Concerns raised over proposed silica sand mining operation

Indigenous-led allied groups in multiple provinces served a mock eviction notice to the company that wants to extract the sand, and use it to make solar glass.

On Tuesday at the steps of the Manitoba Legislative building and in Calgary at the head offices of Canadian Premium Sands, mock eviction notices were delivered. The act intended to demonstrate that the mining company does not have support from all community members in the region, where plans are underway to mine 1.3 million tons of silica sand over the next 30 years.

“What we want to do is to let the company know, to let the province know and to let Canada know we will not just go and let industry… government officials, do away with our treaty rights,” explained Marcel Hardisty, part of Camp Morning Star.

Hardisty is concerned the proposed silica mine is threatening a community trapline on treaty 5 territory. Hardisty says community members were not properly consulted on the project adding he worries the mining operation will have detrimental impacts on the environment and surrounding wildlife.

“It feels like they don’t care what we have to say, it appears that they don’t care what happens to the people who live in close proximity to the site.”

Hardisty wrote to Manitoba’s Premier Heather Stefason on Nov. 1, 2021, raising his concerns over an alleged $250,000 payment from Canadian Premium Sands to the elected leadership of Hollow Water FN in 2018.

He claims the money coerced the community to support the proposed silica mine.

“You can’t have a project of this nature without considering those that live there and work there as your partners, they are our partners,” explained Glenn Leroux, president and CEO of Canadian Premium Sands.

Adding the company wouldn’t consider a project of this size and scale without proper community consultation. Leroux says originally, plans were underway to mine the fine silica to sell as fracking sand, but now every grain of sand extracted from the proposed mine will go towards making solar glass panels.

The project will create hundreds of jobs locally, reduce carbon emissions globally, and allow Canada to compete with China in fabricating high-quality solar glass according to Leroux.

“Because of the benefits that Manitoba brings in 100 per cent renewable hydroelectricity. It’s very cheap on a world basis, we have access to abundant responsibly produced natural gas from Western Canada, we own the sand, and those things combined make us competitive with Chinese suppliers.”

Leroux says Canadian Premium Sands will continue their consultations with community members.

As for Hardisty, he is asking for further conversations with the government, to uphold treaty rights, and community participation, before the newly revised Canadian Premium Sands silica sand mine moves forward.

CityNews reached out to Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, and Chief Larry Baker of Hollow water first nations, neither were available to comment.