Northern Ontario First Nations want pause to mining permits until COVID-19 subsides – CBC

Apr 30, 2020

Neskantaga Chief Chris Moonias says his First Nation is overstretched dealing with pandemic

Northern Ontario First Nations want the province to put a hold on mining exploration permits and pause the operation of a system that allows for the remote staking of mining claims while they deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Neskantaga Chief Chris Moonias said all the band resources of his community of 300 people, which sits about 400 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, are stretched thin on COVID-19 prevention and preparation work.

“Right now we are in the middle of a pandemic and pretty much my staff is all hands on deck dealing with this,” said Moonias.

“We don’t have the tools, the resources to look at permits. We are not like the government that has many different departments.”

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-mining-permits-ontario-covid19-1.5550033