The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) is taking legal action against a company trying to build a uranium mine in North Saskatchewan.
MN-S claims NexGen Energy Ltd. hasn't complied with an agreement signed in September 2019, including failing to negotiate an impact benefit agreement (IBA) with the MN-S "in good faith and on a best efforts basis." The deadline to achieve that was June 30, 2020, said MN-S lawyer Tom Isaac.
NexGen's Arrow uranium deposit is 600 kilometres north of Saskatoon. In its claim, the MN-S asked the court for a ruling on whether the company breached its study agreement with the MN-S. It also wants an award for damages and costs, and wants the court to restrain NexGen from filing its draft environmental impact statement, which would hinder developing the deposit.
In a statement, NexGen spokesperson Harp Gosal wrote that the uranium project "will deliver substantial economic benefits, including local employment, business, education and wellness, and financial payments, to the Metis (including MN-S and Metis local leadership) and all of the communities in the project area."
NexGen remains "committed to our transparent approach to reaching an agreement and expanding on programs that have already been initiated with all communities in the project area since 2013 through the successful execution of the project," Gosal wrote.
Métis people make up a significant portion of residents in the area that includes the Northwest Land Claim, which the federal government agreed to process in 2018. While the MN-S was open to negotiating over the impacts to the area, "we just need a dance partner," Isaac said.
Leonard Montgrand, regional director of MN-S Northern Region II, said in a statement that NexGen refused to meet if the MN-S had a lawyer or advisers present. While that meeting did take place, "that type of attitude is offensive, paternalistic and has no place in 2020," he said.
A statement from MN-S President Glen McCallum said the 2019 agreement was to "find opportunities to collaborate through a potentially long and challenging regulatory process. NexGen’s behaviour to-date raises serious concerns as to whether those objectives and opportunities can still be achieved."
Last year's study agreement included a study Isaac said would have assisted NexGen through that regulatory process, on top of completing an IBA with MN-S. IBAs typically cover financial participation, business contracting opportunities, employment opportunities and environmental committee structures, Isaac added.
NexGen, headquartered in Vancouver, has also made some notable partnerships. In 2019, it inked a sponsorship deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It also added former Premier Brad Wall to its board that year. At the time, Wall noted NexGen's work as a corporate citizen, which included a breakfast program for students in La Loche, and running a dog fostering program out of its exploration camp.
In its statement, NexGen didn't indicate its plans to respond to the claim. Isaac said it's hoped that filing the claim will lead the parties to "get back to the table to negotiate in good faith ... as soon as possible."
