QIA: Mary River Project Arbitration

Press Release

(September 6, 2016, Iqaluit, NU) – On July 20, 2016 the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) initiated arbitration proceedings with Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation (BIMC) pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement entered into between QIA and BIMC on September 6, 2013 with respect to BIMC’s Mary River Project (the IIBA).

A Notice of Arbitration has been served by QIA’s legal counsel which alleges that Advance Payments of royalties owed to QIA are in arrears to June 30, 2016 by $6,250,000 plus interest. QIA also alleges that Advance Payments of royalties have been prematurely halted by BIMC. QIA has requested that the arbitration panel interpret BIMC’s financial payment obligations, including a request to calculate amounts owed and an order for payment to QIA.

QIA is aware that the Mary River Project has experienced financial pressures, but QIA negotiated substantial financial participation payments in the IIBA as compensation for the impact to Inuit of BIMC mining activities on Inuit Owned Lands. As such it is imperative to QIA that the objectives and intent of all IIBA provisions be complied with to the greatest extent possible.

QIA has appointed lawyer and former B.C. Court of Appeal Justice Thomas R. Berger of Vancouver as its nominee to a three member Arbitration Panel. BIMC has appointed Mr. Jim McCartney as their nominee. Together Mr. Berger and Mr. McCartney have selected Mr. Murray Smith of Vancouver to act as Chairperson of the three-person Arbitration Panel. To ensure the Arbitration Panel makes its decision by December 24, and in the interests of a cost effective adjudication of QIA’s claims, a 2-day hearing on October 25 and 26 in Vancouver has been ordered by the Panel. QIA is requesting that the hearing be video linked and/or recorded to ensure that all proceedings, orders and decisions will be made available for Inuit. The Procedural Order as well as the Statement of Claim by QIA is available in Inuktitut and English on our website.

QIA and BIMC attempted to directly resolve the issue of Advance Payment arrears starting in late 2015, but QIA believes that binding arbitration is necessary to resolve these financial issues. QIA and BIMC continue to work together on other aspects of IIBA implementation.

Media Contact:
Joanna Awa
A/Communications Director
Qikiqtani Inuit Association
(867) 975.8400
1.800.667.2742
jawa@qia.ca www.qia.ca

See documents below:

Full News release
Procedural Order
Statement of Claim

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