Anaconda has maintained continuous public engagement with the Municipality as well as residents and property owners in the region since it acquired the Project in 2017. A liaison committee was established to foster environmental stewardship and act as a conduit for transparent and ongoing communications between the Company and the community and all stakeholders, on all matters pertaining to potential development. This Community Benefits Agreement confirms each party's commitment to generate sustainable social and economic benefits for the Municipality.

"Anaconda strives to achieve the highest standards of social, ethical and environmental practices in all aspects of our operations, as evidenced by our over 10 years of operations in Newfoundland. We are proud to formally establish this commitment in this Agreement with the Municipality of the District of Guysborough. We believe that our strong commitment to corporate social responsibility is critical to the success of our Company, which includes our commitment to bring sustainable social and economic benefits to the communities in which we operate. Since 2017, Anaconda and the Municipality of the District of Guysborough have maintained a collaborative relationship based on mutual respect and we look forward to building on that relationship throughout the life of the Goldboro Gold Project."

~Kevin Bullock, President & CEO, Anaconda Mining Inc.

"The MODG welcomes and encourages responsible commercial and industrial development. We take pride in effective land use plans, achieved through broad consultation, thus creating clear expectations for future land use. This approach sends a clear signal to prospective investors and positions the MODG to offer an advanced level of public services that are unparalleled for a small rural municipality. We have enjoyed open dialogue and communications with Anaconda and have confidence that the Goldboro Gold Project will be operated in an environmentally sustainable manner that meets or exceeds all regulatory standards, while bringing significant social and economic opportunities".

~ Vernon Pitts, Warden, Municipality of the District of Guysborough

The Agreement establishes a framework for a long-term relationship between Anaconda Mining and the Municipality of the District of Guysborough over the life of the Goldboro Gold Project, confirming the Municipality's support for the Project and Anaconda's commitment to bring sustainable social and economic benefits to the members of the Guysborough community. Such benefits include:

  • Targeted measures for local recruitment and employment at both at the construction and operational stages of the Project by collaborating to assess local labour market training and employment opportunities.
  • Working with contractors and suppliers to identify opportunities to hire locally and support businesses activities in the Municipality, including procurement and service opportunities with the Project.
  • Contribution of annual grants for community groups, organizations, and community projects within the Municipality.
  • Establishment of bursaries for local high school students and the development of co-op work term opportunities students and apprenticeship placements.
  • Maintenance of a local operational office within the Municipality and provision of financial incentives for Project personnel to relocate to the region.

Anaconda also remains steadfast in its commitment toward the development of a Mutual Benefits Agreement with the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq. The Company recognizes the asserted Aboriginal & Treaty Rights and Title of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq and maintains ongoing engagement with Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO) and representatives of Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation. In 2019, the Company and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs signed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines a process that the parties may use to develop a Mutual Benefits Agreement that reflects a desire to build a mutually beneficial relationship with respect to the Project. This process is ongoing, and the Company maintains its commitment to work collaboratively with Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq regarding environmental and cultural priorities, as well as social and economic opportunities throughout the life of the Project.