Agnico Eagle Mines Limited - Sustainability - Social

At Agnico Eagle, we have a long-term approach to our business, aiming to be a trusted and welcomed member of the community – not for just a decade, but for generations.

Being a good neighbour in the regions where we operate has always been an important focus for Agnico Eagle. Establishing and maintaining constructive relationships with local stakeholders allows us to continue to develop our pipeline and create positive economic opportunities.

We work closely with employees, local communities, stakeholders and rightsholders to foster growth and prosperity and support the sustainable development of their region, in alignment with their priorities.

Our Workforce Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Engaging with Communities

Community relations and stakeholder engagement are integrated into our RMMS, and are regularly assessed to ensure our sustainability programs remain focused on stakeholder priorities and social risks. We aim to understand the concerns of local stakeholders and have our activities and priorities understood.

Early in the project development phase, we engage and partner with local stakeholders such as neighbours, municipalities and Indigenous communities to understand the social acceptability of mining and assess potential impacts of the project within the host communities. We aim to mitigate potential negative impacts and discover opportunities for collaboration thus avoiding potential conflict and building community relationships on a foundation of trust and transparency.

Community Engagement Initiatives During the Mine Life Cycle

Major Initiatives

Assign personnel responsible for community relations
Implement a communications strategy
Identify and communicate with key stakeholders including Indigenous groups
Engage with rightsholders
Collect socio-economic baseline data

Major Initiatives

Perform social impact assessments
Hold public hearing, information and consultation sessions
Negotiate project benefit agreements with Indigenous Peoples
Open community offices
Grow Community Relations Team
Establish local or project specific community grievance process

Major Initiatives

Hold regular community information and consultation sessions
Establish community collaboration committees
Ensure a regional website/social media presence
Hold regular on-site events
Perform socio-economic impact monitoring
Implement project benefit agreements

Major Initiatives

Implement environmental social closure plan and monitor impacts
Adapt the communication strategy

During all phases of the mining life cycle we strive to:

Obtain the social license to operate and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) from Indigenous Peoples for all our projects.
Communicate information through a variety of channels including local radio and newspapers, flyers, videos, social media and community meetings;
Make information accessible in the local language(s) and provide translation;
Have processes to include vulnerable groups* and underrepresented individuals in community engagement initiatives;
Engage with local stakeholders to identify community needs and priorities for social investments that respect our values and their priorities;

Engage with local stakeholders and right-holders when we are developing a project and when our activities evolve to consider their views and recommendations, mitigate and avoid negative social impacts and maximize the benefits;
Advertise locally for employment and business opportunities;
Uphold clear grievance processes and mechanisms;
Align engagement plans with stakeholder mapping; and
Publicly disclose results of impact assessments.

* Vulnerable groups are defined as groups at higher risk of being subjected to social, economic or environmental impacts of our organization’s operation. Vulnerable groups vary by operation and can include youth, elders, women, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and ethnic minorities.

Supporting our Communities – Partnerships and Donations

We believe in the power of community, being a good neighbour and contributing to the prosperity of our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate.

Agnico Eagle’s reputation is one of building bridges, mutual understanding and investing in the well-being of communities associated with our operations. We strive to work in partnership with others to leave a positive legacy through lasting employment, business, education, and development opportunities.

Each year, we contribute millions of dollars to causes our employees and communities care about. We work closely with local communities to make sure our investments and donations go to initiatives and programs that support the sustainable development of their region and align with their priorities.

See our Charitable Donations and Sponsorships Policy to learn more about our funding guidelines and submit your application.

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