(Updated with First Mining comments in paragraphs five and six.)
First Mining Gold's (FF.TO) planned Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, the federal government said in a press release on Tuesday.
The project, located about 110 kilometers northeast of Red Lake, Ontario, will include an open-pit gold and silver mine and an on-site metal mill. The project is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs and represents a capital investment of about C$957.7 million, according to the government.
"Our government is focused on building a strong, resilient economy while protecting the environment and advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples. The Springpole Gold Project demonstrates how major projects can move forward in a responsible way - grounded in science, indigenous knowledge and meaningful consultation," said Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature.
Six indigenous communities participated in the federal environmental assessment process.
"This is a monumental day for First Mining, the local indigenous communities and municipalities who are positioned to benefit economically and socially from the project," chief executive Dan Wilton said.
"The Springpole Project approval by the federal government validates that this project will be the biggest economic driver of Northwest Ontario in a generation, providing significant economic opportunity to the surrounding communities. The Project will generate billions of dollars in government revenue, deliver hundreds of jobs and careers in the local region, provide significant contracting opportunities for regional and Indigenous businesses, support regional infrastructure and services, and add billions of dollars to the gross domestic product at a critical time for the Ontario and Canadian economy," Wilton said.