MLAs to debate Yukon Party motion to summon Victoria Gold receiver

MLAs appear ready to summon representatives of the Victoria Gold receiver to answer questions at the Yukon's Legislative Assembly, just as an Ontario court approved the company's request to increase its borrowing limit.

On Tuesday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice heard a request from PricewaterhouseCoopers to raise its borrowing limit to $220 million. The receiver needs the court to authorize how much money it can borrow to do its work remediating the Eagle Gold mine site after a disastrous heap leach failure last year.

John Streicker, the Yukon's minister of energy, mines and resources, confirmed during question period that afternoon that the court had granted the request.

The court decision came just ahead of opposition Wednesday in the Yukon Legislature, when private members' business can be debated.

The Yukon Party will call a motion by its mining critic Scott Kent. If passed, the motion would have two PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) executives — senior vice presidents Michelle Grant and Graham Page — appear as witnesses before committee of the whole on April 29.

Grant and Page would be called to answer questions regarding the receivership, operations and management of the Eagle Gold mine, according to the motion.

"There's a number of questions. Obviously, one of the concerns that we have is the budget [for the cleanup] — which had early estimates of $150 million — is now at $220 million," Kent said.

Kent also wants to question PwC about water treatment at the site, a leak from a containment pond and the viability of selling the site.

"We're concerned about what their [PwC's] exit plan is, when they feel that their work will be done and they'll be able to either sell the assets or turn it over to the government," he said.

NDP and Liberal support

It already appears the motion has enough votes to pass. The Yukon NDP said in an email that it will vote with the Yukon Party, because it wants PwC to answer MLAs' questions publicly.

Speaking to reporters, Streicker indicated that he will back the motion as well, saying he had his own questions for the court-appointed receiver.

"I hope that just as I will support them in their motion to bring in the witnesses, I hope they will support us to pose questions," Streicker said. 

The Yukon government has been giving the receiver advances to cover the cost of its work and, now that PwC's request has been approved, it's expected to do so again. That has led the Official Opposition to call for scrutiny into how the money is spent. 

"I think there needs to be some accountability from them [PwC] for the work they're doing up there and the money they're spending," Kent said.

"Whether it's a combination of Yukon government at the political level, at the officials' level, providing oversight to these expenditures and questioning them so that we can ensure Yukoners are getting value for money."

Streicker said PwC is already subject to oversight by various parties, including the government, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, and the courts. He also pointed to the numerous reports the receiver has published online.

The minister also noted a schism between how the Liberals and Yukon Party view the receivership. 

The Yukon Party has said that the best outcome for taxpayers and businesses would have been to allow Victoria Gold to retain control of the mine, to pay for the environmental cleanup and to return the mine to production. 

Meanwhile, the Liberals say Victoria Gold was not following its directions on mitigation and when its ability to fund the cleanup was in question, they asked the courts to intervene.

"I disagree with them that the receiver is not accountable. I disagree that this is an inappropriate spending of funds. I think that this is protecting the environment and protecting people," Streicker said.

"I recognize the expense that's there but I think it's the right thing to do."