KIA ENFORCES DRUGS-BOOZE BAN AT KITIKMEOT MINING CAMPS

"Our Main Consideration In Developing These Policies Is With workplace safety."

CAMBRIDGE BAY - The Kitikmeot Inuit Association wants drug- and
alcohol-free workplaces for all mining sites and exploration camps
on Inuit owned lands, KIA president Donald Havioyak told the recent
KIA annual general meeting in Cambridge Bay.

The zero-tolerance policy is now a condition for companies doing
either mineral exploration or development in the Kitikmeot.

And if they don't comply, Geoff Clark, the KIA's director of lands
and resources, said the KIA will revoke the companies' permits.

The KIA passed a resolution at its 2006 AGM, stating the
organization did not want "the presence of alcohol and drugs at the
mine sites on Inuit owned lands in the Kitikmeot." As a result,
Miramar Hope Bay Ltd. instituted a zero-tolerance alcohol and drug
policy along with "consent-to-search" policy, which allows search
of staff and baggage.

Last summer, this policy was expanded to on-site searches after
drugs continued to be a problem at the company's work sites.

"Our main consideration in developing these policies is with
workplace safety and reducing the risks of worker impairment," said
a Miramar document discussed at the KIA meeting.

Miramar, recently bought by Newmont Mining, hired
a Yellowknife-based company, Securecheck, to conduct searches. From
March to July, its searchers checked about 700 bags. During this
period, three workers were found with alcohol and not allowed on
site. A package containing alcohol was also intercepted.

Searchers also found two workers traveling to a camp with hash
pipes. In Canada, these pipes are not illegal unless there's drug
residue on the pipes. These pipes were clean, but were confiscated anyway.

The only incident involving an Inuk worker was the discovery of a
new crack pipe in a worker's bag. Although the unused pipe was not
illegal, the worker was not allowed to take the pipe along to the
camp, Miramar noted.

During previous years, Miramar allowed de-alcoholized or "near-beer"
on site, but said this practice has now been stopped.

Miramar also clamped down on workers who drank while in transit in
Cambridge Bay.

In August, a southern-based contract worker on his way back to
Yellowknife became intoxicated, harassed airline employees and ended
up in police custody in Cambridge Bay. He will not be allowed back
on site, said company information from the KIA meeting.