Construction is underway for a new gold mine in northern Manitoba, marking the first new mining venture in the province in more than 15 years.
The mine, led by Toronto-based Alamos Gold, will focus on two gold deposits and is projected to have a 27-year lifespan, Premier Wab Kinew said during a March 25 groundbreaking ceremony in Lynn Lake, a town more than 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
Kinew said the Lynn Lake Gold project is expected to generate employment and have a lasting economic effect on northern Manitoba, first with construction jobs and then through positions at the mine.
Mining Minister Jamie Moses, who also attended the event, said construction will create more than 600 jobs while the mine will provide approximately 450 jobs during its operation.
Alamos entered into a revenue-sharing agreement with the Marcel Colomb First Nation in 2023, which also includes provisions for job creation and training and a policy that prioritizes local hiring.
Marcel Colomb First Nation Chief Delhia Hart called the project “historic.”
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“After years of living in the outskirts of a mining town in our own traditional lands, it’s the first time our nation has been involved in a mining project since industry came into our traditional lands,” Hart said in a statement. “The new mining partners will help with the economic growth and prosperity for our nation well into the future for our grandchildren and future generations to come.”
Kinew said the mine would also give the province and Canada a chance to increase trade with other countries.
“Now more than ever, we need to create economic opportunities in our province and lay the groundwork for new trade partnerships,” Kinew said.
The mining project comes at a time when Canada is looking to diversify its trading partnerships to become less reliant on the United States amid ongoing trade disputes.
U.S. President Donald Trump has slapped 25 percent tariffs on imports of Canadian products not covered under the countries’ joint free trade deal, has placed 25 perfect tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and 10 percent on energy products. He is also considering tariffs on Canadian lumber and the dairy industry. More tariffs are expected to come into force in April after U.S. officials finish their review of existing trade agreements.
Trump has repeatedly said Canada doesn’t have anything that the U.S. needs, but has also continued to comment that the country should become the “51st state.” Former Prime Minister Justin told business leaders at a summit in Toronto last month that Trump’s desire to merge with Canada was a “real thing,” citing the country’s wealth of critical minerals.
