Letter to the editor: Where has Yukon’s sense of urgency gone on Eagle cleanup?

The forced receivership of Victoria Gold has exposed a troubling pattern of mismanagement and double standards by the Yukon government. The government’s initial emphasis on urgency and environmental concerns seems to have faded, replaced by delays and inconsistencies. This is in stark contrast to the stringent and unrealistic demands imposed on the company, which were the basis for the receivership application. 

Victoria Gold, acutely aware of the environmental sensitivities and the required urgency, worked tirelessly to mitigate environmental harm and to meet government-imposed deadlines. But now, with the receiver in place, those deadlines seem to have vanished. The government, which once stressed the critical timelines, now seems to operate on a completely different clock. 

The construction of the “deflector berm” is a glaring example. The government, flexing its regulatory muscle, appointed a contractor and initially promised completion within two weeks. Victoria Gold, raising valid concerns about the lack of engineering of this massive structure, was portrayed as obstructive. Yet now, a month after the receivership, construction hasn’t even begun, and Yukon Premier (Ranj Pillai)’s recent claims of progress ring hollow. 

This isn’t just about missed deadlines; it’s about a blatant double standard and changing goal posts. The government’s Sept. 6 news release declared the original camp unsafe, announcing that a new camp had been constructed. Yet, a mere two days later, all workers were moved back into the original camp, now apparently deemed safe again. The arbitrary nature of this decision mirrors the unreasonable demands placed on Victoria Gold. The government demanded the construction of a massive, lined pond in just five days. They also insisted upon water treatment capabilities, at unattainable rates, within four days. 

In contrast, the receiver takes a month to complete a much smaller pond, and a new water treatment contractor, ousting the existing contractor, gets weeks to “get up to speed.” The Yukon government, once heavy-handed and demanding in its oversight, now appears to have adopted a passive stance. No new directives or orders have been issued to the receiver, a stark contrast to the constant scrutiny Victoria Gold faced.

The government’s shifting priorities have left the company’s vendors, many of which are Yukon-based, and creditors in an even more precarious position, and the environmental risks, once deemed urgent, now face an uncertain future. The consequences of these delays are significant. The environmental risks are now compounded by inaction. The longer remediation efforts are postponed, whichever those may be, the greater the potential for environmental damage and the higher the eventual costs. The lack of urgency and mismanagement now displayed by the government undermines its declared commitment to environmental protection and responsible resource development. 

The Yukon government must be held accountable for its inconsistent actions, double standards, and overreach. The people of the Yukon deserve transparency, fairness, and a commitment to environmental protection that goes beyond empty words and shifting deadlines. The government’s handling of this situation risks undermining confidence in its ability to foster a predictable and stable regulatory environment, which is crucial for attracting responsible investment and ensuring the sustainable development of the Yukon’s mining sector. 

Nico (Nicolas) Harvey, P.Eng.

Former manager, engineering and projects, Victoria Gold