Osisko Mining Corporation

Public Presentations:

• Osisko Mining Corporation:
  An important economic partner at Malartic

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• Third public presentation about the impact study

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Osisko Vous Informe Newsletters:

• The latest news on various aspects
  of the Canadian Malartic project November 26, 2008

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  This issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter provides an overview of the results of the feasibility study (see Nov. 25 press release), as well as the following updates about progress on the Canadian Malartic gold mine project:

  • The relocation of residences into the new neighbourhood at the north end of town was finished by the end of October. In all, 60 houses were moved. The affected residents will be able to return to their homes by mid-December. Relocation work will continue in spring of 2009.
  • Construction work on three institutional buildings (elementary school, adult education centre, and the long-term care facility) is advancing according to schedule.
  • Osisko received an award on October 22 from the Rouyn-Noranda Chamber of Commerce in honour of its contribution to the economic development of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. The award is given each year to a company making major investments in the region.

• A solid financial situation for Osisko November 14, 2008

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  On November 12, Mr. Bryan Coates, Osisko's Vice President of Finances and Chief Financial Officer, gave a presentation to the Malartic business community during which he outlined the economic impact of the Canadian Malartic project.

  This issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter provides a summary of Mr. Coates' presentation and Osisko's financial situation as at September 30. The financial details were as follows:

  • Cash in hand: $139 M
  • Working capital: $133 M
  • Margin on facility credit from Cat Financial: $78.6 M
  • Osisko employees working at Malartic: 69 of which 37 are town residents
  • People currently working on the Canadian Malartic project: 345
  • Purchases from Malartic businesses: $3.7 M thus far
  • Purchases from Abitibi-Témiscamingue suppliers: $37.8 M
  • Aggregate employment earnings: $2,140,000 for the first 9 months of 2008
  • Municipal taxes paid by Osisko in 2008: $267,000
  • Total invested thus far in the project: $177.2 M
  • Financing agreements concluded by Osisko since 2005: $395 M

  Other salient points:

  • The Canadian Malartic project represents a significant structuring project for Malartic and the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region
  • Osisko is committed to maximizing the economic benefits to the region
  • Osisko will continue to adopt a sustainable development approach throughout the project

• Blasting October 29, 2008

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  This issue of the newsletter informs residents that Osisko has obtained the necessary permits to create borrow pits and a rock quarry during the closure of the orphaned East Malartic mine site. The work will be carried out in conjunction with the Government of Quebec.

  The quarry will supply rock used to solidify and strengthen old retention structures (dykes), and to construct access roads to the borrow pits. Blasting will be necessary to extract the rock. As promised during the public assembly last June, Osisko will use this opportunity to conduct vibration tests. The results will be used to test the theoretical predictions of the impact study.

• FEMO helps improve the quality of life
  for elderly Malartic residents October 10, 2008

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  In this issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter, the company is pleased to announce that its FEMO fund helped finance a new program called PAIR, which was jointly implemented by a senior citizens group (Table des aînés de Val-d'Or, Senneterre et Malartic), a health and social services centre (Centre de santé et de services sociaux de la Vallée-de-l'Or) and the police (Sûreté du Québec).

  The goal of the PAIR program is to offer additional protection in the form of home security to senior citizens who live alone, to people with health problems, and to elderly couples who feel they are in need of such a service.

  The program allows subscribers to obtain free telephone assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Construction begins on the new elementary school October 1, 2008

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  Osisko's $82 million relocation program at Malartic not only involves the resettlement of 205 homes, but also several institutions, including an elementary school, an adult education centre, a long-term care facility, a retirement home, a community centre, and a multi-function hall.

  This issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter lets residents know that work has started on the elementary school as well as some of the other buildings. The school will cost $15.5 million and is located in the new Malartic neighbourhood at the north end of town. The new building will accommodate 400 students.

  Osisko worked closely with the school board to ensure that the new school will meet the needs of students and staff. Cutting edge technologies were incorporated into the design, like geothermal energy and a solar-heating wall, which will ensure the comfort and well-being of those in attendance while generating considerable savings in energy costs.

• Osisko delivers its environmental impact study August 29, 2008

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  On September 4, the environmental impact study for the Canadian Malartic project was presented to the MDDEP (Ministère du Développement Durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs), Quebec's ministry of sustainable development and the environment.

  This issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter provides residents with an overview of the study's content and findings. A summary of the study, as well as the full report, are available on the Osisko website in the Sustainability section.

• New equipment arriving at the mine site August 14, 2008

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  This issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter explains to residents that heavy machinery from Hewitt Equipment is starting to arrive at the Malartic mine site.

  The equipment, costing $5 million, will mainly be used to repair some of the existing dykes, to construct access roads, and to develop borrow pits. Eventually, the same equipment will be used to construct new dykes needed to close the old tailings pond.

  More than 1,600 applications were received at Osisko's offices for the job postings. Osisko managed to fill 60% of the positions with Malartic residents, with the other 40% coming from the Rivière-Héva and Val-d'Or areas.

• Phase I of the relocation program July 28, 2008

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  July 9 marked the beginning of Phase I of the relocation program as Osisko moves the southern part of Malartic to the northern end of town. Spirits were high as operations began after two years of planning with Malartic residents.

  By July 31, 12 houses were already in place in the new neighbourhood. Eleven others will be moved by mid-August, with the rest following later. Residents in transition between the two neighbourhoods will temporarily stay in Osisko homes in the old neighbourhood.

  Phase II of the project will begin in early August with foundation work. House moving for 60 residences will be finished by November. In all, 170 homes will be relocated during the 16-month program.

• Changes to the Malartic landscape June 5, 2008

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  May 7 marked the beginning of dismantling work at the old East Malartic plant, which lies on land now owned by Osisko. This issue of the newsletter advises readers that the plant is unable to meet production requirements for Osisko's Canadian Malartic project (55,000 tonnes per day), so the company is therefore proceeding with the sale of the old equipment to Abcourt Mines Inc. and Legault Métal.

  The plant was in operation from 1938 to 1979 for the East Malartic mine, after which it was used to process ore for various other mining projects, such as Doyon, Bousquet 1, Francoeur, Stope 1-20 and Bousquet 2.

• "Suppliers Day" at Malartic May 23, 2008

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  To promote Osisko's goal of buying locally and regionally whenever possible, the company and the Economic Development Society of Malartic held a "Journée des fournisseurs" ("Suppliers Day") on April 4, 2008. Forty-four business people attended the event in Malartic, during which Luc Lessard, Osisko's Vice President of Engineering and Construction, gave a presentation highlighting the scope of the company's work and the type of goods and services it will need in the coming years.

  From January to April of this year, Osisko has invested $903,100 in Malartic businesses, representing significant employment earnings with those companies; this is in addition to the money spent by the drilling contractors while working on Osisko's massive drill program.

• Mine site complex and preliminary concept
  for two institutional buildings May 9, 2008

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  This issue of the "Osisko Vous Informe" newsletter provides readers with simulated images showing the layout of the Canadian Malartic mining complex and the preliminary concept for two of the institutional buildings to be built by Osisko. Additional images can be found on the Animations & Maps webpage of the Community section.

• A visit with students at the St-Martin elementary schoolMarch 27, 2008

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  In March 2008, students of the St-Martin elementary school in Malartic welcomed Hélène Thibault, Director of Communications for Osisko. Hélène was given a "tour" of the students' miniature model of a mine they called "ODISCO", and then sat with them to answer their many questions about Osisko's Canadian Malartic mining project. The students were particularly interested in the size and location of the mine, and in the ways it would affect their daily lives and their environment. The students presented Hélène with a booklet of their drawings and questions that will soon be available on the Osisko website.

• Tree cutting workMarch 19, 2008

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  This newsletter issue informs Malartic residents that the company has obtained a permit from the Forestry Department of Quebec's Ministère des ressources naturelles et de la faune du Québec to cut down trees on its property. This work is a necessary step for Osisko and the MRNF to close the old East Malartic tailings area. The wood will be for commercial use only. As a preventative measure, Osisko has increased security while these activities are underway.

• Water management and useMarch 13, 2008

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  This issue of the Osisko newsletter responds to concerns from Malartic residents about Osisko's management and use of water for the Canadian Malartic mining project. Although Osisko representatives previously announced at the public meeting of February 11, 2008, that the company's activities will not affect the quantity or quality of the Malartic water supply, the company would like to reiterate the reasons behind this conclusion:

  1. The mill location and the municipal water source are not hydrologically connected (that is, their underground water systems do not join). The town takes its water from an esker northwest of the town.
  2. The wells supplying residents of Rang 6 and Range 7 will not be affected because the mill is located downstream (that is, underground water beneath the mill flows away from these wells).
  3. Osisko's layout of the mine, pending approval by the government, is restricted to a watershed that is distinct and separate from other watersheds in the area. The outflow from this basin will be near the current effluent from the old East Malartic mine.
  4. Osisko's water supply will be largely met by precipitation into this separate watershed, which will accumulate into an on-site reservoir that Osisko has proposed to build, along with collected treatment water and water pumped from the open pit.
  5. The source of drinking water for the workers is currently under study, but at this time Osisko plans on using a source that is independent of the municipal water network.
  6. It is possible that Osisko may need to draw upon other sources of water at certain times of the year. Such potential water sources are currently under study, and the final decision will take into account that Malartic residents must not adversely affected by Osisko's water usage.

• Results of public surveysFebruary 28, 2008

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  On February 11, Osisko presented the results of the human component of the Environmental Impact Study to members of the Malartic community at a public meeting. The study was based on surveys of residents and merchants, and on consultations with various organizations having interests in economic development, safety, noise, dust, vibrations, traffic, quality of life, health risks, community relations, lodging, scenery, relocation and recreational tourism. This issue of the newsletter summarizes the key results.

  Survey of Malartic residents
  Rate of response to survey: 44%
  Of those who replied:

  • 32% are entirely in favour of the mine project
  • 52% are in favour, but remain cautious about the project's impacts
  • 6% are not in favour of the project, but accept it nonetheless
  • 3% are completely opposed
  • 6% don't know
  • 1% did not answer

  The project's impacts, according to Malartic residents

  • Economic growth for Malartic
  • Increase in real estate value
  • Improvement in Malartic's public image
  • Increase in dust levels
  • Lower quality of scenery in the town of Malartic
  • Increase in noise levels

  Survey of Malartic merchants
  Rate of response to survey: 57%
  Of those who replied:

  • 35% are entirely in favour of the mine project
  • 61% are in favour, but remain cautious about the project's impacts
  • 4% are not in favour of the project, but accept it nonetheless

  Heritage and archaeology

  • No known classified cultural property
  • Existing mine shaft represents an industrial heritage element
  • No known archaeological sites

• Overview of results from the first phase
  of the Environmental Impact StudyFebruary 18, 2008

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  This newsletter focuses on the natural environment component of Osisko's Environmental Impact Study, the results of which were presented by Osisko representatives at a public meeting at the end of April. The main conclusions for this first phase of the study are as follows:

  Ambient Air Quality

  • The air is of good quality
  • All levels are below the norms for ambient air

  Background noise and vibrations

  • Very low background noise levels
  • A preliminary study on vibrations recommends that:
    • Thresholds be respected with respect to blasts and blasting distances
    • Dynamiting not be allowed during the evening and at night
    • A surveillance system be put in place to monitor the blasts

  Hydrogeology and groundwater

  • Regarding underground workings and private wells:
    • Overall good quality
    • High levels of iron
    • Very low aquifer potential
  • Regarding the municipal water source:
    • High aquifer potential
    • Barely detectable levels of metals in water
    • No hydrological connection between the mine site and the town's water intake

  Land wildlife, birds and vegetation

  • Forty-seven (47) common species observed
  • Few amphibians and reptiles
  • No species with protective status
  • Dominantly coniferous environments with some wetlands
  • None of the plant species are at risk, but sea-buckthorn is highly valued in the area

  Heritage and archaeology

  • No known classified cultural property
  • Existing mine shaft represents an industrial heritage element
  • No known archaeological sites

• Timeline for the next three yearsFebruary 5, 2008

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  This issue of the Osisko newsletter provides an overview of the company's timeline for the next three years. Osisko is dedicated to meeting this schedule, and several phases must run concurrently to achieve this goal.

  Winter 2008:
  Continued work on the main road - Rue de la Démonstration - in the new neighbourhood

  Spring 2008:
  End of work on Rue de la Démonstration
  Project definition study

  End of summer and fall 2008:
  Start of residence relocation along Rue de Démonstration
  Continued construction of the new neighbourhood
  Preparation work for the new tailings pond

  Fall 2008:
  Submission of Environmental Impact Study to the provincial government
  Submission of Feasibility Study

  End of 2008:
  Final decision by Osisko to mine the gold deposit
  2009 Continued construction of the new neighbourhood
  Resettlement continues
  Start of mine construction

  2010:
  Continued construction of mine
  Final phase of resettlement into the new neighbourhood

  End of 2010:
  Production begins at the mine

• New layout for mine property and infrastructureJanuary 1, 2008

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  This issue of the Osisko newsletter provides maps showing the original proposed layout of the mine property and infrastructure (see Figure 1 in the original French document), and the new proposed layout (see Figure 2), which reduces land coverage and thus the impact on the environment. Osisko will be presenting this new layout to the government for approval. Osisko's Canadian Malartic project is located south of the town of Malartic, which has a long mining history, and after much careful study, Osisko determined it could largely restrict its operations to land already affected by past operations at the Barnat, Sladen, Canadian Malartic and East Malartic mines. Osisko will also propose that the mill be in the southwest part of the new property, approximately 3 km south of the town of Malartic. In addition, the buildings of the old East Malartic mine are currently being refurbished as Osisko's new regional exploration offices.

• First phase of resettlement program underwayJanuary 1, 2008

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  This issue of the Osisko newsletter informs Malartic residents that work has started on the main road (Rue de la Démonstration) in the new neighbourhood being built at the northern end of the town. Osisko hired the firm NORASCON from the Abitibi-Timiskaming region to perform the work. The newsletter also informs residents of the work hours, and the fact that some rock outcrops must be dynamited before starting construction. Osisko is pleased that the first phase of the resettlement program is now underway.

Publi-Reportage:

• Osisko finding more ways to reduce drill rig noise

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  This Osisko public announcement explains to residents the details of the ongoing drilling program in the Town of Malartic, as well as the measures being put into effect that will improve their quality of life as drilling continues. The announcement states that:

  Drilling under the streets will account for 23,000 metres of the 150,000-metre total, and drilling in the surrounding areas for 36,000 metres. The street-based drill program will end in November 2007, and the rest will be completed in spring of 2008. The objective is to confirm the presence of mining resources for Osisko's major Canadian Malartic open pit mine project.

  In order to reduce the inconvenience to residents, drilling in the town is limited to 12 hours per day (7am to 7pm), six days per week, despite the fact that drilling operations typically run for 24 hours per day. A number of technical modifications have also been made to the drill rigs to reduce noise, including multiple silencers and acoustic panels. Osisko recognizes that it is dealing with a unique situation in Canada by drilling within municipal boundaries and continues to seek out new ways to minimize the noise, including the possibility of using electrical or hydraulic drills.

• Osisko's efforts to create a safe environment at Malartic

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  This Osisko public announcement assures Malartic residents that they will be able to safely move through their community while drilling continues in the southern part of the town. Osisko responded to complaints about the noise related to the drilling program by changing to electric drills, which use electric generators. New and existing safety measures include: locked enclosures for generators and their connections; improved fences around the generators; the installation of warning signs; locked trailers at the snow dump site; locked drill sites between shifts; the installation of auto-shutdown protection systems for electrical cables supported by wooden trestles; the placement of trestles along the most direct paths possible to minimize cable lengths; professional inspection of the electrical system during each drill move; the installation of protective cover over wiring and water pipes at intersections and home entry points; and full-day patrolling by inspectors.

Related links »

FEMO »

A sustainable development fund for the town of Malartic