Yukon politicians threaten contempt over mine manager’s refusal to answer questions
Yukon politicians could hold an official with the company managing the cleanup of a disaster at the Eagle Gold mine in contempt of Parliament after its officials refused to answer questions in front of the legislature.
Debate on a contempt motion in the Yukon legislature was adjourned until Monday after days of duelling letters over whether the court-ordered receiver, PricewaterhouseCoopers, can be forced by elected officials to publicly answer questions.
On April 16, Yukon members of the legislature unanimously passed a motion calling for PricewaterhouseCoopers senior vice-president Michelle Grant, as well as another senior official, to appear in front of a committee as witnesses to answer questions about the receivership, operations and management of the mine site.
The appearance is set for Tuesday, but lawyers for the company argued in a letter this week that only a court order could force them to appear, saying that they are “unable to find any compelling authority” that the legislative assembly has the power to make them.
