The Canadian government has approved the Crawford Nickel Project in northern Ontario, saying the mine is expected to attract about $5 billion in investment.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada said in a July 31 statement that the open-pit nickel and cobalt mine will allow for 90 million tonnes of ore to be extracted per year. The agency estimates the project will contribute about $70 billion to Canada’s GDP over its 41-year lifespan.
Ottawa says the project will support about 5,000 jobs during construction and 1,300 permanent jobs once the mine is in operation.
The federal impact assessment found that the project, located 42 kilometres north of Timmins, Ont., would have adverse effects on fish and bird habitat, water quality, and indigenous peoples. However, the Impact Assessment Agency concluded those adverse effects were justified in light of the project’s expected benefits….