The mine, considered one of the world's richest iron deposits, opened in 2015 and ships about six million tonnes of ore a year.
The mine says the expansion would more than double employment at the mine to more than 1,000.
The review board said Friday in a release that there is potential for the proposal to have significant and lasting negative effects on marine mammals, the marine environment, fish, caribou and other wildlife, vegetation and freshwater.
The board said these negative effects could also impact Inuit harvesting, culture, land use and food security.
"The Board has concluded that the proposal as assessed cannot be carried out in a manner that will protect the ecosystemic integrity of the Nunavut Settlement Area and that will protect and promote the existing and future well-being of the residents and communities of the Nunavut Settlement Area, and
"As a result, the board has recommended to the Minister that the Phase 2 Development Proposal as assessed should not be permitted to proceed at this time."
Federal Northern Affairs Minister
"I will be taking time to review the report along with federal officials," Vandal said on Twitter. "A decision will be taken following appropriate due diligence and comprehensive analysis, including whether the duty to consult has been met or not."
The mine proposal has faced opposition, including from hunters and trappers in the community closest to the mine.
Inuit hunters said they feared an expansion of the mine could hasten the ongoing decline of a narwhal population that they rely on for food.
In a letter sent last week to the board, the
This report by
Companies in this story: (TSX:TKTK)
© 2022 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved., source