North

Yukon regulatory charges laid against Victoria Gold prior to heap leach failure stayed

The charges, which were related to the company's water management and storage practices at its heap leach facility prior to the failure in 2024, were stayed via letters from the territory's acting chief prosecutor in January.

The territory's acting chief prosecutor entered a stay on the charges in January

Beige building with a large multi-frame window and a Canadian flag in front. "THE LAW COURTS PALAIS DE JUSTICE" is on it next to a Yukon coat-of-arms.
The courthouse in downtown Whitehorse. Charges against mining company Victoria Gold related to alleged water storage and management practices at its heap leach facility have been stayed. (Jackie Hong/CBC)

Regulatory charges laid against Yukon mining company Victoria Gold over water management and storage practices at its heap leach facility in 2022 and 2023 have been stayed.

The company, in 2024, was hit with a total of 14 counts under the territory's Waters and Quartz Mining acts.

Both the laying of the charges and the alleged offences, which mostly involved transferring water to the heap leach facility even when available storage was below desired levels, predate the June 24, 2024, heap leach failure that shut down the mine's operations. 

The Yukon government's acting chief prosecutor, David McWhinnie, stayed the charges via letters submitted to the territorial court on Jan. 24. 

The letters do not provide a reason for the stays. 

Victoria Gold is currently in receivership following a Yukon government court application last August, after concerns that the company wasn't acting quickly enough to protect the environment following the heap leach failure. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jackie Hong

Reporter

Jackie Hong is a reporter in Whitehorse. She was previously the courts and crime reporter at the Yukon News and, before moving North in 2017, was a reporter at the Toronto Star. You can reach her at jackie.hong@cbc.ca