Front Burner

A massive collapse and the troubling history of Yukon mining

A landslide and possible cyanide leak from the Eagle mine in the Yukon brings up long-standing issues with other mining projects and closures in the territory.
A man in a safety vest stands by a small creek with some water jugs.
Collecting water samples at the Eagle mine site in Yukon after a heap leach pad failure, June 2024. (Yukon government)

A landslide caused by a heap leach failure at the Eagle mine site in the Yukon has been called a "disaster" by some local residents.

Hundreds of workers are currently laid-off and there's a chance that it has leaked cyanide and/or other heavy metals into the river, endangering the nearby environment and wildlife. Meanwhile, Victoria Gold, the company that owns and operates the mine, is facing charges and their stock has tanked, raising concerns the mine could close for good.

Cali McTavish and Julien Greene from CBC Whitehorse join us to talk about how the incident fits into a long, troubling history with mining in the Yukon. 

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