438:
claiming that the community's share of the "bounty from the mine isn't getting back to the community." De Beers has negotiated a lease area. Although it is acknowledged that the mine is on
Attawapiskat traditional land, the royalties from Victor Mine flow to the Government of Ontario, not Attawapiskat First Nation. As of 2015, De Beers was paying up to $ 2 million per year to Attawapiskat. That payment is split between a trust fund controlled by the chief and council and the rest, which is used for community development and to pay Attawapiskat members who manage the band’s impact benefit agreement with De Beers, says Attawapiskat member Charlie Hookimaw.
45:
38:
270:
feasibility of mining Victor diamonds was done in 2002. In 2005, the
Project gained approval after an environmental assessment by the Federal and Provincial government and soon after construction began. In 2007, the Moose Cree First Nations peoples signed in favour of the Victor mine and the first successful productions of diamonds began. June 20, 2008, Victor Mine entered the production phase. De Beers celebrated its opening July 26 and reached an agreement with the Government of Ontario to allow up to 10% of the mine's production to be available to the
354:
377:"No corporate, federal, provincial taxes or government royalties other than personal income taxes were paid in 2010 as the company was in a loss position for tax purposes." However, De Beers Canada "injected approximately $ 474,900,000 into the Canadian economy in 2010" through both mines, Snap Lake and Victor Mines.
269:
within Canada in the 1960s. "The Victor Mine was developed within a cluster of 16 kimberlite pipes that were discovered in the James Bay
Lowlands near Attawapiskat in 1987." In 1995 the pipes of the James Bay Lowland area were re-examined and interest was renewed in the Victor Mine Project. The cost
437:
traditional land. An Impact-Benefit
Agreement (IBA) was signed with community leaders in 2005 with Danny Metatawabin, acting as coordinator for the Impact-Benefit Agreement (IBA) between De Beers and Attawapiskat. Community members later protested the agreement through demonstrations and roadblocks
408:
Concerns were brought up regarding the mine's impact on the surrounding area. Since it is an open pit mine it would disturb the natural environment. The impact area is 5,000 hectares of land. The first concern was raised in 2005, when environmental groups called on the
Ontario government to perform
389:
Tom Ormsby, claimed that "The high quality of the Victor diamonds and the vastness of the
Canadian shield points to great potential for another diamond mine being developed in northeastern Ontario." The "Canadian Shield has great potential to host diamonds" and potential in Canada "appears to be at
373:
The mine had produced at a high level of performance leading to "urther exploration of the site" with the "hope that De Beers will uncover another source of diamonds within close proximity of the existing operation." 826,000 carats were mined at Victor Mine in 2010 and "$ 93 million was spent on
243:
in the remote northern part of the province. In June 2005, the
Attawapiskat First Nation voted in favour (85.5%) of ratifying the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA). Construction of the mine began in February 2006 which created 3200 positions; mining and operations will create around 400 permanent
256:
Victor Mine amounted to $ 226. At that time De Beers was continuing to pay off its "$ 1 billion investment to build the mine and from now until it closes, the company expects to pay tens of millions of dollars in royalties." The mine completed mining and processing in 2019 and has moved to a
441:
The trust fund now totals $ 13 million. In 2014, the community received about $ 1 million; $ 480,000 went to business relations and $ 545,868 was spent on community development, Hookimaw says. They have 500 full-time employees with 100 from
Attawapiskat First Nation. De Beers also employs
380:
In 2011, De Beers paid total wages and benefits of about $ 55.5 million to Victor employees. According to the
Ontario Mining Association, in 2011 "$ 101 million was spent on goods and services" by De Beers "with about $ 57 million, or 57%, being provided by Aboriginal businesses."
346:) for travel needs. The site also has recreational and dorm buildings for the permanent staff. The life of the mine is expected to be twelve years and the total project life is seventeen years and each year the processing plan is designed to treat 2.5 million tonnes of
393:"There are approximately eight years remaining on the forecast life of mine for Victor. In efforts to keep things going and extend this time frame, advanced exploration is currently underway at Victor on 15 previously identified diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes."
442:
Attawapiskat First Nation in winter road construction. The "mine employs 100 people from
Attawapiskat at any one time. It generates about $ 400 million in annual revenue for the company." Sub-contractors from Attawapiskat First Nation also work for the mine.
290:, 16 of which are diamondiferous, the Victor Mine sits on top of the Victor pipe and mines from Victor Main and Victor Southwest which have appeared close enough to the surface to be used in an open-pit mine. The Victor Kimberlite is a composition of
445:"A federal review of the relationship between De Beers' Victor mine and Attawapiskat showed that government support for training and capacity did not start soon enough to deal with the huge lack of skills in the First Nation."
361:
Tom Ormsby, director of external and corporate affairs for De Beers Canada claims that the great colour (whiteness), natural shapes, clearness and quality of the Victor diamonds ranks them with the highest stones in the world.
424:
The environmental assessment process was later criticized for its restricted scope, namely for focusing primarily on the Attawapiskat First Nation, and largely excluding other potentially affected First Nations.
334:
and only seasonal access over land depending on whether the weather permits travel. On the property are warehouses for storage, a processing plant, workshops, offices, fuel storage facilities, pit-
772:
673:
365:"Victor is forecasted to have a 17-year cradle-to-grave life. That includes construction, an estimated 12 years of operation and then winding down to closure and rehabilitation of the site."
405:. Other human concerns are the mine's impact on the First Nations people and the company's pledge to help promote community growth will affect certain communities more than others.
798:
492:
982:
318:
and other necessary support equipment used in the mining operation. The annual production rate is 2.7 million tonnes a year, which comes to about 600,000
892:
544:
697:
1010:
776:
99:
680:
655:
520:"How CBC found the secret diamond royalty: Ontario government breaches its own confidentiality rules to explain royalties for salt and diamonds"
448:"Training is carried out on a year-round basis at the Victor Mine site as well as at the De Beers Canada Training Facility in Attawapiskat."
413:
aside from the Federal one as it was believed the Federal assessment did not fully assess the situation, including long term harm on the
599:
927:
871:
802:
1079:
274:
and polishing industry in Ontario. In October 2009, the Victor Mine was voted “Mine of the year” by readers of the international
581:
897:
496:
37:
74:
956:
816:
1074:
728:
401:
So far, De Beers Canada employees and its contract partners have safely worked more than four million hours without a
519:
467:
1059:
1054:
902:
410:
704:
626:
1064:
287:
232:
1037:
190:
545:"Golder appointed as prime contractor to oversee the closure of De Beers' Victor diamond mine in Ontario"
659:
434:
240:
750:
421:
and the water systems found there. However, the Project did receive an ISO 14001 certification.
840:"The Victor Diamond Mine environmental assessment process: a critical First Nation perspective"
228:
603:
462:
343:
249:
374:
goods and services and $ 49 million (53 per cent) was supplied by Aboriginal businesses."
8:
987:
875:
257:
shut-down phase including demolition of infrastructure and rehabilitation of the site.
1069:
402:
275:
893:"Attawapiskat Chief Spence calls for band meeting as diamond mine blockade unfolds"
851:
472:
311:
291:
390:
least twice as good as what southern Africa has held for potential for diamonds."
357:
The pits exploited by the mine are seen, as is the small "village" to the bottom.
353:
271:
266:
245:
319:
1048:
856:
839:
114:
101:
729:"De Beers Canada Victor Mine Continues to Add Sparkel to Ontario's Economy"
983:"Attawapiskat's woes spark debate about what's wrong on Canada's reserves"
932:
418:
347:
335:
331:
310:
It is an open-pit mine; the equipment there is 100 tonne trucks, large
295:
1011:"Cree community looks on warily as De Beers scours North for diamonds"
315:
299:
236:
838:
Whitelaw, Graham S.; McCarthy, Daniel D.; Tsuji, Leonard J. (2009).
928:"Attawapiskat band council to meet over diamond mine road blockade"
457:
414:
339:
253:
224:
773:"Groups challenge massive DeBeers diamond mine in Ontario's north"
220:
79:
819:. International Organization for Standardization. March 10, 2011
775:(Press release). EcoJustice. September 6, 2005. Archived from
679:(Press release). De Beers Canada. May 16, 2011. Archived from
957:"Attawapiskat holding winter blockade against De Beers"
252:
located on site. By 2013–2014 royalties collected from
922:
920:
837:
799:"Victor Mine Power Supply Environmental Study Report"
627:"De Beers Canada's Victor Diamond - Mine of the Year"
298:
facies, and is considered to have a highly variable
887:
885:
396:
286:The area is composed of 18 kimberlite pipes of the
917:
575:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
674:"De Beers Canada Releases 2010 Report to Society"
658:. De Beers Canada. April 17, 2009. Archived from
1046:
882:
602:. Moose Cree Resource Protection. Archived from
703:(Report). De Beers Canada. 2010. Archived from
562:
219:was the first Canadian diamond mine located in
428:
239:Lowlands 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of
69:90 km (56 mi) west of Attawapiskat
650:
648:
646:
644:
227:' second diamond mine in Canada (after the
731:. Ontario Mining Association. July 5, 2012
723:
721:
719:
717:
666:
248:, with a processing plant, workshops, and
955:Schertow, John Ahni (February 25, 2009).
855:
690:
624:
980:
954:
641:
352:
874:. De Beers Canada. 2009. Archived from
844:Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal
801:. De Beers Canada. 2005. Archived from
714:
511:
1047:
981:Galloway, Gloria (November 30, 2011).
817:"ISO 14000 - Environmental management"
625:Lieberman, Rachel (October 20, 2009).
495:. De Beers Group. 2012. Archived from
350:per year (roughly 7100 tonnes a day).
751:"What is the Victor Diamond Project?"
579:
542:
517:
1013:. The Toronto Star. The Toronto Star
433:De Beers Victor Diamond Mine is on
44:
13:
1008:
901:. February 5, 2013. Archived from
14:
1091:
1029:
698:2010 Report to Society: Economics
468:Lake Timiskaming kimberlite field
244:positions. The Victor Mine is an
397:Environmental and human concerns
43:
36:
16:Canadian diamond mine in Ontario
1002:
974:
948:
864:
831:
809:
791:
765:
743:
411:environmental impact assessment
330:There is year-round access via
1080:2008 establishments in Ontario
629:. The Israeli Diamond Industry
618:
592:
588:. The Daily Press. p. 10.
536:
485:
384:
368:
1:
543:Moore, Paul (March 5, 2021).
478:
325:
288:Attawapiskat kimberlite field
265:De Beers started looking for
233:Northern Ontario Ring of Fire
580:Grech, Ron (June 22, 2011).
7:
518:Celli, Rita (May 9, 2015),
451:
10:
1096:
281:
260:
1075:Mines in Northern Ontario
435:Attawapiskat First Nation
429:Attawapiskat First Nation
322:a year in diamond grade.
305:
185:
177:
172:
164:
156:
148:
143:
135:
130:
93:
85:
73:
65:
31:
26:
857:10.3152/146155109X465931
753:. Wildlands League. 2006
656:"Victor Mine: Factsheet"
278:called Mining Magazine.
231:). It is located in the
1060:Surface mines in Canada
1055:Diamond mines in Canada
961:IntercontinentalCry.org
872:"About the Victor Mine"
358:
229:Snap Lake Diamond Mine
878:on December 17, 2009.
805:on September 8, 2005.
600:"Victor Diamond Mine"
582:"High quality stones"
463:List of diamond mines
356:
344:Victor Mine Aerodrome
115:52.81694°N 83.90639°W
1065:Diatremes of Ontario
549:International Mining
905:on October 17, 2013
710:on August 15, 2011.
686:on August 15, 2011.
662:on August 31, 2009.
499:on January 26, 2014
120:52.81694; -83.90639
111: /
57:Location in Ontario
23:
988:The Globe and Mail
936:. February 5, 2013
359:
294:crater facies and
21:
338:machinery and an
312:front-end loaders
276:trade publication
213:
212:
1087:
1041:
1040:
1038:Official website
1023:
1022:
1020:
1018:
1006:
1000:
999:
997:
995:
978:
972:
971:
969:
967:
952:
946:
945:
943:
941:
924:
915:
914:
912:
910:
889:
880:
879:
868:
862:
861:
859:
835:
829:
828:
826:
824:
813:
807:
806:
795:
789:
788:
786:
784:
769:
763:
762:
760:
758:
747:
741:
740:
738:
736:
725:
712:
711:
709:
702:
694:
688:
687:
685:
678:
670:
664:
663:
652:
639:
638:
636:
634:
622:
616:
615:
613:
611:
606:on July 27, 2011
596:
590:
589:
577:
560:
559:
557:
555:
540:
534:
533:
532:
530:
515:
509:
508:
506:
504:
489:
473:Northern Ontario
403:Lost Time Injury
267:Kimberlite Pipes
209:
206:
204:
202:
200:
198:
196:
194:
192:
126:
125:
123:
122:
121:
116:
112:
109:
108:
107:
104:
47:
46:
40:
24:
20:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1085:
1084:
1045:
1044:
1036:
1035:
1032:
1027:
1026:
1016:
1014:
1009:Talaga, Tanya.
1007:
1003:
993:
991:
979:
975:
965:
963:
953:
949:
939:
937:
926:
925:
918:
908:
906:
891:
890:
883:
870:
869:
865:
836:
832:
822:
820:
815:
814:
810:
797:
796:
792:
782:
780:
779:on July 6, 2011
771:
770:
766:
756:
754:
749:
748:
744:
734:
732:
727:
726:
715:
707:
700:
696:
695:
691:
683:
676:
672:
671:
667:
654:
653:
642:
632:
630:
623:
619:
609:
607:
598:
597:
593:
578:
563:
553:
551:
541:
537:
528:
526:
516:
512:
502:
500:
491:
490:
486:
481:
454:
431:
399:
387:
371:
328:
308:
284:
263:
189:
119:
117:
113:
110:
105:
102:
100:
98:
97:
61:
60:
59:
58:
55:
54:
53:
52:
48:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1093:
1083:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1043:
1042:
1031:
1030:External links
1028:
1025:
1024:
1001:
973:
947:
916:
881:
863:
850:(3): 205–215.
830:
808:
790:
764:
742:
713:
689:
665:
640:
617:
591:
561:
535:
510:
483:
482:
480:
477:
476:
475:
470:
465:
460:
453:
450:
430:
427:
398:
395:
386:
383:
370:
367:
327:
324:
307:
304:
283:
280:
262:
259:
211:
210:
187:
183:
182:
179:
175:
174:
170:
169:
166:
162:
161:
158:
154:
153:
150:
146:
145:
141:
140:
137:
133:
132:
128:
127:
95:
91:
90:
87:
83:
82:
77:
71:
70:
67:
63:
62:
56:
50:
49:
42:
41:
35:
34:
33:
32:
29:
28:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1092:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1052:
1050:
1039:
1034:
1033:
1012:
1005:
990:
989:
984:
977:
962:
958:
951:
935:
934:
929:
923:
921:
904:
900:
899:
894:
888:
886:
877:
873:
867:
858:
853:
849:
845:
841:
834:
818:
812:
804:
800:
794:
778:
774:
768:
752:
746:
730:
724:
722:
720:
718:
706:
699:
693:
682:
675:
669:
661:
657:
651:
649:
647:
645:
628:
621:
605:
601:
595:
587:
586:Progress 2011
583:
576:
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
550:
546:
539:
525:
521:
514:
498:
494:
488:
484:
474:
471:
469:
466:
464:
461:
459:
456:
455:
449:
446:
443:
439:
436:
426:
422:
420:
416:
412:
406:
404:
394:
391:
382:
378:
375:
366:
363:
355:
351:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
323:
321:
317:
313:
303:
301:
300:diamond grade
297:
293:
289:
279:
277:
273:
268:
258:
255:
251:
247:
246:open-pit mine
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
208:
193:.debeersgroup
188:
184:
180:
176:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
142:
138:
134:
129:
124:
96:
92:
88:
84:
81:
78:
76:
72:
68:
64:
39:
30:
25:
19:
1015:. Retrieved
1004:
992:. Retrieved
986:
976:
964:. Retrieved
960:
950:
938:. Retrieved
931:
907:. Retrieved
903:the original
896:
876:the original
866:
847:
843:
833:
821:. Retrieved
811:
803:the original
793:
781:. Retrieved
777:the original
767:
755:. Retrieved
745:
733:. Retrieved
705:the original
692:
681:the original
668:
660:the original
631:. Retrieved
620:
608:. Retrieved
604:the original
594:
585:
552:. Retrieved
548:
538:
527:, retrieved
523:
513:
501:. Retrieved
497:the original
487:
447:
444:
440:
432:
423:
407:
400:
392:
388:
379:
376:
372:
364:
360:
329:
309:
285:
264:
241:Attawapiskat
216:
214:
205:/victor-mine
18:
1017:October 10,
994:December 4,
933:Global News
385:Exploration
369:Performance
292:pyroclastic
250:an airstrip
217:Victor Mine
201:/operations
118: /
106:083°54′23″W
94:Coordinates
51:Victor Mine
22:Victor Mine
1049:Categories
966:October 5,
940:October 5,
909:October 5,
757:October 5,
735:October 5,
503:October 5,
479:References
419:wilderness
348:kimberlite
336:dewatering
332:air travel
326:Operations
316:bulldozers
296:hypabyssal
149:Discovered
131:Production
103:52°49′01″N
554:April 11,
237:James Bay
235:, in the
1070:De Beers
493:"Victor"
458:De Beers
452:See also
415:wildlife
409:its own
340:airstrip
254:De Beers
225:De Beers
181:De Beers
139:Diamonds
136:Products
75:Province
66:Location
27:Location
823:June 5,
783:June 5,
633:June 5,
610:June 5,
529:May 11,
282:Geology
272:cutting
261:History
221:Ontario
203:/mining
197:/canada
186:Website
178:Company
144:History
86:Country
80:Ontario
320:carats
306:Mining
223:, and
165:Closed
157:Opened
89:Canada
708:(PDF)
701:(PDF)
684:(PDF)
677:(PDF)
342:(the
207:.html
173:Owner
1019:2015
996:2011
968:2013
942:2013
911:2013
898:APTN
825:2011
785:2011
759:2013
737:2013
635:2011
612:2011
556:2021
531:2015
505:2013
215:The
195:.com
168:2019
160:2008
152:1995
852:doi
524:CBC
199:/en
191:www
1051::
985:.
959:.
930:.
919:^
895:.
884:^
848:27
846:.
842:.
716:^
643:^
584:.
564:^
547:.
522:,
417:,
314:,
302:.
1021:.
998:.
970:.
944:.
913:.
860:.
854::
827:.
787:.
761:.
739:.
637:.
614:.
558:.
507:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
