The Strathcona Standard

  A copper and gold mine planned near Port Hardy has been identified by the provincial government as a key mining project for BC.

  Northisle Copper and Gold Inc.’s plans to restart copper mining near Port Hardy cover 214 mineral claims in more than 34,000 hectares west of Port Hardy to Holberg. The company’s claims are northwest of the old Island Copper Mine site.

  The mine operated from 1971 until 1995 and was one of the largest copper mines in Canada. It employed more than 900 people at its peak and directly enabled Port Hardy’s growth from a community of less than a thousand people into a town with more than 5,000 year-round residents, which has experienced annual population decline since the closure.

  Port Hardy Mayor Pat Corbett-Labatt said in a statement that with the support of the new provincial Critical Minerals Office, the project can move quickly through the environmental assessment and permitting process.

“Northisle’s decision to engage early with the Quatsino First Nation and the District of Port Hardy demonstrates a strong commitment to respectful partnership and meaningful community consultation,” she said. “We appreciate this proactive approach and look forward to continued collaboration as the project progresses.”

  The Quatsino First Nation maintains it was never consulted when the original mine opened and received no royalties during its lifetime. In a 2024 letter to the North Island Gazette, Chief Tom Nelson and his council said “both industry and government have yet to accept their obligations for providing us with redress for the legacy of impacts of these sites on the health and well-being of our nation – economically and culturally.”

  Nelson said the previous mine left 850 million tonnes of tailings in Rupert Inlet, and although several scientific studies since the closure have shown the mine had no measurable long-term effects on sea life, anecdotal evidence has convinced locals to continue avoiding some regions entirely.

  In 1997, the Island Copper Mine received the BC Mine Reclamation Award recognizing efforts post-closure to return the mine site to a natural state, and restoring the natural environment.  

  Quatsino’s current Chief James Nelson said in the February 20 announcement that it’s good to see the province taking economic development seriously, and making sure First Nations are involved.

  “We believe it’s essential to balance responsible economic development with protection of the local environment, and we look forward to continued engagement and discussions,” he said.  

  Two other mining projects are being fast-tracked by the provincial office and despite an erroneous report by the Gazette, they are not happening on Vancouver Island. Defense Metals Corp.’s Wicheeda Project is located near Prince George, and aims to access deposits of rare earth elements. The other project, Surge Copper Corp.’s Berg Project, is an open-pit mine near the northern BC town of Houston, and is focused on extracting copper and molybdenum.