Abandoned Mines, NOAMI and Ecotourism

The National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative (NOAMI) was created in 2002 at the
request of the Canadian Mines Ministers, and based on recommendations put forward at
a multistakeholder workshop held in Winnipeg in 2001. The workshop determined the
key issues associated with orphaned/abandoned mine sites, and laid down a series of
guiding principles and objectives which apply to NOAMI as it exists today.
NOAMI is guided by a multi-stakeholder committee with representatives from
government, non-governmental organizations, the mining industry and Indigenous
Canadians. They work together to address issues related to remediation of orphaned
and abandoned mines in Canada. One of the guiding principles for NOAMI is that “work
toward eliminating future abandonment must continue, including the tightening of
regulatory approaches.” Committee members felt that there is a need for a clear policy
framework governing mine closure, long-term liabilities and return (or relinquishment) of
mining lands to the Crown.
Over the last six years NOAMI has undertaken various studies to explore these issues
and offer recommendations for change. Important tools and guidance documents have
been produced that together will make a major contribution towards development of a
policy framework to address all aspects of managing abandoned mine liabilities in the
long-term, and to prevent future abandonments in Canada.