News from our businesses and markets

Northwest Territories companies have already received 72 per cent of Gahcho Kué Mine’s spending so far in 2018 and De Beers Canada is looking to grow that number.

Close to 50 NWT businesses and organizations attended the three-hour contract opportunities preview event on June 29 in Yellowknife. The session included an update on Gahcho Kué Mine operations, the future of Snap Lake Mine, and an opportunity for business representatives to meet members of De Beers’ supply chain team in person.

“De Beers remains focused on creating a positive legacy during the time that it operates the Gahcho Kué Mine and an early priority is to help grow NWT business capacity through new business development,” said Allan Rodel, Gahcho Kué Mine General Manager. “These annual business updates are key to all parties in understanding what opportunities exist, what the community capacity is to take on these opportunities and how we can work together to see this work take place here in the north by northern companies.”

Through the end of May 2018, Gahcho Kué spend with NWT businesses was worth $108 million. In 2017, $220 million or 71% of total spending at Gahcho Kué was with NWT companies, far exceeding the 60% commitment made in the Socio-Economic Agreement for Gahcho Kué with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

“Working with local business is one of the real early success stories around Gahcho Kué,” said Kelly Brenton, Superintendent of Indigenous Relations and Sustainability for De Beers Canada. “By maximizing our local spend; we’re able to generate increased economic activity throughout the Northwest Territories, resulting in more income and jobs, especially with our Indigenous community partners.”

Contract opportunities available in the remainder of 2018 and in 2019 range from providing labour to operate the wash bay at Gahcho Kué, electrical and instrumentation parts, supply of Personal Protective Equipment and a variety of winter road construction and operations contracts.