Protesters at Baffinland’s Mary River iron mine are willing to accommodate miners for medical supplies and other necessities, according to a sworn legal document filed on Feb. 9 on behalf of the individuals participating in blockades.
The affidavit, filed by law student Bruce Uviluq to the Nunavut Court of Justice, reads that Namen Inuaraq, a “key member of the party” at the mine site protest, has spoken to Baffinland president and CEO Brian Penney on numerous occasions since Feb. 5.
The statement indicates that a number of accommodations have already been offered to the miners affected by the protesters’ blockades at the Mary River mine.
“The defendants advised that they were entirely willing to make arrangement to allow Baffinland employees who did not desire to remain on the site, to depart safely and said so to Brian Penney,” the document states.
Other concessions include allowing medevac flights, permitting medical supplies to be bussed in and that “all reasonable and essential requests have been responded to promptly and with reason.” The defendants commit to continue in this manner, according to the document.
“Brian Penney refused these accommodations and stated that he was seeking a full and final solution and not any sort of interim resolution or accommodation,” the affidavit reads, as it makes a case for the defendants to be legally permitted to remain on site with the Nunavut Agreement as a basis for their right to protest.
It adds that Uviluq has viewed footage sent by the defendants that shows no damage has been done to the runway and adds that the defendants “do not believe that irreparable harm can arise from iron ore not being transported along the tote road. “
On Tuesday, Baffinland issued its own news release stating that the company is concerned for the welfare of its 700 employees and contractors on site due to the protesters preventing fresh food, medication and other supplies from being flown to the mine, and stopping miners from leaving for home after their shifts. The news release also indicated that “Baffinland is considering all options to reopen the airstrip.”
The protesters’ affidavit refers to harassment that the hunters are alleging they have experienced at the mine site over the past week. They say they are sleep deprived due to heavy equipment belonging to the mine being operated at late hours, with the revving of engines and honking of horns “creating a perception of threat during the night.”
The protesters also expressed concern about being approached by mine site personnel due to the risk that some of those individuals may be carrying the Covid-19 virus.
Also named among the defendants on the affidavit are Tom Naqitarvik, Jonathan Pitula, Christopher Akeeagok, Andy Kalluk, John Doe, Jane Doe and “for all other persons unknown to the plaintiff at a blockade at or neary Mary River.”
Told ya internet people that the protesters said people could leave. Your Big Boss is the source of all your ‘kidnapping’ nonsense. Ha!
You do realize that planes need to land first to pick people up right? Pretty hard to land if you’re camped in the middle of the runway
Awesome, finally the truth is out. BIM management trying to make us look so bad. We were saying you people could leave, your own people keeping you stirring there. Using no leave to try to unlawfully remove people from their land.
The Machines have been stopped since they arrived. How are they hinge ring sleep when they aren’t even running?
Are you dumb or stunned. The mine operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you wanted peace and quiet you should have checked in at the Inns North. Instead you decided to set up a blockade and hold 700 workers hostage with your antics. Shame on you. The Nunavut Agreement does not state that you can break the law. Oh yeah, the Nunavut Agreement was negotiated over many years around boardroom tables, not under protest. Namen, please be honest, please disclose how much money you took from Baffinland in the last 3 years? Same for your Dad and brothers? How much money have you taken? This is about wanting more money……sit at a boardroom table and negotiate. I am ashamed of you and your antics!
So does that mean anyone in nunavut that did seasonal or shift work at badfinland, janitoring, or providing countey food to the mine needs to disclose how much they made? I think youmissed the p. oint of the article. If you want to make mo ney too than buy a boat or skidoo, take all the safety classes, pay yhe insurance and go work. Or pay to advertise yourselves, fly to tradwshows on your own dime, to people who want something you offer. If you need help doing that QIA is supposed to help… otherwise you do what every other successful person in Nunavut has to do, you work like a dog and dont quit!