“Making connections” a priority at Nunavut Mining Symposium

Patricia Mohr, an economics and commodity market specialist with Scotiabank, shown here at the Nunavut Mining Symposium in 2012, will give the 2013 symposium’s keynote address on the global economic outlook as it relates to metal prices and currencies April 9.

Members of the public can visit booths at the 2012 Nunavut Mining Symposium’s trade show, shown here in 2012, during the afternoon of April 10.

If you want to know about mining in Nunavut, Iqaluit is the place to be this week.

About 500 representatives from mining and mineral exploration companies, the businesses they rely on, and officials from Nunavut communities and government departments are set to gather under the banner “Making Connections” from April 8 to April 11 at the Nunavut Mining Symposium.

As the symposium slogan says, forging stronger connections between all members of the mining industry — including Nunavut’s communities — is the goal of the 16th annual event.

But this year’s emphasis on forging stronger connections takes place in an uncertain economic climate, with Conference Board of Canada’s recent 2013 Territorial Outlook on Mining saying the global economic downturn has restricted the “boom” in northern mining projects.

During the mining symposium, organizers are hosting venues for presentations and networking activities around the Frobisher Inn as well as a gala banquet and awards night at the Iqaluit Curling Club.

The first day of presentations, April 9, opens with remarks from the Nunavut Mining Symposium Society as well as Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq, Peter Taptuna, Nunavut’s minister responsible for mines, and Cathy Towtongie, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Patricia Mohr, an economics and commodity market specialist with Scotiabank, will give the keynote address on the global economic outlook as it relates to metal prices and currencies — which is not likely to be encouraging for Nunavut overall.

Weakened global demand for minerals and metals caused a decline in Canadian mining production in 2012, down by 7.9 per cent from 2011, although this did not affect Nunavut’s only mine, Meadowbank, a producer of gold and silver — two metals which have increased in value.

But mineral exploration companies plan to spend $130.3 million less in Nunavut in 2013, a recent Natural Resources Canada survey of mineral exploration in the northern territories reported.

For symposium delegate,s a packed day of sessions follows Mohr’s speech including topics as varied as “how Agnico-Eagle Mines stimulates Nunavut’s economy” and “Supplying mines by Cat train.”

On April 10, even if you’re not a symposium delegate, you can still attend its trade show at the Frobisher Inn.

Students can attend the trade show from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with members of the public welcome to check out the trade show’s many booths from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

You’ll also be able to see — and buy — arts and crafts from Nunavut at a market organized by the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association in the Astro theatre lobby.

Symposium presentations continue on April 11 with a look at major mining projects, including Agnico-Eagle’s Meadowbank gold mine and Meliadine project, Xstrata Zinc’s Hackett River project, MMG’s Izok corridor project, future infrastructure and energy sources and overviews on the geology of ore deposits.

But again, tight financial markets have caused companies to delay or downsize projects, such as Baffinland Iron Mines Corp’s Mary River iron mine project in northern Baffin Island, which decided earlier this year to scale back from a $4 billion to a $740 million project.

The symposium closes that evening with an awards gala banquet at Iqaluit’s curling rink, sponsored by Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. and Canadian North.

Funds will be raised for Nunavut Sivuniksavut with a “Canadian North-opoly Challenge.”

The gala features music by Rankin Inlet’s band, Esther Powell and the Roughcuts, with blues and gospel tunes in Inuktitut and English, courtesy of Alianait, with sponsorship from Xstrata Zinc Canada.