I left for a few days on the mining route, along the Cadillac Fault in Abitibi, one of the most important geological zones in Canada. Along the way, I met citizens, elected officials, traders and workers. Because in the country of Richard Desjardins, almost everyone lives from the mines… for better or for worse.
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1. VAL-D’OR MINING PARTNERS
The city of Val-d’Or lives up to its name and is surrounded by mining deposits, including those of Eldorado and Agnico Eagle.
The new Mayor of the City, Céline Brindamour, admits it: the municipality benefits greatly from mining activity.
“Mining is Val-d’Or’s DNA. This is why our economy has been able to do so well, even when there have been downturns. We haven’t had a low for many years and we know that what has helped is the contribution from the mines,” she said.
The municipality is even experiencing overheating and is having problems welcoming workers.
“We have problems with housing, childcare services and the workforce. In our case, with the mining companies, we try to work to find solutions. »
A little further on 3rd Avenue, a must in Val-d’Or, the Ti-Pit snack bar, a real institution.
“Mine guys are mainly our customers. They are big eaters. […] With their family, that represents 80% of our turnover, ”laughs the owner Valérie Lavoie, who however lacks personnel.
2. MALARTIC “DID YOU HEAR THE “BLAST”? »
Malartic lives at the mercy of the largest open pit gold mine in the country, a huge pit stuck to the village. If the tourists are impressed by the astonishing panorama, the citizens experience the activities of the mine and the blasting operations.
“There are two blasts. One at 11 a.m. and another at 3 p.m. It’s a big boom, the house shakes a lot. The counters have moved two inches,” says Chantal Bernier, a resident who lives in the area closest to the mine.
She says she got used to the dust, “this little yellow powder” that is visible in town and she is compensated by the mining company, like other citizens.
“Like me, I get about $1,600 a year. They also come to measure decibels. You get used to everything, I guess,” she said.
The Canadian Malartic mine is owned equally by Yamana Gold and Agnico Eagle. To mitigate the effects, the group invested in a green wall and in a park located near the pit. The group has begun construction work on the infrastructure of a second mine, Odyssey, which will be underground. Production is scheduled for 2027.
3. ROUYN-NORANDA LIVE WITH A FOUNDRY AS A NEIGHBOR
In Rouyn-Noranda, you cannot miss the Horne Foundry, owned by Glencore, which dominates the city. Just in front of the enormous installation, there is the historic district of Old Noranda, where many citizens still live.
“I know they are going to put a buffer zone and parks in front of the factory. I think it will look like Malartic. […] Of course, you have to get used to the noise – there is the train – and the dust, ”says Claudine Poulin, resident.
When she was younger, she remembers that the situation was sometimes untenable. “We tasted the mine! Sometimes it was hard to see each other because there was yellow dust. It was a lot worse before,” she said.
