Special Session 9 - Sustainable Mineral Resources Development: Critical Issues for Canada's North

Jeremy Richards (University of Alberta)

Northern Canada is one of the world's last great mineral frontiers, made so largely by its remoteness and inhospitable climate. These same two conditions define the region's fragile natural environment and human societies. Modern exploration and mining techniques are rapidly opening this region for business, however, and there is an urgent need to ensure that this economic activity not only safeguards the existing environment, but respects and benefits resident populations. This session will explore some of the challenges of pursuing a sustainable development agenda in this context, with examples and lessons from past operations and current best practice.