s successful integration into the community.

The feedback gathered during these meetings will contribute to the ESIA and to the development of mitigation and monitoring measures for the project. The consultation process is ongoing, and additional opportunities for dialogue are planned over the coming months. To stay informed about the project’s progress, subscribe to the Wasamac newsletter.