ESG in Action: Cross Sector Perspectives in Mining

This presentation will highlight the community relations management approach used by Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (RTFT) – Opérations Québec in Havre-Saint-Pierre, based on ongoing dialogue and transparency, despite the fluctuations experienced by the company over the years.

Periods of uncertainty are the true test of the quality of relationships with communities of interest.

During these times, RTFT maintained and strengthened its engagement mechanisms with these communities. A monitoring committee, semi-annual meetings with regional interested parties and monthly meetings with the community of Ekuanitshit made it possible to preserve an open and ongoing forum for discussion on the real issues surrounding projects and operations.

Furthermore, RTFT values feedback, whether by using independent Local Voices surveys to measure the perceptions of communities of interest, or by inviting people to share their comments across all engagement processes, even during more difficult periods.

In addition, when certain topics are covered in the media, these events become an opportunity to re-engage in dialogue, present the facts, address concerns and clarify information.

Through the use of concrete examples, this presentation will demonstrate how transparency, regular exchanges and a willingness to address difficult topics help build trust and maintain lasting relationships.

The mining industry is evolving in a context where expectations regarding sustainable development, transparency, and ESG performance are increasingly high. In Québec, the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative has for several years provided a reference framework enabling mining companies to improve their practices in environmental management, health and safety, community relations, and the reduction of risks associated with their activities.

At the same time, mining companies must meet a growing number of requirements from various international standards and initiatives, including The Copper Mark and the Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMP), where applicable. This multiplication of assessment frameworks creates new challenges for mining sites, which must demonstrate their sustainable performance to various stakeholders.

To address this need for harmonization, the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) was developed to integrate several recognized sustainable development requirements into a single and coherent framework. Although the CMSI has not yet been officially launched, it is essential for mining companies to begin analyzing it now in order to draw on it in their daily actions.

This presentation will provide an introduction to the CMSI, an analysis of its main requirements, as well as concrete actions enabling mining sites to prepare for it. The objective is to promote a proactive rather than reactive approach to evolving expectations in sustainable mining development.

The Jeannine Lake project aims to offset fish habitat loss resulting from the expansion of mining infrastructure at the Mont-Wright complex. It consists of restoring an orphan mining site abandoned for over 30 years by turning it into a functional and productive aquatic habitat. The work includes stabilizing and revegetating the tailings area, restoring the Jeannine Lake outlet and building sills. The use of techniques such as reforestation, strategic rock fill and the creation of spawning grounds for brook trout is an innovative approach tailored to the site’s constraints.

The sequence of interventions, carried out from upstream to downstream, promotes soil stability, limits erosion and supports the recolonization of aquatic environments. Stringent mitigation measures, including hydrocarbon management, the use of straw bale filters and continuous environmental monitoring, enhance the resilience of the structures.

The project brings together environmental, engineering and aquatic biology experts, in collaboration with government and Indigenous partners, notably the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam. This concerted approach has made it possible to develop solutions tailored to the land and to the needs of wildlife.

Beyond regulatory compliance, the project enhances ecosystem quality and fish productivity. Supported by field studies, hydrological modelling and internationally recognized practices, it serves as a model for sustainable mine reclamation in Québec.

The Windfall project by Gold Fields stands out in many ways in our industry. Our collaboration with host communities during the pandemic, the support provided by our teams during the 2023 wildfires in northern Québec, the power line operated from the Waswanipi substation and owned by the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi—a first in Québec—and the signing of an exemplary impact benefits agreement (IBA) all make the Windfall project unique in First Nations relations. From exploration to the signing of an IBA, this presentation will walk you through the evolution of the relationship between Gold Fields, the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi and the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee). This nearly ten-year journey, defined by respect and collaboration, clearly illustrates the various facets of Indigenous affairs.

In 2025, Westwood, an IAMGOLD mine, launched an unprecedented regional biodiversity initiative aimed at developing an assessment tool jointly designed and validated by mining companies, nonprofit organizations, government ministries, and experts (academics and practitioners). The tool will be made available to interested stakeholders.

This initiative aligns with IAMGOLD’s corporate commitment to biodiversity. Westwood is targeting a net neutral biodiversity balance at closure, compared to the 2020 baseline condition (at a minimum), and ultimately to the pre-project condition when data allow. This ambition goes beyond regulatory requirements and supports the implementation of the Biodiversity Conservation Management Protocol under the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative.

Two key components required in-depth reflection to develop the tool:

- Defining relevant, accessible, and comprehensive indicators to qualify and quantify biodiversity;

- Establishing a methodology for selecting biodiversity offset projects (the final level of the mitigation hierarchy).

The presentation will outline the needs expressed by the industry for these two components, the co-creation activities carried out since 2025, and the results achieved to date. It will conclude with the next steps and collaboration opportunities that can ultimately help elevate biodiversity practices across the mining sector.

Finally, the presentation will highlight the value of a collaborative forum mobilized around a shared objective: improving the legacy of mining companies for future generations.

No large Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) department. No massive workforce. No ready-made formula. So, how can a small mining company move from ESG principles to action?

That is the question that has guided our approach over the last two years. Based on our experience in developing a mining project in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, this presentation highlights the concrete actions that have progressively transformed how we work, manage our operations and engage with our community.

On the environmental side, we will notably look at obtaining ECOLOGO certification, conducting baseline environmental studies, implementing energy efficiency measures, installing heat pumps and carrying out initiatives to reduce travel and improve recycling.

But ESG goes beyond the environment. A mining project is not just developed on a territory: it is developed with a territory. We will present our discussions with the Pikogan community and Long Point First Nation, our consultations with the population of Cadillac and our involvement in the social, community, educational and economic spheres. Local partnerships, support for community initiatives, ties with educational institutions and collaboration with regional development actors illustrate this commitment to contributing to the region’s vitality.

Finally, we will examine how internal practices—pay equity, ongoing improvement in management, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and industry partnerships—reinforce this process.

This presentation does not offer a perfect ESG model. It tells the story of moving from intention to action, one step at a time.