Group Submission

Webequie Supply Road 

Key considerations: 

• Access to land that would otherwise be inaccessible 
• Changes to social and cultural ways due to the increase of non-Indigenous people in the remote locations
• Increase in services needed for the growth of people in the area
• Potential increase of social problems experienced by nearby communities
• Disruption to migration patterns for wildlife in the area (moose, caribou, birds)
• Overharvesting of animals and fish due to more access to the land and waterways
• Increase in traffic and potential exposure to pollutants, fuel i.e. diesel - heavy equipment
• Increase of exposure to drugs and alcohol due to road access 
• Risk of sex trafficking due to road access 
• The road will create more access for mining exploration, which will further damage the land and potentially pollute the waterways (groundwater and surface water), land, and air.
• Stress and anxiety - mental health issues that will contribute to in the community
• Cultural extraction 
• Air pollutants from extraction and hauling
• Deforestation/destruction of vegetation and soil 
• Increase of noise levels/noise pollution
• Lack of or inadequate housing 
• Higher production of waste and release of toxic and hazardous waste.
• Chemical hazards like toxic/poisonous substances and harmful gases 
• Future outcomes of mining “boom and bust” patterns 
• Soil erosion and environmental degradation (potential for sinkhole)

Attention to: 

• Environmental impacts (displacement of animals, pollution of waterways)
• Disruption of traditional land use and sacred sites 
• How natural vegetation within the area will be impacted
• Ensuring the cultural practices of Indigenous communities are maintained
• Minimizing potential exposure to pollutants experienced by wildlife and fish 
• Ensuring Indigenous communities can continue to maintain their traditional diets 
• Patterns of health risks and illnesses due to occupational and close-range exposure 

Recommendation: 

• Road checkpoints to know who is accessing the road 
• Educational programs to inform community members of the potential mental health issues that will come with the road access - and access to immediate non-essential and essential supplies
• Cap the amount of mines that are allowed to be active at any given time
• Collaborate with local Indigenous communities to provide thorough and honest reclamation practises to restore the land and waterways once the mine is closed with studies for long-term effects of the toxins and hazardous materials used on the site 
• Long-term monitoring once the mine is close to ensure the reclamation is successful 
• Creating a safe network to report abuse caused by the established mining and man camps with a zero-tolerance mandate for workers that inflict harm or abuse on the Indigenous communities/community members 
• Establishing culturally safe healthcare providers that are trauma-informed and work from the lens of harm reduction to support the mental health and physical health of the communities that are impacted by the mining developments. 
• Adding GBA+ to agreements/ training/ consultations/ all aspects of the project.
• Have the mines invest in the communities (build community centres, hospitals, housing) 
• Transparency with Indigenous Communities (Chief and Council AND community members) 

By: Jamie lee Reardon, Karen Sullivan, Emily Mayham, Taylor Behn-Tsakoza