Name: Ivan Marquez

Student number: 1005115359

GGRC26H3: Geographies of Environmental Governance

A. Overview
The Jay Project, initiated by the Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation, aimed to expand their
diamond mining operations in the North West Territories. This expansion involved creating a
dike and draining water to make an area available for an open-pit mine. The project's primary
objectives were to extract valuable diamonds and contribute to economic development in the
region. The project also included the construction of associated infrastructure such as roads.

The Jay Project, an expansion of the Ekati Diamond Mine in the North West Territories, has
been the subject of substantial interest, debate, and proposals. This paper provides an
overview of the project's context, key actors involved, major issues and points of
disagreement, and the project's significance in the environmental governance landscape. The
information is sourced from a variety of articles (Cabinradio, CBC, The Globe and Mail
And Report of Environmental Assessment And Reasons for Decision: Dominion Diamond
Ekati Corp. Jay Project).

The Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation's Jay Project, initiated to expand their diamond
mining operations in the North West Territories, has seen significant developments over the
years. The project involved creating a dike and draining water to make an area available for an
open-pit mine. It aimed to extend the life of the Ekati mine and support future demand for
affordable, mass-market gems following the closure of Rio Tinto's Argyle mine in Western
Australia in 2021. The decision to proceed with the Jay Project was made by Dominion
Diamond Corp., which saw potential in the stable demand for diamonds, particularly from
U.S. consumers.

Caribou
● The Review Board's findings describe the challenges faced by the Bathurst caribou
herd and the communities that rely on them.
● Precarious State of the Bathurst Caribou Herd: The Review Board highlights that the
Jay Project is proposed across a crucial caribou migration corridor at a time when the
herd is already in an extremely worrisome and fragile state. This vividly illustrates the
vulnerability of these animals.
● Cumulative Impacts on the Herd: The report further emphasizes that the herd is
already grappling with substantial cumulative impacts.

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Name: Ivan Marquez

Student number: 1005115359

GGRC26H3: Geographies of Environmental Governance

● Project-Specific Barriers to Caribou Movement: The Jay Project, in isolation, will

create physical barriers to caribou movement. Moreover, it will introduce additional
sensory disturbances such as lights, sounds, smells, and dust.
● Lack of a Comprehensive Plan: Unfortunately, there is no plan in place to manage the
Bathurst caribou herd or its range

B. Several key actors have played crucial roles in the Jay Project:
● Dominion Diamond Corporation, the driving force behind the expansion, made
strategic decisions to advance the project in order to expand its mining operations and
profit from diamond extraction.
● Dominion’s chief executive, Brendan Bell
● The company's chief financial officer, Ron Cameron, Minister Shane Thompson gave
Point Lake approval by issuing a letter that approved the company’s water license for
the associated work
● Aboriginal groups: Their cultural well-being and way of life face severe obstacles.
The Jay Project reduces Aboriginal language use, increases the possible loss of the
Bathurst caribou herd, and decreases transmissions of culture between generations.
The Jay Project will likely maintain a loss of knowledge transfer and learning. Aboriginal
groups claim that land disturbance from diamond mines has reduced the harvesting worth of
the Lac de Gras area and prevents harvesters from using it
● Environmental Groups: Environmental organizations were concerned about the
potential environmental consequences of the open-pit mining, including impacts on
water quality and local ecosystems.

C. Major Issues and Points of Disagreement:

The Jay Project encountered various issues and points of contention over its course. These
issues included concerns over environmental impact, the effect on caribou migration paths,
and the interference of waste rock from the open pit. The project faced opposition from
Indigenous communities, such as the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, who emphasized the
significance of caribou in their culture. The project's approval required measures to minimize
its impact on caribou habitat, aligning traditional knowledge with western science for the
benefit of all Canadians. Environmentalists were concerned about the potential environmental

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Name: Ivan Marquez

Student number: 1005115359

GGRC26H3: Geographies of Environmental Governance

impact of the project, particularly in terms of water quality, habitat disruption, and potential
harm to Cariboo herbs, which are culturally significant.

D. Discussion of the significance and relevance of The Jay Project

The Jay Project's is very significant and relevant as it intersects with different areas including:
capitalism, extraction, environmental governance, and Indigenous rights in Canada. It serves
as a case study illustrating the challenges of balancing economic development with
environmental conservation and Indigenous land, and rights. By examining this project, we
gain insights into the complexities and conflicts that arise when resource projects intersect
with environmental concerns and Indigenous interests, making it a pertinent subject for an in-
depth study in this course. Readers should be concerned with the Jay Project, an expansion of
the Ekati Diamond Mine because it is evidently related to topics we've from the class:
Environmental Governance, indigenous environmental knowledge, and Capitalist Natures and
Infrastructure. It's a great example of a controversial topic that deals with economic
growth/prosperity, environmentalism, indigenous rights, that Aboriginal cultures, values, and
Traditional Knowledge. This is a great discussion topic for a Geographies of Environmental
Governance course in Canada. This project has an impact on the Canadian economy, politics,
society and education (we are discussing it in this class).

Conclusion:
The Jay Project, an expansion of the Ekati Diamond Mine, represents an evolving initiative
with economic/capitalist/extractive, environmental, aboriginal and cultural perspectives. The
decision to advance the project, along with its challenges and potential benefits, showcases the
complex interplay of factors in major infrastructure projects. As we continue to monitor the
project's progress, its significance in the environmental governance landscape becomes
increasingly evident.

Word count: 936

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Name: Ivan Marquez

Student number: 1005115359

GGRC26H3: Geographies of Environmental Governance

References (APA):

● Williams·, O. (2018, May 10). Ekati project suspension doesn’t worry territorial
government. Cabinradio.ca. https://cabinradio.ca/6488/news/economy/ekati-project-
suspension-doesnt-worry-territorial-government/
● Williams, O. (2022, May 15). Ekati’s Point Lake expansion receives ministerial
approval. Cabinradio.ca. https://cabinradio.ca/93721/news/environment/ekatis-point-
lake-expansion-receives-ministerial-approval/
● Ekati diamond mine all but sold for $136M US to Australian diamond company.
(2023, March 14). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/ekati-diamond-mine-
sold-nwt-calgary-owner-australian-burgundy-1.6777977
● McGugan, I. (2016, July 6). Dominion Diamond to go ahead with Ekati expansion.
The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/dominion-
diamond-to-go-ahead-with-ekati-expansion/article30775726/
● Ekati Jay Report of Environmental Assessment | Mackenzie Valley Review Board.

(2016, February 1). Documents.reviewboard.ca; Mackenzie Valley Environmental

Impact Review Board. https://documents.reviewboard.ca/w/mvrb/DOC2#