Two local companies take lead on Ontario gold mine project

The $250-million early construction phase of a northern Ontario gold mine will be handled by two Edmonton-based companies.

North American Construction Group (NACG) and Nuna Group of Companies announced on Oct. 20 they had been awarded the project. Construction at the mine is expected to start during this fiscal quarter and completed by fall 2022.

Nuna president and chief operating officer Miles Safranovich said it's the largest project his company has ever worked on in Ontario.

We're quite excited. We've been making little inroads into Ontario for a number of years.

“We're quite excited. We've been making little inroads into Ontario for a number of years,” he said.

“A lot of our competitors have seen us noodling around, doing a little project here and there. The project had to be big enough so that the mobilization costs from Alberta wouldn't put (us) in a poor ranking with the client.”

Nuna, the largest Inuit-owned heavy civil, earthworks and mine construction company, primarily operates in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and northern Saskatchewan.

NACG president and chief operating officer Joe Lambert said Nuna played a key role in developing strong engagement with Indigenous communities in the area where the mine is located.

He said his company will be providing gear that is not being utilized in other areas such as at the oilsands.

“By moving (our fleet) and getting it into a different commodity we're looking at better utilization of our fleet and a better return on capital,” Lambert said. “A lot of our work is counter-seasonal to us. Our big work is in the winter when things are frozen here. So, we get a better return on capital without really impacting our ability to meet our oilsands customers' needs.”

NACG has started to ship its gear to Ontario. The mine, between Timmins and Sudbury, is expected to provide nearly 1,000 jobs.