OSISKO MINING AND THE CREE NATION GOVERNMENT: TOGETHER IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COVID-19 AT WINDFALL SITE

At Osisko Mining, we were fortunate to work collaboratively with the Cree Nation Government to develop a very strong Covid-19 protocol. This collaboration allowed the Windfall project to be the first site on the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory to benefit from an exemption to the local mandatory self-isolation law for workers living in Cree communities.

A LABORATORY ON THE WINDFALL SITE TO PROTECT EVERYONE’S HEALTH

We must protect the health and safety of all employees and contractors working on the project. We need to provide them the confidence that we were doing everything possible to prevent Covid-19. The purchase and operation of an on-site laboratory is an elementary conclusion for us knowing that it might be impossible to operate a truly safe worksite without this equipment. Setting up the test facility at Windfall represents a significant investment, approximately $400,000 with operating costs of approximately $100,000 per month.

“Having the laboratory on site provides a certain peace of mind for all of the people working at Windfall, their families, local communities, the Cree Nation and all of our stakeholders.”

Mathieu Savard, President.

A CRUCIAL EXEMPTION FOR OUR WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Following the August 18 exemption from the local self-isolation laws, more than 90 First Nation people are now back working on the Windfall site.Without this exemption, our workers faced a mandatory 14-day isolation period on returning to their communities before returning to their next shift at Windfall.

“This meant that during their isolation, they were not allowed to have any contact with their loved ones – it was heartbreaking. Many of our workers then opted for a temporary layoff.”

Alix Drapack, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Development.

All employees and contractors are tested on the first day of their work rotation. They are all retested on the 10th day of their rotation. Workers coming from Cree communities are also tested on the day they depart from the site (day 14) and given a letter stating the results of their test. This letter is also emailed to the General Manager and the Public Safety Office of the Cree community. A negative test permits the Cree workers returning to their community to be exempted from the mandatory two-week self-isolation law.

 ROBUST PROTOCOLS DEVELOPED WITH OUR PARTNERS

Our protocols and preventive Covid-19 measures are the result of numerous exchanges with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, provincial public health and our contractors. We have put in place a series of prevention measures ranging from pre-triage to transportation to the site, through the redesign of our facilities and work schedules to accommodate physical distancing and a review of our ways of performing tasks. We also set up an internal monitoring committee and a committee with the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi and the Cree Nation Government. These committees followed the gradual resumption of our activities in the spring and are an effective and transparent way to communicate information if a positive case arises.

“I will always be grateful to Osisko for standing with the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi during our time of need. Their help is not a handout but rather an investment in my people so that we can build a strong and sustainable project allowing Cree workers to be proud providers for their families without having to risk their health.”

Chief Marcel Happyjack said in a release issued by the Cree Nation Government.

“Actions like those of Osisko demonstrate that natural resource development doesn’t have to be just about taking or extracting but rather contributing to community life and helping to make us all stronger. If all developers in our territory behaved like this, our region and the Cree Nation could be even greater contributors to what will need to be the greatest economic recovery in the history of Quebec.”

Grand Chief Dr. Abel Bosum in a release issued by the Cree Nation Government.

It is certain that Covid-19 pandemic will stay in our memories as a challenging event in different domains of our lives, but it was also an opportunity where we proved that by showing solidarity we find solutions and accomplish great things.