Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. (TSXV: NCX) has received a five-year area-based exploration permit covering its Northwest Expo, Red Dog, Downward Dog, and Goodspeed exploration targets on the North Island Project, in addition to the existing Hushamu permit.
Sam Lee, President & CEO, commented “Today’s announcement is significant because we have now initiated our highly anticipated 2023 drill programme and it demonstrates that our consent-based approach to permitting is working. Through our committed efforts to build trust and accountability with our First Nations partners, we have been able to successfully expedite the formal permitting process with the provincial government for two five year area-based permits, which demonstrates the significant support we have for this critical metals opportunity in Canada for a low carbon energy transition future.”
Northisle followed a robust engagement process which included extensive information sharing and discussions with impacted First Nations in advance of and throughout the permitting process. This included the recent signing of an agreement between the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary North Island Mining Corp. and Tlatlasikwala First Nation which provides for collaboration between the parties in respect of the company’s exploration programmes, in addition to the agreement with Quatsino First Nation which was signed in December 2022. The multi-year permit covering the Pemberton Hills area has completed its referral and consultation period and is anticipated in the coming weeks.
Drilling crews are in the process of travelling to site and the company’s fully funded 2023 field season will commence with an approximately 4,000m Phase I drill programme focused on defining an initial resource at Northwest Expo.
Phase II will be a further approximately 4,000m of drilling to be allocated on a priority basis between Northwest Expo, Pemberton Hills and the Red Dog / Goodspeed area.
“We are keen to initiate our fully financed Phase I exploration program with the objective of defining a significant resource at Northwest Expo and determining our Phase II 2023 programme based on those results.” Added Sam.
To find out more, please visit www.northisle.ca
