Red Lake Tailings Areas Added to MDMER

Summary#

These final regulations amend the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations by adding six water bodies near Red Lake to the list of allowed tailings impoundment areas. The change enables Evolution Mining Gold Operations Limited to expand its tailings facility, extending mine life to 2040, and comes into force on June 13, 2025. The expansion will remove 2.39 hectares of fish habitat and the company must fund a compensation plan estimated at about $6.22 million over 10 years.

What it does#

• Adds one stream segment and one mapped area (which together cover six small water bodies) to Schedule 2 of the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations, designating them as Tailings Impoundment Areas (TIAs).
• Lets the Red Lake mine deposit mine waste (tailings) into those listed TIAs once the required fish habitat compensation plan is approved.
• Requires the mine owner to provide a financial guarantee (for example, a letter of credit) to cover the estimated $6.22 million cost to build and monitor the compensation measures over about 10 years.
• Does not allow immediate disposal into those waters until the Minister approves the compensation plan under the Regulations.

Who's affected#

• Evolution Mining Gold Operations Limited (the mine proponent) — will be able to expand the tailings facility and must carry out and pay for habitat compensation and monitoring.
• Local fish and aquatic ecosystems — the project will remove 2.39 hectares of fish-frequented habitat but the compensation plan aims to create 5.12 hectares of replacement habitat (part of a planned 8.45 hectares total of habitat work).
• Nearby Indigenous communities and organizations that were consulted or engaged, including Lac Seul First Nation, Wabauskang First Nation, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Grand Council Treaty #3, Métis Nation of Ontario (including the NWOMC), Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, Pikangikum First Nation, and McDowell Lake First Nation. Some of these groups raised questions about water quality, historical impacts, site access, and the consultation process.
• Fisheries managers and federal authorities (Environment and Climate Change Canada and Department of Fisheries and Oceans) who will review and monitor the compensation plan and compliance.

Why it matters#

• Practically, this regulation makes a specific site change that lets a gold mine store extra tailings in water bodies that currently support fish. That in turn allows the mine to keep operating longer (to 2040).
• It replaces a small area of existing fish habitat (2.39 hectares) with planned habitat creation that the regulator says should result in a net gain (5.12 hectares allocated to offset the loss). There will be a time lag before new habitat becomes functional.
• The company must post a financial guarantee and carry out monitoring, so taxpayers are not expected to pay for the compensation work if the company fails to do it.
• Some nearby Indigenous communities raised concerns (for example about mercury in the broader watershed, access to new compensation sites, and adequacy of consultation). The government says outstanding comments will be addressed before the compensation plan is approved, but the record shows some issues remain under discussion.