Since acquiring a 70% interest in Red Chris in August 2019, we have prioritised working collaboratively with the Tahltan Nation and communities near our operation. On acquisition, we signed an updated Impact, Benefit and Co-Management Agreement (IBCA), which covers contracting and business development opportunities amongst other things.

Implementation of the IBCA requires agreement between the parties on how we can best harness and build local enterprises and skills. To facilitate this, in FY20, we expended approximately C$43 million on contracts with Tahltan entities.

We are working to develop enduring partnerships with Tahltan businesses to support continued economic and business development within Tahltan Territory.

For example, Tahltan Forestry provides logging services to Red Chris to log areas required for future mine development. Tahltan Forestry also sells logs acquired from site. During the year it delivered logs to the communities of Iskut, Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek for firewood.

The Tahltan Nation Development Corporation provides airport services at Dease Lake, including aircraft de-icing. This improves the transport reliability for our workforce and aligns with the mutual vision of Newcrest and the Tahltan Central Government to improve private and commercial air services to the region.

As well as partnering with the larger Tahltan businesses, we are also working to improve our contracting of small local businesses such as Kica Contracting, which supplies catering and housekeeping services to the overflow camp at Red Chris. We also have contracted Dease Lake Super A Foods to supply food to the catering company servicing our temporary accommodation.

We also contribute to the local economy by employing approximately 220 Tahltan either directly or through our business partners. In addition, around 50% of our apprentices at Red Chris are Tahltan.