CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
1710 – 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 4N9
Tel: (604) 688-2001 Fax: (604) 688-2043
Email: invest@canadianzinc.com
Website:
www.canadianzinc.com
ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
as at March 16, 2011
for the Fiscal Year ended
December 31, 2010
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
Canadian Zinc Corporation (“Canadian Zinc” or “the Company”) was incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, on December 16, 1965 under the
Companies Act
of
British Columbia. The Company changed its name to “San Andreas Resources Corporation” on August 29, 1991 and to “Canadian Zinc Corporation” on May 25, 1999. The Company currently exists under the
Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia). On June 16, 2004, the Company’s shareholders adopted new Articles to bring the Company’s Charter documents up to date and into conformity with the new
Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia).
The Company’s shareholders passed a resolution to amend the authorized share capital from 50,000,000 common shares with no par value to 100,000,000 common shares with no par value on May 24, 2002 and from 100,000,000 common shares with no par value to 200,000,000 common shares with no par value on December 30, 2003. On June 16, 2004, shareholders passed a resolution to change the authorized share capital to an unlimited number of common shares with no par value.
The Company has no subsidiaries.
The Company's head office, which is also its registered office, is located at Suite 1710, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 4N9.
Cautionary note:
Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a measured or indicated mineral resource or to a mineral reserve.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated or Inferred Resources:
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this Annual Information Form, such as “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred” “resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F which may be secured from us, or from the SEC’s website at
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
. “Inferred mineral resources” have significant uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic feasibility. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically mineable. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource would ever be upgraded to a higher category. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves.
Canadian Zinc is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CZN,” and traded on the OTCBB under the symbol “CZICF,” and is engaged in the business of exploration and, when warranted, development of natural resource properties. The Company’s principal focus is exploration and development of the Prairie Creek Property, a zinc/lead/silver deposit with adjacent mill and infrastructure facilities, located approximately 500 kilometres west of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada.
In 2009, the Company acquired an investment in Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc (“VGM”), which owns and operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji, and currently holds an approximate 15% interest in VGM.
Three Year History
Throughout the years 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Company’s principal focus has been its efforts to advance the Prairie Creek Project towards completion of development and subsequent production, principally in the re-permitting and environmental assessment process.
2008 – 2010 Prairie Creek Mine Site Work Programs
A Project Description Report (“PDR”) was prepared and filed with regulatory authorities in May 2008 in support of application for operating permits. The PDR describes in detail the proposed new mining operations at Prairie Creek and contemplates the construction of new facilities including new fuel-efficient/low-emission power generating units, a kitchen/accommodation block, concentrate storage shed, an incinerator, a new engineered waste rock pile and two new transfer stations along the winter road.
In late 2008 a 530 kilogram representative rock sample of mineralized vein material and representative water samples were extracted from underground and transported to SGS Lakefield for laboratory and metallurgical testing to produce representative concentrates, tailings and process water using the actual proposed flow sheet for the Prairie Creek Mine. This flow sheet was presented in the PDR submitted as part of the applications for operating permits.
Results of the metallurgical testing were received in 2009. Previous metallurgical studies incorporated a Heavy Liquid Separation (“HLS”) process applied to the Run of Mine (“ROM”) feed to optimize the existing mill at the Prairie Creek Mine by enhancing the metal grade entering into the flotation process, and thus reducing the amount of waste being needlessly processed. On a commercial scale this will be applied using Dense Media Separation (“DMS”).
A composite ROM sample was stage crushed to a nominal ½ inch size. The composite was then screened at 14 mesh with the minus ½ inch and plus 14 mesh processed through a HLS plant. This resulted in 41% of the ROM composite being rejected as waste with a loss of only 2.5% total lead and 4.4% total zinc metal values. Waste rejection from the previous DMS studies averaged ~ 30%. The HLS test result is consistent with previous studies in that it demonstrated that a significant increase in mill throughput and grade can be achieved with a minimal loss of economic metals of less than 5%.
The HLS enhanced process plant mill feed was then combined, mixed, and crushed to 10 mesh in preparation of the locked cycle flotation test work. After crushing and grinding the HLS enhanced mill feed was delivered into a locked cycle flotation test where concentrates of lead sulphide, zinc sulphide and lead oxide were generated. No separate zinc oxide flotation was completed since previous metallurgical studies indicated low concentrate grades and low recoveries for zinc oxide.
The locked cycle tests were designed to produce concentrates, tailings and effluent for engineering, marketing and environmental studies. The test results indicate that the overall grade of the blended lead sulphide / oxide concentrate assayed 67% lead, with an 82% recovery of total lead in the plant feed, and the zinc sulphide graded 58% zinc with a recovery of 74% of the total zinc in the plant feed. An average of 92.7% of the total silver values in the plant feed was recovered within the lead and zinc concentrates.
During both 2008 and 2009, progress was made on reopening and rehabilitating part of the road (approximately 30 kilometres) which connects the Prairie Creek Mine to the Liard Highway (a total distance of approximately 170 kilometres). A new base for the roadbed was re-established along the Prairie Creek River, immediately north of the mine site and to further protect the road bed from any future erosion in proximity to the Prairie Creek water course.
During 2009, the Company also performed a number of environmental studies and programs including: mine site water management, groundwater analysis, air-monitoring, rare plant/wildlife analysis, archaeological surveys, geotechnical assessments, and road analysis and terrain assessments. These studies and programs were carried out primarily to assist in the filing of the Company’s Developer’s Assessment Report for permitting purposes, as described under “Permitting Process” below.
The Company also examined various operating alternatives including mine planning, processing and tailings disposal studies. The work undertaken in conjunction with SNC-Lavalin Inc., focused on detailed mine planning and scheduling, process design, including a new dense media separation system, and underground tailings disposal.
In addition to these activities, memoranda of understanding were signed in 2008 with Parks Canada Agency, the Liidlii Kue First Nation and the Nahanni Butte Dene Band. The Company believes that these important agreements will lead to co-operative and beneficial relationships with these parties and will assist in advancing the Prairie Creek Mine towards production. Canadian Zinc has agreed to use its best efforts to employ community members on a first preference basis and to assist the communities to benefit from the business opportunities associated with the Prairie Creek Project.
Throughout 2009 and 2010, the Company continued its discussions and engagement with these local communities to establish mutually beneficial, cooperative and productive relationships and commenced negotiations towards concluding impact benefit agreements.
On January 20, 2011 the Company signed the The NAH?A DEHE DENE PRAIRIE CREEK AGREEMENT between Canadian Zinc Corporation and the Nah?a Dehe Dene Band (Nahanni Butte Dene Band) which provides for an ongoing working relationship that respects the goals and aspirations of each party and will enable the Nahanni community members to participate in the opportunities and benefits offered by the Prairie Creek Project and confirms their support for the Prairie Creek Mine. The Agreement provides a framework such that training, employment and business contracts are made available to Nahanni to ensure maximization of benefits from
opportunities arising from the Prairie Creek Project in a manner that will be to the mutual benefit of both parties.
Work at the Prairie Creek mine site during the summer of 2010 included continuing care and maintenance, environmental monitoring programs, road construction and repair, and a diamond drill exploration program. Further repair work to the mine access road was completed, specifically adjacent to the Prairie and Funeral creeks. Engineering assessments along the road access route, including terrain, vegetation and creek crossing studies, were carried out by various consultants during 2010. In addition a new eight kilometre long access road to the new drill pad at Casket Creek was constructed.
More than 136,000 litres of diesel fuel were hauled into the Prairie Creek site by DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft to support further operations and, in preparation for the diamond drill program, an airlift of a new drill rig to the site was carried out.
In 2010, the Company completed 2,703 metres of drilling in three holes designed to test for extensions of the inferred vein mineral resource to the north of the Prairie Creek Mine, where the host geology and structure are projected to continue at depth, approximately 1.5 kilometres north of the last drill hole within the currently defined mineral resource.
Since the target geology was projected to occur at a depth beyond the reach of the Company’s existing drills, a new higher capacity HTM2500 diamond drill rig was airlifted to the property. A drilling pad was selected at a location next to Casket Creek, a new eight kilometre long access road was constructed and diamond drilling at Casket Creek commenced in early August. To mid October 2010, 2,703 metres of drilling had been completed in three holes.
Drill hole PC-10-186 was successfully completed to a depth of 1,557 m. This hole intersected and confirmed the presence of the target Whittaker Formation, which hosts the majority of the defined mineral resource at the Prairie Creek mine, at a down hole depth of 1,500 m. New stratigraphical information at depth in this hole enabled determination of a more precise target location of the potential vein hosting structure.
A second wedged drill hole, PC-10-186W1, was redirected from the upper part of PC-10-186 and steered to the west toward the revised target location. Down hole technical problems were encountered after about 150 metres into the wedged hole, at an estimated depth of about 536 metres, forcing abandonment of this hole.
A third hole, PC-10-187, with a revised orientation, was collared at surface from the same drill pad and had reached a down hole depth of 652 metres when weather conditions created difficulties and concerns related to the eight kilometre drill access road and it was decided to suspend drilling activities until next season. The drill rig has been winterized and remains on location at the Casket Creek drill site.
The 2010 deep drilling exploration program has confirmed the presence of the host Whittaker geological formation at the projected horizon, about four kilometres north of the Prairie Creek Mine portal, and the potential vein target, projected to lie at a down hole depth of about 1,500 metres, remains untested. The nearest drill hole, PC-95-125 located approximately 1.5 kilometres to the south towards the Mine, drilled in 1995, returned multiple mineralized vein intersections 750 metres down
the hole, including a 6.3 metre intercept grading 18.7% zinc, 8.5% lead and 239 grams per tonne silver. It is anticipated that the deep hole exploration program will continue in 2011.
Permitting Process
In May 2008, the Company applied to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (“MVEIRB” or “Review Board for a Type “A” Water Licence and three Type “A” Land Use Permits; one for the operation of the Prairie Creek Mine and two for Transfer Facilities along the road. In September 2008, the Water Board completed its preliminary screening and referred the Land Use Permit and the Water Licence applications to the Mackenzie Valley Review Board for Environmental Assessment.
The initial phase of the EA consisted of community scoping sessions and written hearings, submissions and rulings to determine the scope of the Terms of Reference for the EA. The Review Board ruled on March 5, 2009, that all physical works and activities associated with the winter access road into the mine, as well as all physical works and activities associated with the Prairie Creek Mine site itself, are to be included within the scope of development. The Review Board will not be assessing construction impacts of already built structures. The Review Board has ruled that assessment of these facilities will be restricted to the effects of their ongoing operation in combination with the effects of other construction and operations necessary for the operation of the mine..
The Review Board issued the
Draft Terms of Reference
and a
Draft Work Plan
in May 2009 and the final
Terms of Reference
and
Work Plan
on June 26, 2009.
Following the issue of the final
Terms of Reference
and
Work Plan
the Company commenced the preparation of the Developer’s Assessment Report (“DAR”) to be filed with the Review Board as part of the Environmental Assessment process. The DAR is a report compiled by the Company and its consultants which incorporates further detailed mine site studies relating to various aspects of the proposed operation and the potential impact on the environment in addition to the studies previously completed as part of the original Project Description Report. Particular emphasis and detail is placed on water quality impacts of the Mine on the Prairie Creek watershed. This includes mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed, and possible downstream impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems.
In addition, since the access road has been included in the scope of development, studies of various potential environmental effects of the operation of the road were further examined. The wider scope of development in the environmental assessment has provided the opportunity to optimize the road access route through examining alternative local routes that will lessen potential environmental impacts. The Company is proposing to re-align sections of the access road to accommodate the wishes of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band by avoiding wetlands and wildlife habitat, and Parks Canada by avoiding karst features in the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve through which part of the access road passes. The result has been the identification of a shorter road route that traverses firmer ground, has fewer bends and better gradients and which will improve safety and reduce human and environmental risks.
In March 2010, the Company submitted its Developer’s Assessment Report (“DAR”) to the Review Board”) and on May 20, submitted an Addendum to the DAR to the Review Board. In a subsequent letter, dated May 28, 2010, the Review Board determined the DAR to be in conformity with the Terms of Reference.
The DAR is a report compiled by the Company and its consultants which incorporates further detailed mine site studies relating to various aspects of the proposed operation and the potential impact on the environment in addition to the studies previously completed as part of the original Project Description Report. Particular emphasis and detail is placed on water quality impacts of the Mine on the Prairie Creek watershed. This includes mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed, and possible downstream impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems.
In addition, since the access road has been included in the scope of development, studies of various potential environmental effects of the operation of the road were further examined. The wider scope of development in the environmental assessment has provided the opportunity to optimize the road access route through examining alternative local routes that will lessen potential environmental impacts. The Company is proposing to re-align sections of the access road to accommodate the wishes of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band by avoiding wetlands and wildlife habitat, and Parks Canada by avoiding karst features in the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve through which part of the access road passes. The result has been the identification of a shorter road route that traverses firmer ground, has fewer bends and better gradients and which will improve safety and reduce human and environmental risks.
Following the submission and acceptance of the DAR, the Environmental Assessment proceeded with the first round of Information Requests. A total of 131 Information Requests from various government departments and regulatory agencies were received on July 23, 2010. The Company’s responses to the Information Requests were submitted to the Review Board on September 13, 2010. A series of Technical Meetings involving all interested parties were then held by the Review Board in the community of Dettah, near Yellowknife, over three days from October 6 to 8, 2010, at which detailed technical reviews and discussions were carried out.
On October 20, 2010 the Review Board published the invitation for a Second Round of Information Requests, focusing on the information presented during the Technical Meetings. A further 53 Information Requests were received from government departments and regulatory agencies by the end of October 2010. The Second Round Information Requests largely focus on water quality questions, including mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed.
To adequately address a number of the Information Requests relating to site water management new bulk rock and water samples were collected from underground at the Prairie Creek Mine in order to perform more locked-cycle flotation tests to produce representative mill process water. The mill process water was further analyzed and tested to aid in determining the optimum water treatment scheme for the proposed mining operations. Additional site studies relating to hydraulic engineering, water storage pond facility, groundwater and transportation were also completed. Additional time was needed to complete these further detailed tests and laboratory studies and the Company submitted its responses to the Second Round of Information Requests to the Review Board on March 4, 2011.
The Review Board had announced on May 28, 2010, an estimated schedule for the EA, which outlined the Analytical phase, to be followed by a Hearing phase and Close of the public registry by December 2010, with a decision from the Review Board by March 2011. The schedule was an estimate only and will be extended to accommodate the additional round of Information Requests. It is expected that public hearings will now be held in April or May 2011 and that the EA process will be completed in mid 2011.
All proceedings, transcripts, technical reports and detailed information on the ongoing Environmental Assessment (EA0809-002) of Canadian Zinc’s Prairie Creek Mine are available on the website registry of the Review Board at http://www.reviewboard.ca/registry/.
After the Review Board decision the Report of EA is forwarded to the Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for further review. It is uncertain how long the review by the Minister may take. If accepted by the Minister the application is returned to the Review Board with recommendations to refer it back to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (“MVLWB”) to proceed to the permitting phase.
Following the EA will be a further regulatory stage, managed by the MVLWB (with input from territorial and federal agencies), before permits are issued. These permits will likely include conditions recommended as a result of the EA.
Employees
In 2010, the Company had an annualized average of 13 employees. 6 employees were based in the Company’s corporate offices, 2 employees were based in local Community Liaison Offices and 5 employees were based at the Prairie Creek Mine site. In addition, the Company utilizes the services of contractors to assist in certain tasks and projects.
Vatukoula Gold Mines plc
Canadian Zinc currently holds 12,573,380 shares of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc (“VGM”), which represents approximately 15% of the issued share capital of VGM. VGM is a UK company, listed on AIM (part of the London Stock Exchange), which currently owns and operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine located in Fiji.
The shares of VGM were acquired for investment purposes. Depending on the performance of the Vatukoula mine and on market and other conditions, Canadian Zinc may from time to time in the future increase or decrease its ownership, control or direction over the shares of VGM, through market transactions, private agreements or otherwise.
Zazu Metals Corporation
In December 2009, Canadian Zinc acquired 3.4 million shares of Zazu Metals Corporation (“Zazu”) representing approximately 11% of Zazu’s outstanding shares, for consideration of $646,000. Zazu is listed on the TSX and its principal asset is the LIK zinc-lead-silver deposit, located in northwest Alaska, 22 kilometres from Teck Resource’s Red Dog Mine, the world’s largest zinc producer. In December 2010, Canadian Zinc sold 3.4 million shares of Zazu and does not currently hold any shares of Zazu.
The Company’s principal focus is exploration and development of the Prairie Creek Property and adjacent ground (a zinc/lead/silver, partially developed property) located approximately 500 kilometres west of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Mine is believed to be one of the
highest grade non-operating base metal properties in the world and is potentially a major Canadian resource.
The original discovery of mineralization on the Prairie Creek Property was made in 1928 at the showing known as the “No. 5 Zone.” In 1958, a limited mapping program was undertaken by Fort Reliance Minerals Ltd. The claims lapsed in 1965 and were restaked by the prospector and subsequently conveyed to Cadillac Explorations Ltd. (“Cadillac”) in 1966. Cadillac also acquired a 182,590 acre prospecting permit.
During 1966 to 1969, trenching was carried out on a number of zones and underground exploration commenced. This prospecting permit expired in 1969 and 6,659 acres (210 claims) were selected by Cadillac and brought to lease. The property was optioned to Penarroya Canada Ltee. (“Penarroya”) in 1970 and the underground development was extended. Surface drilling and preliminary metallurgical testing was also conducted. Penarroya discontinued their work in late 1970 and Cadillac resumed full operation of the project. Cadillac further developed the underground workings and resampled the crosscuts in 1979.
In 1980 an independent feasibility study was completed for Cadillac by Kilborn Engineering which resulted in a decision to put the property into production. In December 1980, Procan Exploration Company Ltd. (“Procan”) (a company associated with Herbert and Bunker Hunt of Texas) agreed to provide financing for construction, mine development and working capital necessary to attain production based on the Kilborn feasibility study. Between 1980 and 1982, extensive mine development took place. Cadillac acquired a 1,000-ton per day mill concentrator and transported it to the minesite. The mill was erected and a camp established. Two adits and extensive underground workings were developed. During this time the winter road connecting the mine to the Liard Highway was constructed and over 500 loads of supplies were transported to site. Construction activities continued until May 1982 and were almost complete when they were suspended due to lack of financing. Subsequently Cadillac went into bankruptcy in May 1983 and site maintenance and operations were taken over by Procan.
In 1991, Nanisivik Mines Limited (an unaffiliated third party) acquired the property through the bankruptcy proceedings. Pursuant to an August 23, 1991 Option Agreement, the Company entered into an option to acquire a 60% interest in the Prairie Creek Property from Nanisivik Mines Ltd. Subsequently, pursuant to a March 29, 1993 Asset Purchase Agreement that superseded the Option Agreement, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the Prairie Creek Property, and a 60% interest in the plant and equipment, subject to a net smelter royalty of 2% in favour of Titan Pacific Resources Ltd. In January 2004, the Company acquired all of Titan’s interest, including the 2% net smelter royalty, and now holds a 100% interest in the Prairie Creek property, plant and equipment.
Between 1991 and 2000 the Company carried out various exploration programs on the Prairie Creek Property. In January 2001, the Company completed a Scoping Study designed to outline and guide the re-development of the existing mine and mill on the Prairie Creek Property. The preliminary study indicated the feasibility of a mining and milling operation on the site and identified a number of different development and production scenarios. The operation would utilize the existing mine and mill infrastructure that had been put in place in 1982, but which had never been operated. Indicated capital costs for the new operation were estimated in 2000 to be $40.5 million, including the construction of an all weather access road to the site. The Scoping Study has not been updated and is
now considered to be out of date. It is now anticipated that the capital costs to place the Prairie Creek mine into production will be significantly higher than indicated in the 2001 Scoping Study.
In October 2007, an updated Technical Report (the “Report”) with regard to Mineral Resource Estimation on the Main Zone at Prairie Creek was independently prepared by Minefill Services Inc. in compliance with National Instrument 43-101, following the results of the 2006/2007 underground drilling program. The Report verifies and confirms the previous historical resource estimate completed by MRDI in 1998 and notes significant upgrades in resource categories. The Report indicates that the Prairie Creek Property hosts total Measured and Indicated Resources of 5,840,329 tonnes grading 10.71% zinc, 9.90% lead, 161.12 grams silver per tonne and 0.326% copper. In addition, the Report confirms that there remains a large Inferred Resource of 5,541,576 tonnes grading at 13.53% zinc, 11.43% lead, 215 grams per tonne silver and 0.514% copper and additional exploration potential.
A Project Description Report was prepared and filed with regulatory authorities in May 2008 in support of application for operating permits. The PDR describes in detail the proposed new mining operations at Prairie Creek and contemplates the construction of new facilities including new fuel-efficient/low-emission power generating units, a kitchen/accommodation block, concentrate storage shed, an incinerator, a new engineered waste rock pile and two new transfer stations along the winter road.
The Project Description Report, dated May 2008, may be viewed under the Company’s name on the Water Board’s website at
http://www.mvlwb.ca/mv/registry.aspx
.
After conducting and completing a preliminary screening the Water Board determined that the proposed operations might have a significant impact on the environment and might be the cause of public concern. The Water Board referred the applications for operating permits to the Review Board as part of an Environmental Assessment process. Further details on the current status of this process are detailed in this Annual Information Form at “3.1.10--Permitting at Prairie Creek—(l) Applications for Operating Licence/Permit.”
3.1
Principal Property – Prairie Creek, Northwest Territories
The following information contained in Sub-Sections 3.1.1 to 3.1.9 relating to the Prairie Creek Property has been prepared or reviewed by Alan Taylor (P.Geo), Vice-President of Exploration and Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Zinc Corporation, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 or have been extracted from the Report prepared by Minefill Services Inc. (as described above). Sections that have primarily been extracted from the Report include 3.1.3, 3.1.7 and 3.1.8.
3.1.1
Land Tenure
The Prairie Creek Property consists of a 100% interest in the mining leases, surface leases and staked mineral claims described below. The Prairie Creek Property is comprised of
:
·
|
Mining Leases
Numbers 2854, 2931, 2932, 2933, 3313, 3314, 3315, and 3338; (8,749.4 acres), expiring from July 17, 2011 to August 5, 2020; and Gate mining leases Numbers 5113, 5114, 5115, and 5116 (9,245.4 acres) expiring September 9, 2030.
|
·
|
Surface Leases
Numbers 95 F/10-5-5 and 95 F/10-7-4; (325.81 acres). The Surface Leases are held from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and expire March 31, 2012.
|
·
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Mineral Claims:
Way 5 claim (1,807.75 hectares) is in good standing until November 1, 2013. The Way 6 Mineral Claim expired on November 1, 2010 and was allowed to lapse due to lack of significant anomalies worthy of further exploration.
|
The grand total of land holdings (including mining leases, surface leases and mineral claims) at Prairie Creek now totals 8,218 hectares. All of the above leases and claims are in good standing at the date hereof.
The Prairie Creek mine is located on land claimed by the Nahanni Butte Dene Band of the Dehcho First Nations (“DCFN”) as their traditional territory. The DCFN are engaged in ongoing land settlement negotiations with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories in what is referred to as the Dehcho Process. [Refer to Section 3.1.12--First Nations].
In July 2003, as part of the Interim Measures Agreement entered into between Canada and the DCFN as part of the Dehcho Process, Canada made an Interim Withdrawal of certain lands for a period of five years. Part of the lands withdrawn under the Interim Withdrawal order include the area represented by the Company’s Mining Lease No. 2854, a portion of Mining Leases No. 2931, 3314 and 3313 and part of the area over which the road that connects the Property to the highway passes. This Interim Withdrawal was modified in July 2007. In accordance with Sections 19 and 23 of the Interim Measures Agreement such withdrawal is subject to the continuing exercise of existing rights, titles, interests, entitlements, licences, permits, reservations, benefits and privileges and does not affect access to or across withdrawn land.
3.1.2
|
Location, Access and Climate
|
The Prairie Creek Property is situated approximately 500 kilometres west of Yellowknife, the administrative centre of the Northwest Territories, in the Mackenzie mountain range that locally has an average relief of approximately 300 metres and comprises low mountains with moderate to steep sides and intervening narrow valleys. The Prairie Creek Property is located at an elevation of 850 metres above mean sea level. The valleys are well incised and the area is located within the Alpine forest-tundra section of the boreal forest, characterized by stunted fir and limited undergrowth. The trees, that grow at the lower elevations, give way to mossy, open Alpine-type country in the upper parts of the mountains.
Year round access to the Property is provided by aircraft to a 3,000-foot gravel airstrip immediately adjacent to the camp. The Prairie Creek Property is also accessible by road which extends from the Property to the Liard Highway, a distance of 170 kilometres and which was originally permitted for use in the winter months throughout its full length and for year round use for the first 40 kilometres out from the mine site. The road needs to be re-established, and the Company successfully rehabilitated approximately 30 kilometres out from the mine site in the summers of 2008 and 2009. The Liard Highway #7 is the major north-south transportation route, which connects Fort Nelson, British Columbia to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories.
The climate is sub-Arctic, being characterized by long cold winters with pleasant summers. Snowfall is moderate and only minor difficulty has been experienced in operating throughout the winter months.
3.1.3
|
Property Geological Summary
|
Regional Geology
The 1987 Geological Survey of Canada Memoir 412 by Morrow and Cook provides the best description of the regional geological setting of the Property. Morrow and Cook describe the stratigraphy that accumulated during Siluro-Devonian time and formed in a paleo-basin adjacent to the ancient North American Platformal sediments. The east-dipping Tundra Thrust (that is located on the Property) and, 30 kilometres to the west, the west-dipping Arnica Thrust, define the present margins of
the Prairie Creek paleo-basin in which accumulated a thick Devonian sequence of sediments, including the Cadillac and Funeral Formations.
Units within the Prairie Creek paleo-basin underwent structural deformation in the form of folds and faults during regional Laramide deformation. The prevalent regional structural trend is approximately north-south; the Prairie Creek paleo-basin is broken into a series of north-south trending, 5 - 20 kilometre wide fault blocks.
Property Geology
Canadian Zinc’s existing mineral claims and leases overlie two major fault blocks of sediments: the Prairie Creek Block and western Gate Block. The north-eastern part of the Property also includes some of the marginal platformal sequence of rocks that are relatively undeformed by the faulting and folding that is apparent within the Prairie Creek paleo-basin sequence.
Marginal Platform
. The northern part of the Company’s claims straddles the Tundra Thrust, which separates the Prairie Creek paleo-basin sequence to the west from the platformal series of sedimentary formations to the east. The platformal sediments are relatively undeformed and comprise a stratigraphic sequence starting with the Road River Formation that is overlain by the Root River, Camsell and Sombre Formations (listed from oldest to youngest). Mississippi Valley-type mineralization is hosted in biohermal reefs of the Root River Formation, or facies equivalent.
In the southern part of the Company’s claims a reverse fault continuation of the Tundra Thrust separates the Prairie Creek Block from the marginal platform, approximately two kilometres east of the Mine Site. The Platformal sequence in this area is dominated by a thick assemblage of Sombre Formation dolomites.
Prairie Creek Block
. Overall, the southern part of the Property is outlined by a one to two kilometre wide, doubly plunging antiform with a north-south trending fold axis that is referred to as the Prairie Creek Block. It is bordered to the west by the so-called Gate Fault and to the east by the Tundra Thrust. It is underlain by a conformable sedimentary sequence including the Lower Ordovician Whittaker Formation dolomites, Silurian Road River Formation shales and the thinly bedded, limy shales of the Cadillac Formation. Lower to Middle Devonian Arnica and Funeral Formation dolomites and limestone overlie this assemblage on the northern part of the Property.
Structurally, the longitudinal arch of the antiform occurs approximately five kilometres south of the Mine Site. A local fault, referred to as the Prairie Creek fault, offsets the eastern flank of the antiformal fold and juxtaposes Cadillac stratigraphy against the Road River Formation. Erosion of the antiformal structure has resulted in windows of older Road River shales, cored by the Whittaker Formation dolomites. The antiform plunges at about 15 degrees to the north, so the geological units young in age to the north, which is also the case underground.
Gate Mineral Claims
. The four contiguous Gate claims (that together define what is termed the Gate Block) are located to the west of the main mining leases and overlie similar type rock assemblages to those found on the Prairie Creek Block. Grassroots exploration was completed on this ground to test for mineralization similar to that found in the Prairie Creek Block.
The geological formations of the Whittaker and Road River Formations are known to occur within the Gate Block, as relatively flat-lying to gently dipping units. Compared to the Prairie Creek Block, there is much more exposure of the prospective Whittaker Formation in the Gate Block.
Main Zone Geology
. The Mine Site is situated on the western flank of the Prairie Creek antiform, referred to as the Main Zone. It is Main Zone mineralization that was and is the focus for Mine development and exploitation.
The three levels of available underground development assist in identifying the detail of Main Zone geology:
• 870 metre Level is collared in the Ordovician, Upper Whittaker Formation, which is the oldest geological formation in the Main Zone area and which forms the core of the Prairie Creek antiform;
• the Whittaker Formation is in turn overlain by a large exposure of the carbon-rich graphitic shales/dolomites of the Road River Formation;
• the iron-bearing Cadillac Formation shales overly the Road River Formation and are located immediately adjacent to the Mine Site; and
• the bluff-forming rocks immediately to the west of the Mine Site are formed by the cherty Arnica Formation which overlie the Cadillac Formation and form the more resistant hilltops in the immediate vicinity of the Mine Site.
Property Base Metal Mineralization
Three main styles of base metal mineralization have been identified on the Property: Vein mineralization (sulphide with secondary oxide), Stratabound sulphides and Mississippi Valley type sulphides (“MVT”). Exploration at Prairie Creek has revealed many base metal mineral showings along the entire 17 kilometre length of the Property. Historical exploration of the property has led to referencing some of these surface mineral showings by name and some by numbers.
• Quartz vein mineralization occurs in a north-south trending, 16 kilometre long corridor in the southern portion of the Property where the occurrences are exposed on surface;
• the mineralized vein showings are referred to as sequentially numbered Zones, some of
which are known to contain sub-surface stratabound mineralization:
- the subsurface area above the underground workings is referred to as Zone 3 or the Main Zone,
- extending for about 10 kilometres to the south of the Mine Site is a semi-continuous pattern of other vein exposures referred to as Zones 4 to 12, inclusive,
- a further expression of vein mineralization, known as the Rico showing, is located approximately 4 kilometres to the north of the Main Zone; and
• the MVT showings in northern section of the Property are developed over a distance of approximately 10 kilometres. They are referred to, from north to south, as the Samantha, Joe, Horse, Zulu, Zebra and Road showings.
Stockwork and stratabound mineralization is not exposed on surface; it has only been intersected in drillholes. These mineralized bodies have not been individually named.
Vein
Mineralization
. Vein mineralization comprises massive to disseminated galena and sphalerite with lesser pyrite and tennantite-tetrahedrite in a quartz-carbonate-dolomite matrix. Secondary oxidation is locally developed to variable levels of severity, yielding mainly cerussite (lead oxide) and smithsonite (zinc oxide); minor oxidation only of tetrahedrite-tennantite has been found. Silver is present in solid solution with tennantite-tetrahedrite and to a lesser extent with galena. Vein widths vary between less than 0.1 metre and more than 5 metres; overall averages indicate a horizontal thickness (i.e. not true thickness) of approximately 2.7 metres.
The most extensively developed vein is the Main Quartz Vein which trends approximately north-south and dips between the vertical and 40 degrees east (average of 65 degrees east). It remains open to the north and is expected to continue for a further 4 kilometres to the south, evidence for which is the so-called Rico showing. Diamond drilling to depth has indicated its transverse continuance, but little information is currently available below an elevation of 600 metres above mean sea level (i.e. about 250 metres below the Mine Site elevation).
Vein mineralization developed within the cherty dolomites of the Ordovician-Silurian, Upper Whittaker Formation and shaley dolomites of the lower Road River Formation. It apparently formed in axial plane of weakness within the Prairie Creek structural antiform:
• it is thought that the more competent units of the Lower Road River and Whittaker Formations more readily formed tension features in which vein sulphide mineralization is hosted; and
• the rock type changes to a much more graphitic shale in the mid- and upper-parts of the Road
River Formation, which units are less competent and provide a poor host for the vein-type formation.
For example, at the end of 930 metre Level the Main Quartz Vein can be seen to dissipate into the mid- Road River shales. The vein does not appear to be well developed in either the upper shales of the Road River and Cadillac Formations.
Preliminary structural evidence suggests that the various mineralized vein showings might be structurally linked, as a series of en-echelon segments comprising a single, but nevertheless structurally complex, mineralized vein structure. The presence of an en-echelon vein structure might go a long way to explaining the apparent off-sets between the various vein showings.
Towards the end of 930 metre Level (at Crosscut 30) a series of narrow (average 0.5 metre wide), massive sphalerite-tennantite veins are developed at about 40 degrees to the average trend of the Main Quartz Vein. This mineralization is referred to as the (vein) stockwork that is postulated to have developed in tensional openings formed by primary movement along the main vein structure. Oxidation is not apparent; the sulphide mineral assemblages are similar to those outlined for Main Quartz Vein material.
Stratabound Mineralization
. Stratabound mineralization was discovered in 1992 while drilling to extend Vein resources at depth. So far, indications of Stratabound mineralization have been found by drilling along the trend of the Prairie Creek Vein System over a strike length of more than 3 kilometres. This type of deposit has so far been located by drill holes in the Main Zone as well as in Zones 4, 5 and 6.
Oxidation is low in stratabound mineralized material, the sulphide mineralization:
• is generally fine-grained, banded to semi-massive and comprises massive fine-grained sphalerite, coarse-grained galena and disseminated to massive pyrite (silver is contained in solid solution within galena);
• contains no tennantite-tetrahedrite and very little copper; and
• contains only half as much galena as, but substantially more iron sulphide/pyrite than, typical vein material.
The majority of stratabound massive sulphides located thus far occur mainly within a Mottled Dolomite unit of the Whittaker Formation, which the mineralization totally replaces without any significant alteration. The stratabound sulphides are developed close to both the vein system and the axis of the Prairie Creek anticline; the vein structure cuts through the stratabound indicating the vein to be younger than the stratabound deposit. An apparent thickness of 28 metres of stratabound mineralization has been intersected in Main Zone drillholes where it occurs approximately 200 metres below 870 metre Level.
Mississippi Valley Type Sulphide
s
. The MVT mineralization found on the Property is comprised of colliform rims of sphalerite, brassy pyrite-marcasite and minor galena, with or without later dolomite infilling. The mineralization appears to occur discontinuously within coarse biohermal reefs of the Root River Formation, and always at approximately the same stratigraphic horizon. It appears to be classic MVT mineralization, insofar as it occurs in open cavity-type settings.
During 1999 the Gate 1-4 Mineral Claims were staked covering an area of 9,245.35 acres to the west of the main property adjacent to the existing land holdings. A small exploration program on the newly staked mineral claims consisted of geological mapping, soil and rock sampling over areas that contain similar geology with that of the Prairie Creek Property. This exploration resulted in the discovery of a Vein in outcrop, with select samples grading similar with that of the main established Vein at the Prairie Creek Property. Also a large zinc soil anomaly was located over favourable geology. A small heli-portable drilling program was carried out on part of the Gate Claims during 2007 but revealed no significant mineralization in drillcore.
The Gate Claims contain similar geology to that of the Prairie Creek mine and grassroots exploration developed new base metal targets some of which still remain underexplored. The proximity of these claims to the Prairie Creek Mine, and the similarities in geology, justified upgrading the mineral tenure of these claims to long term mining leases. In August 2010 a perimeter land survey was completed on the Gate mineral claims resulting in an adjusted total surface area for the new Gate mining leases of 2,776 hectares. New Mining Leases for the Gate areas were received February 16, 2011 and are dated September 9, 2009 and have a term of twenty one years up to September 9, 2030.
In 2000/2001, the Company completed a preliminary Scoping Study designed to outline and guide the re-development of the existing mine and mill on the Prairie Creek Property.
The Study took six months to complete and included metallurgical testwork, mill re-design, alternative mining methods, inclusion of paste backfill in the mine design, capital and operating cost estimates, a review of smelter terms and conditions for the Prairie Creek concentrates and other operating parameters. In connection with the Scoping Study further metallurgical samples were collected and the mill equipment was reassessed. The road access corridor, tailings pond and the underground workings were re-examined for future production considerations and capital cost estimates. The Scoping Study was prepared in-house using consultants and contractors at a cost of approximately $0.4 million. The Scoping Study has not been updated.
The complete Scoping Study, dated January 29, 2001, has been filed on SEDAR, and may be found under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
[Technical Reports April 24, 2001].
It should be noted that the economic assessment in the Scoping Study was preliminary and based, in part, on mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as reserves in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. In addition, the Scoping Study was preliminary in nature, despite the existing underground development and the on-site mill, and the assumptions made within the Scoping Study and its subsequent results may not be attained.
The Scoping Study outlined the plan for the development of the Prairie Creek Project was based on the historical development and existing infrastructure at the Prairie Creek Property and on the Resource Estimation. The Resource Estimation does not constitute mineable reserves. The historical development was carried out principally in 1980 to 1982 and the infrastructure, including the mill, was constructed in the same period based on a feasibility study prepared by Kilborn Engineering (Pacific) Limited in 1980. The Kilborn feasibility study is outdated and cannot be relied upon. The existing infrastructure, including the mill, buildings, camp etc. is now over twenty-five years old and although it has been held under care and maintenance it has lain idle for more than twenty-five years and was never operated. There is a significant risk attaching to the proposed operation of aged equipment.
The Scoping Study is now considered to be out of date and should not be relied upon. The indicated capital costs were estimated in 2000 and are now outdated. The Company anticipates that the capital costs to place the Prairie Creek Mine into production will be significantly greater than estimated in the 2001 Scoping Study.
3.1.6
2007 Resource Estimation
In October 2007, an updated Technical Report (the “Report”) with regard to Mineral Resource Estimation on the Main Zone at Prairie Creek was independently prepared by Minefill Services Inc. (Dr. David Stone and Stephen Godden – Qualified Independent Persons) in compliance with the standards in National Instrument 43-101, following the results of part of the 2006/7 underground drilling program. This report verifies and confirms the previous historical resource estimate completed in 1998 and notes significant upgrades in resource categories resulting from the 2006/2007 underground drilling.
The Report indicates that the Prairie Creek Property hosts total Measured and Indicated Resources of 5,840,329 tonnes grading 10.71% zinc, 9.90% lead, 161.12 grams silver per tonne and 0.326% copper. In addition, the Report confirms a large Inferred Resource of 5,541,576 tonnes grading at 13.53% zinc, 11.43% lead, 215 grams per tonne silver and 0.514% copper and additional exploration potential. A summary table is presented below:
Zone
|
Classification
|
Tonnes
|
Ag (g/t)
|
Cu (%)
|
Pb (%)
|
Zn (%)
|
Main Quartz Vein
|
Measured
|
938,624
|
211.89
|
0.465
|
11.63
|
13.11
|
Indicated
|
2,944,862
|
212.39
|
0.472
|
12.67
|
11.16
|
Measured + Indicated
|
3,883,486
|
212.27
|
0.470
|
12.41
|
11.63
|
Inferred
|
5,516,297
|
215.53
|
0.516
|
11.46
|
13.55
|
Stockwork
|
Indicated
|
682,165
|
50.15
|
0.112
|
2.68
|
5.85
|
Inferred
|
4,045
|
51.31
|
0.126
|
2.51
|
5.54
|
Stratabound
|
Measured
|
611,417
|
67.6
|
-
|
6.68
|
10.85
|
Indicated
|
663,261
|
62.0
|
-
|
5.53
|
10.15
|
Measured + Indicated
|
1,274,678
|
64.7
|
-
|
6.08
|
10.49
|
Inferred
|
21,234
|
55.7
|
-
|
5.65
|
10.49
|
Combined
|
Measured
|
1,550,041
|
154.9
|
0.282
|
9.67
|
12.22
|
Indicated
|
4,290,288
|
163.3
|
0.342
|
9.98
|
10.16
|
Measured + Indicated
|
5,840,329
|
161.1
|
0.326
|
9.89
|
10.71
|
Inferred
|
5,541,576
|
214.8
|
0.514
|
11.43
|
13.54
|
Note: copper grades for stratabound material were not estimated due to the consistently low to negligible assay grades reported in the available database.
Cautionary note:
Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a measured or indicated mineral resource or to a mineral reserve.
Highlights of the Report include:
·
|
Total Measured and Indicated Resource calculated at 5.8 million tonnes at >20% combined lead and zinc;
|
·
|
Measured Resources in Vein tonnage increased 73% at 25% combined lead and zinc with 212 grams per tonne silver;
|
·
|
Indicated Resources in Vein tonnage increased 105% at 24% combined lead and zinc with 212 grams per tonne silver;
|
·
|
Inferred Resource in Vein calculated at 5.5 million tonnes at 25% combined lead with silver with 216 grams per tonne silver;
|
·
|
Average increase of 10% in silver grades; and
|
·
|
Confirmation of grade and continuity in a NI 43-101 compliant resource report.
|
The Resource estimate was determined applying the following methodology:
One metre composites were created from the assay data honoring the geological zone codes provided in the dataset. Classical statistics were gathered for silver, copper, lead and zinc, as well as for each of the three mineralized zones considered in analysis (Main Quartz Vein, stockwork and stratabound).
A three-dimensional block model was developed; a block size of ten metres (easting) by 30 metres (northing) by 30 metres (elevation) was used. Inverse distance weighting with a power of three was used for all three mineralized zones; grades were interpolated for silver, copper, lead and zinc.
A primary search distance of 300 metres was used to enable filling of all the blocks in the down-plunge extension of the Main Quartz Vein. The search direction was orientated along a major axis of 357 degrees and a dip of 65 degrees east (i.e. to conform to the average strike and dip of the vein). The search was horizontal between sections 1,055N and 1,825N and plunging at 15 degrees north from sections 1,825N to 3,155N.
Coded composites from the same zone as the block being estimated were selected for block estimation. The minimum length composite selected for grade interpolation was 0.3 metres. The minimum number of composites used for the interpolation was one and the maximum was ten. The maximum number of composites per hole was limited to three, to thereby provide a more uniform grade interpolation. The resource grades include all intercepts in a specific area and had no blocks removed by cut-off grade, which is appropriate for the type of massive sulphide, selective mineralization considered in analysis.
The complete Technical Report has been filed on SEDAR, and may be found under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
[Technical Report (NI 43-101) October 16, 2007].
Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated or Inferred Resources:
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this Annual Information Form, such as “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred” “resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F which may be secured from us, or from the SEC’s website at
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
. “Inferred mineral resources” have significant uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic feasibility. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically mineable. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource would ever be upgraded to a higher category. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves.
The October 2007 Technical Report concluded that “Prairie Creek is an advanced project for which, in theory at least, modest capital investment and a Class A Water Licence only are required to allow production at the Mine to be started. This is stated because:
·
|
The Mine has a robust Measured and Indicated, Main Zone resource base that reflects high-grade mineralization (especially zinc);
|
·
|
The results of the [current] Phase II underground drilling program can reasonably be expected to further enhance the amount (tonnes) of Measured and Indicated, Main Zone resources;
|
·
|
Much of the required surface infrastructure and equipment is already in place, or at least only a limited amount of capital is probably required for new equipment and for rehabilitating and/or upgrading the existing mine and mill facilities; and
|
·
|
Only a small amount of additional underground development would probably be required to start the production ramp-up to the target rate of 1,000 tonnes per day.”
|
The Report further noted that “A definitive feasibility study is probably required for purposes of capital raising, albeit that robust project economics may reasonably be anticipated by virtue of:
·
|
The available resource grades (even when diluted in the normal process of stoping, high-grade, run-of-mine mill feed can reasonably be expected);
|
·
|
The fairly straightforward metallurgical process for co-mingled Main Quartz Vein and stratabound material (that yields a lead concentrate [sulphide and oxide] with a lead grade of approximately 69 percent at a recovery of nearly 89 percent and a silver grade of about 820 g/t at a recovery rate of approximately 73 percent, and a zinc concentrate [sulphide and oxide] with a zinc grade of nearly 54 percent at a recovery of approximately 86 percent); and
|
·
|
The likely limited amount of start-up capital required for mining and processing Main Zone mineralized material, especially compared to a new mine operation.”
|
The Report also emphasized that “significant upside resource potential exists over several kilometres to both the north and south of the Main Zone area: the exploration results indicate the presence of high-grade, vein type mineralization; and preliminary analysis suggests that structural continuity of the vein-type mineralization might exist. Additional stratabound mineralized bodies might also be present.”
3.1.7
Metallurgical Testing
Extensive metallurgical testing has been carried out on the mineralization from the Prairie Creek mine over the past five years.
During 2004 representative bulk samples of vein mineralization were extracted from various locations within the existing underground workings at the Prairie Creek mine. In addition, diamond drill core samples of Stratabound Mineralization were also collected from this deeper lying deposit which has not yet been accessed by underground development. Vein mineralization type was collected in the upper and lower level of existing developed underground workings. It is typically high in zinc, silver and lead in a mixture of sulphide and oxide minerals. Stratabound mineralization contains zinc, lead, silver and iron sulphide minerals.
The metallurgical samples were shipped to SGS Lakefield Research Laboratories (“SGS Lakefield”) where a total of 60 bench scale tests were undertaken over six months under the direction of the Company’s metallurgical consultant. The samples were first assayed for both sulphide and oxide mineralization and then combined into composite samples to ensure true representation of the Prairie Creek mineral deposit. Mineral samples from two separate zones of vein mineralization (Upper and Lower Zones), and including both sulphide and oxide mineralization, and from the stratabound zone, and additional composite samples from all three zones, were tested to develop and optimize the Prairie Creek mill flow sheet. The batch and locked cycle tests provided extensive analytical information and positive metallurgical results.
During 2006 a new metallurgical bulk sample was collected from multiple headings of the vein within the existing underground development and also shipped to SGS Lakefield for further testing and optimization studies. These samples were composited and blended to create representative samples of the ore that will provide feed to a future operating mill. The metallurgical program has shown that heavy media separation, demonstrated in earlier tests, is repeatable and that higher grade concentrates can be produced by processing the upgraded material. The work to date, which was undertaken in conjunction with SNC-Lavalin Inc., has focused on detailed mine planning and scheduling, process design, including a new dense media separation plant, and underground tailings disposal.
The main objective of SGS Lakefield’s metallurgical program was to develop a commercial process for the beneficiation of Main Quartz Vein material (mixed oxide and sulphide) and stratabound material (sulphide only). Within the scope of SGS Lakefield’s overall metallurgical program, the Company also sought to confirm whether:
·
|
Main Quartz Vein and stratabound material could be co-mingled in the milling process (i.e. vein and stratabound material did not have to be separately campaigned through the processing plant);
|
·
|
Main Quartz Vein and stratabound material could, either separately or as co-mingled material, be pre-concentrated in a heavy media circuit to remove the waste component (limestone, quartz, etc);
|
·
|
A reagent scheme, that would eliminate the need for cyanide compounds, could be developed; and
|
·
|
Separate sulpide and oxide, lead and zinc concentrates (i.e. four separate concentrates) could be produced with acceptable recoveries and at marketable grades.
|
A series of laboratory batch and locked-cycle tests were carried out over four main phases (to August 2007) to enhance metal recoveries and concentrate grades, to develop an optimum heavy medium pre-conditioning method and to establish an optimum process flowchart that could be used for purposes of plant engineering design. The results proved positive, insofar as the following conclusions were made:
·
|
Stratabound material can be successfully co-mingled with Main Quartz Vein material, without significant metal losses in final concentrates;
|
·
|
Co-mingled, run-of-mine mineralized material is very amenable to pre-concentration by HLS (which both reduces the quantity of tailings produced and reduces both the power requirements and work index for milling);
|
·
|
Excellent metal recoveries can be achieved in both sulphide and oxide material, with a reagent suite that does not include cyanide products; and
|
·
|
Marketable concentrates can be produced (albeit that penalty elements, including antimony, arsenic and mercury, would unavoidably report to the final concentrates).
|
Further metallurgical test work was completed in 2008 with the objective of resolving this outstanding issue by optimizing lead and zinc sulphide concentrate recoveries and grades against which comparative cash-benefit analyses can be performed. In 2008, a new bulk sample and representative water samples were extracted from underground and transported to SGS Lakefield for laboratory and metallurgical testing to produce representative tailings and process water for further characterization and treatment.
During 2009, the Company received positive results related to this metallurgical testing. The sample was composited at SGS Lakefield Research for large scale locked cycle testing with the objective of producing representative concentrates, tailings and process effluents using the actual proposed process flow sheet for the Prairie Creek Mine. This flow sheet was presented in the Project Description Report, dated May 2008, submitted as part of the applications for operating permits, which are presently the subject of Environmental Assessment being carried out by the Review Board.
Heavy Liquid / Dense Media Separation
:
Previous metallurgical studies incorporated a Heavy Liquid Separation (“HLS”) process applied to the Run of Mine (“ROM”) feed to optimize the existing mill at the Prairie Creek Mine by enhancing the metal grade entering into the flotation process, and thus reducing the amount of waste being needlessly processed. On a commercial scale this will be applied using Dense Media Separation (“DMS”).
A composite ROM sample was stage crushed to a nominal ½ inch size. The composite was then screened at 14 mesh with the minus ½ inch and plus 14 mesh processed through a HLS plant. This resulted in 41% of the ROM composite being rejected as waste with a loss of only 2.5% total lead and 4.4% total zinc metal values. Waste rejection from the previous DMS studies averaged ~30%. The higher number in this recent case is a significant improvement but may relate to the inherent variability of dilution in the mining of mineralized vein structures to collect the bulk sample. The HLS test result is consistent with the previous studies in that it demonstrated that a significant increase in mill throughput and grade can be achieved with a minimal loss of economic metals of less than 5%.
Locked Cycle Flotation Tests
:
The HLS enhanced process plant mill feed was then combined, mixed, and crushed to 10 mesh in preparation for the locked cycle flotation test work.
After crushing and grinding the HLS enhanced mill feed was delivered into a locked cycle flotation test where concentrates of lead sulphide, zinc sulphide and lead oxide were generated. No separate zinc oxide flotation was completed since previous metallurgical studies indicated low concentrate grades and low recoveries for zinc oxide.
The locked cycle tests were designed to produce concentrates, tailings and effluent for engineering, marketing and environmental studies. The test results indicate that the overall grade of the blended lead sulphide / oxide concentrate assayed 67% lead, with an 82% recovery of total lead in the plant feed, and the zinc sulphide graded 58% Zn with a 74% recovery of the total zinc in the plant feed. An average of 92.7% of the total silver values in the plant feed was recovered within the lead and zinc concentrates.
The metallurgical tests generated very satisfactory simulated results of anticipated actual operations in the production mineral concentrates at the Prairie Creek Mine. The test results showed concentrate grades and recoveries similar to results of previous locked cycle tests, allowing for variations within the individual bulk samples, and confirmed anticipated concentrate grades and recoveries under simulated actual proposed milling operations and using representative actual mine water.
Discussions with concentrate sales professionals and preliminary discussions with smelters indicate that the Prairie Creek concentrates will be readily saleable, subject to the payment of usual penalties for elevated impurity levels, including mercury, in the Vein zinc and lead concentrates.
A Project Description Report (“PDR”) was prepared and filed with regulatory authorities in May 2008 in support of application for operating permits. The PDR describes in detail the proposed new mining operations at Prairie Creek and contemplates the construction of new facilities including installation of new fuel-efficient/low-emission power generating units, a kitchen/accommodation block, concentrate storage shed, an incinerator, a new engineered waste rock pile and two new transfer stations along the winter road.
3.1.8 Feasibility Study
The Project Description Report, dated May 2008, may be viewed under the Company’s name on the Water Board website at http://www.mvlwb.ca/mv/registry.aspx.
In February 2011 the Company engaged SNC-Lavalin Inc., (“SNC”) of Vancouver to complete a Feasibility Study on the Prairie Creek Mine. With the Environmental Assessment Process nearing completion the major operational parameters are now being determined that will factor into the project implementation and this presents the opportunity to evaluate the capital costs and financial analysis through the completion of the Feasibility Study, in anticipation of construction financing. It is expected that the Feasibility Study will be completed before the end of 2011 and will allow CZN to base financing decisions.
The general scope of the Feasibility Study will include the following:
·
|
Detailed Engineering and Design, including mining equipment, on-site and off-site infrastructure, transportation and logistics;
|
·
|
Construction Schedule and Execution plan;
|
·
|
Capital and Operating cost estimates.
|
A number of key aspects of the Study are already well advanced and will be integrated into the Feasibility Study through the continued participation of subcontractors including; DRA Americas for DMS plant design; Mine Paste Engineering for Paste Plant design; Golder & Associates for site facility design; and SGS Lakefield Research Ltd., for metallurgy and processing.
SNC is experienced in the design, development and delivery of mining, processing, tailings, infrastructure and transportation facilities and some SNC personnel have had involvement in the Prairie Creek Project since it was originally designed by Kilborn Engineering (subsequently acquired by SNC) and constructed in 1982. SNC also has comprehensive knowledge with respect to the unique challenges of designing and constructing mine projects in the Northwest Territories, having been recently involved in the development of Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine (NWT) and Newmont’s Hope Bay Davis North gold project (Nunavut).
A substantial amount of technical data has been accumulated on the Prairie Creek Project, dating back to before the completion of the Prairie Creek Definitive Feasibility Study by Kilborn Engineering in 1980. Subsequent to this formal report numerous other technical and economic studies have been carried out while exploration of the property continued. Over the course of the last two years SNC-Lavalin has been assisting the Company with various aspects of project planning and design as part of the ongoing Environmental Assessment process.
The additional capital costs for the proposed new facilities and equipment to place the Prairie Creek Mine into production will be estimated in the Feasibility study. The Company currently anticipates that the capital costs will be in the range of $80 - $100 million, depending on final project design and conditions in the operating permits.
3.1.9
Proposed New Mine at Prairie Creek
In May 2008, the Company applied to the Water Board for a Type “A” Water Licence and three Type “A” Land Use Permits (“LUPs”); one for the operation of the Prairie Creek Mine and the other two for Transfer Facilities along the road. As described, a Project Description Report was filed with the Water Board as part of the permit applications.
The proposed new operation at Prairie Creek utilizes the existing infrastructure and facilities that were built in the 1980’s and which will be upgraded and enhanced to meet current-day environmental standards. The improvements proposed for specific site facilities will further mitigate the potential impact the Project may have on the environment. Specifically, the Company proposes to place waste rock and tailings underground in a cemented backfill mix, use the existing large pond for temporary water storage, and place development waste rock in an engineered facility removed from the Prairie Creek floodplain.
A summary of the proposed Prairie Creek mine operations as described in the Project Description Report follows:
The Mine
: All mining will be performed from underground. Underground development and workings (about 5,000 metres) already exist on three levels, including the new 600 metre decline driven in 2006/07. Proposed production rates will initially start at 600 tonnes per day and may build to 1,200 tonnes per day. Mining will occur on a year round basis by cut-and-fill methods. Mine voids will be backfilled with a mix of flotation tailings, waste rock aggregate and cement.
The Mill
: The Mill, which is already constructed on site but never operated, will process 600-1,000 tonnes per day. Ore will be crushed to a gravel-size and subjected to dense media separation. The lighter, uneconomic “gangue” minerals will create a waste rock aggregate. Denser material will be processed further by grinding and flotation to produce concentrates of lead sulphide, zinc sulphide and lead oxide. No hazardous chemicals will be used in the process.
Concentrates and Road Haul
: The concentrates will be bagged, stored under cover and trucked off-site on flat-deck trailers over the winter road. Canadian Zinc holds a Type “A” LUP (MV2003F0028) for the use of the winter road from the Prairie Creek Mine to the Liard Highway. Canadian Zinc has also applied for Type “A” LUP’s for two new transfer facilities to be located approximately mid-point along the winter road and at the junction of the winter road with the Liard Highway.
Environment
: Extensive environmental data has been collected at the Prairie Creek Mine Site over recent years to update and add to the baseline information that was collected previously as far back as the late 1970’s. Sixteen years of water flow data have been recorded on the Prairie Creek watercourse adjacent to the Mine Site. Canadian Zinc now has an extensive database on water quality, stream flows, local climatic variables, and wildlife in the area.
Waste Management
: All flotation tailings will be backfilled into the voids in the underground mine in a mix with the waste rock aggregate and cement. The flotation tailings are expected to be non-acid generating with low sulphide content and excess buffering capacity. Waste rock from underground development along with excess waste rock aggregate from the DMS plant will be placed in an engineered Waste Rock Pile (“WRP”) in the adjacent Harrison Creek valley.
Water Management
: An existing large pond facility, originally intended in 1980 for tailings disposal, will be reconfigured, relined and recertified to form a two-celled Water Storage Pond. Mine drainage, treated sewage water and WRP runoff will report to the first cell. Water for the mill process will be taken from this first cell. Excess water from the first cell will overflow into the second cell. Used water from the Mill will also report to the second cell. The second cell will feed a water treatment plant. The treated water will discharge to the existing certified Polishing Pond and from there into the existing Catchment Pond, before final discharge to the environment.
Site Infrastructure
: The Site presently contains a near complete mill, three levels of underground workings, a fuel tank farm, office facilities, accommodation facilities and workshops. Existing buildings and structures will be upgraded and modernized. New facilities will include fuel-efficient low-emission power generation units, a kitchen/accommodation block, concentrate shed and an incinerator.
Socio-Economics and Manpower
: The operation of the Prairie Creek Mine will provide substantial economic stimulus to the region, and presents a unique opportunity to enhance the social and economic well-being of the surrounding communities. There will be approximately 220 direct full time jobs, half of this number being on-site at any one time. Personnel will generally work a three weeks on, three weeks off schedule (with variations as required). Canadian Zinc’s objective is to employ a workforce with a 35% northern content, and a minimum 15% First Nations content. The Company anticipates that it will provide assistance through the provision of training programs. In addition, there will be many indirect business and employment opportunities, mostly related to transport, supply of the Mine Site and environmental monitoring and management.
Mine Closure
: At the end of the Mine’s life, the Site will be reclaimed. The underground development will be backfilled. Bulkheads at strategic points will help limit the movement of groundwater. The objective is to create a complete seal to ensure there is no long term mine drainage. The WRP will be covered and sealed with a clay-rich soil. Site buildings and infrastructure, if deemed not to have any future use, will be dismantled and the Site will be returned to its natural setting.
3.1.10
Permitting at Prairie Creek
(a)
Regulatory Framework
At the time of its construction in 1980 - 1982, the Prairie Creek mine had been fully permitted for full scale mining and milling operations. Permitting had been undertaken under the regulatory regime of the day, which involved a comprehensive Environmental Assessment and public review before the Northwest Territories Water Board. A considerable number of technical and baseline studies describing the proposed development and the physical and biological environment were undertaken at that time.
Water Licence N3L3-0932 was issued by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development on July 1, 1982 pursuant to the Northern Inland Waters Act and Regulations, authorizing the use of up to 1,150 m3/day and 420,000 m3/year of water from the Prairie Creek Valley Aquifer and setting standards for discharge of process effluent to Prairie Creek. Land Use Permit N80F249 was issued July 2, 1980 for the road connecting Prairie Creek to the Liard Highway, the first 40 kilometres being permitted for year round use with the remaining 130 kilometres permitted for use in winter months only. The Land Use Permit was extended in 1981 and again in 1982 to June 1983. Surface Leases were issued for the minesite area and airstrip. The Water Licence and Land Use Permit subsequently expired.
In 1998, a totally new regulatory and resource management scheme was introduced in this part of Canada. During the negotiation of native land claim settlements in the Mackenzie Valley, first with the Dene/Metis in the late 1980’s and then with the Gwich’in and Sahtu Dene/Metis people, the Federal Government agreed to establish a new resources management system through the creation of boards with joint membership which reflects First Nations’ desire to participate more effectively in the regulation of land and water throughout the Mackenzie Valley.
The
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (“MVRMA”
or the “Act”) was enacted in 1998 for a defined area called the “Mackenzie Valley,” which includes the area where the Prairie Creek Mine is situated. Prior to that, the applicable legislation was the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, S.C. 1992 c.37. (“CEAA”).
The CEAA no longer applies in the Mackenzie Valley, except under very specific situations.
The MVRMA is a piece of federal legislation that creates an integrated co-management structure for public and private lands and waters throughout the Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories. The Act was proclaimed on December 22, 1998; however, Part IV, which establishes the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, was not proclaimed until March 31, 2000.
The overall legislative scheme of the MVRMA is designed to implement the Gwich’in and the Sahtu Land Claim Settlement Agreements (collectively the “Comprehensive Agreements”) by providing for an integrated system of land and water management in the Mackenzie Valley. Under the Comprehensive Agreements, Land Use Planning Boards and Land and Water Boards must be established for the settlement areas referred to in those Agreements. In addition, an Environmental Impact Review Board must be established for the Mackenzie Valley along with a Land and Water Board for an area extending beyond the settlement areas.
The Act established these public boards to regulate the use of land and water, to prepare regional land use plans to guide development, and to carry out environmental assessment and reviews of proposed projects in the Mackenzie Valley. The Act also makes provisions for monitoring cumulative impacts on the environment, and for periodic, independent environmental audits.
These Boards are charged with regulating all land and water uses, including deposits of waste, in the areas in the Mackenzie Valley under their jurisdiction. As institutions of public government, the Boards regulate all uses of land and water while considering the economic, social and cultural well-being of residents and communities in the Mackenzie Valley.
The MVRMA ensures a greater role for Aboriginal people in land use planning, environmental assessment, and the regulation of land and water use. As stated in the MVRMA, ‘the purpose of the establishment of boards by this Act is to enable residents of the Mackenzie Valley to participate in the management of its resources for the benefit of the residents and of other Canadians.’ Consultation is the cornerstone of the MVRMA. Public Boards under the Act have established their own consultation guidelines.
To reflect the desire of First Nations to be more actively involved in resource management decision-making, half the members of each Board are nominated by First Nations, and half by the Federal and Territorial governments. Public boards are formed through nominations. Under the land claims agreements, First Nations are entitled to nominate one-half of the members of the board, reflecting the board’s jurisdiction over all lands including First Nation settlement lands. The Federal Government, Territorial Government and First Nations can each nominate at their own discretion.
These Boards are charged with regulating all land and water uses, including deposits of waste, in the areas in the Mackenzie Valley under their jurisdiction. As institutions of public government, the Boards regulate all uses of land and water while considering the economic, social and cultural well-being of residents and communities in the Mackenzie Valley.
The Act also anticipates amendments to accommodate new land settlements and self-governments as they are finalized. As land claims are settled, the Act provides for additional regional boards to be established in the Dehcho, North Slave and South Slave regions. The Dehcho area is not settled. Prior to additional regional Boards being established, First Nations in the Dehcho region were asked to participate in the new system by recommending members to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.
Role of Public Boards
Under the MVRMA, public boards are responsible for:
·
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preparing regional land use plans to guide the development and use of land, waters and other resources [Land Use Planning Board];
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·
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regulating all uses of land and water [Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board]; and
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·
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carrying out the environmental assessment and review process [Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board].
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Each Board has its own specific jurisdiction.
The Land Use Planning Board develops and implements a land use plan for the respective settlement areas in the Mackenzie Valley.
Land and Water Boards issue land use permits and water licences under the
Mackenzie Valley Land Use Regulations and the Northwest Territories Waters Act and Regulations
, within the Mackenzie Valley.
The Review Board is responsible for environmental impact review and assessment at a valley-wide level, including the Sahtu and Gwich’in settlement areas.
The public boards perform regulatory functions, such as permitting and licensing, and conducting environmental reviews, previously undertaken by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) and the NWT Water Board.
After consultation with the Land and Water Board, the Minister of DIAND may give written policy direction to the Board with respect to the exercise of any of its functions. The Minister also approves the issuance of Type ‘A’ water licences. Regarding a Type ‘A’ water licence, the Minister may attach terms and conditions such as provision for a security deposit, a requirement for water quality and quantity measurements, and a requirement for abandonment and restoration plans.
Land Management
Inspection and enforcement continue to be the responsibility of DIAND DIAND controls, manages and administers all Crown lands in the Mackenzie Valley under the authority of the
Territorial Lands Act
, and the
Federal Real Property Act
. Aside from managing Crown lands and waters, DIAND is still responsible for the administration, inspection and enforcement requirements associated with renewable, non-renewable and environmental legislation. This includes the
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
, the
Northwest Territories Waters Act
, and the
Federal Real Property Act
.
DIAND inspectors are responsible for ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations and the terms and conditions that are part of permits and licences issued by the Land and Water Boards. These responsibilities are exercised by DIAND under the authority of the
Territorial Lands Regulations, Territorial Quarrying Regulations
,
Canada Mining Regulations
and the
Federal Property Regulations
.
Under the
Northwest Territories Waters Act, S.C. 1992, (C.29) (Waters Act)
no person can use water or deposit waste in specific areas in the Northwest Territories without a licence to do so. Section 102 of the MVRMA provides that it is the Water Board which has the jurisdiction with respect of all uses of water and deposits of waste in the area for which a licence is required under the Waters Act. The Water Board may issue, amend, renew and cancel licences in accordance with the Waters Act and exercise any other power of the Northwest Territories Water Board under the Waters Act.
The stated objective of the Water Board is to “regulate the use of land and waters and the deposit of waste so as to provide for the conservation, development and utilization of land and water resources in a manner that will provide optimum benefit to the residents of the settlement areas and of the Mackenzie Valley and to all Canadians.” The Water Board’s main function which is relevant to the Company, is to issue land use permits and water licences on land in unsettled land claim areas in the Mackenzie Valley, inclusive of the Dehcho area.
Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative
In November 2007 the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development announced the
Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative
and the appointment of a Special Representative responsible to advance this initiative. As announced by the Minister, the
Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative
is a strategy to improve the current regulatory regime and the overall Northern regulatory environment and to ensure that regulatory regimes across the North are effective and predictable, and will better equip the North to develop and benefit from its resources in the best way possible. The Minister’s Special Representative was asked to work to improve existing regulatory regimes across the North, and to submit a report to the Government of Canada outlining proposed recommendations for advancing the regulatory regime.
In May 2008 the Minister’s Special Representative for the Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative (Neil McCrank) presented his report entitled “Road to Improvement – The Review of the Regulatory system across the North” to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The Report noted that there is a need for a restructuring of the regulatory system in the Northwest Territories, to address the issues of complexity and capacity. In his report Neil McCrank called into question the very structure of the regulatory system.
“The complexity and the capacity of the regulatory system in the Northwest Territories was examined to determine if these issues could be addressed in the absence of a fundamental restructuring, which ultimately did not prove possible.”
McCrank’s Report recommends two options to restructure and basically amalgamate the Land use Permitting and Water Licensing functions under a single board for the Mackenzie Valley. McCrank hoped this will address the complexity and the capacity issues by making more efficient use of expenditures and administrative resources, and would achieve more understandable and consistent practices. Two options and recommendations for restructuring were outlined which would simplify and improve the effectiveness of the system and there were also 22 recommendations which will bring improvements.
In May 2010, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development announced an Action Plan to improve Northern regulatory regimes, “… to ensure that Northern regulatory regimes are more effective, predictable and provide greater certainty for industry, Northerners and all Canadians” .
The Action Plan recognizes that the evolving regulatory regimes are currently incomplete or need adjustment. The regulatory processes currently are complex, costly, unpredictable and time consuming. The Action Plan is designed to complete and strengthen current regulatory regimes in the North and provide more efficient and effective processes. Streamlining the regulatory regimes and removing barriers to investment and support economic growth and provide opportunities for Northerners
The Action Plan contains three elements, one of which is legislative changes to improve Northern regulatory processes to reduce overlap and duplication. Changes to regulatory regimes are to be made in consultation with the North’s leaders to determine how best to modernize the legislation, while at the same time, respecting the comprehensive land claims agreements.
Changes to the current legislative framework and regulatory processes, including Land and Water Board restructuring in the NWT, will take place while respecting comprehensive land claims agreements and the Crown’s duty to consult Aboriginal peoples where appropriate. The proposed legislation actions under the Plan are to amend the
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
, modernize the
Northwest Territories Waters Act
and
Territorial Lands Act
and develop surface rights legislation for the Northwest Territories. The aim is to simplify the process for issuing permits and licences.
The Action Plan envisages restructuring the Land and Water Boards in the NWT to ensure that individual Aboriginal organizations and government roles in resource management are strengthened and that decisions related to the regulatory regimes have greater consistency. It will also ensure that the Northern Regulatory Regime will be strong, effective, efficient and predictable.
The Minister has appointed
a Chief Federal Negotiator
whose mandate is to lead consultations and negotiations with Aboriginal leadership and the Government of the Northwest Territories on how the Land and Water Boards will be restructured as part of the work to amend the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and Northwest Territories Waters Act and Territorial Lands Act.
(b)
Permitting Process
All applications for a land use permit or a water licence in relation to a development in the Mackenzie Valley are made to the Water Board or one of its regional boards, as determined by the location of the development. In the case of Prairie Creek, being located within the Dehcho First Nations territory, for which a land claim settlement agreement has not as yet been reached, applications are processed by the Water Board.
There are three stages in the environmental impact assessment process in the Mackenzie Valley: preliminary screening, environmental assessment and environmental impact review. Not all developments will necessarily go through each of the three stages. All projects undergo a preliminary screening, after which it is decided whether a project must proceed to a full environmental assessment or go straight to the regulatory phase.
The environmental impact assessment process is triggered by an application to the Water Board for a water licence. The application requires the inclusion of certain baseline and other technical information to allow them to be appropriately assessed and processed. Information provided with an application is used for undertaking a preliminary screening and for regulatory review of the application.
Preliminary Screening
Preliminary screening is the first step in the environmental impact assessment process. Preliminary screening applications are done by the Water Board. It is during the preliminary screening that the Water Board determines whether there is any public concern related to a proposed project or if it might have significant adverse environmental impacts.
During the preliminary screening, a systematic approach is taken to documenting the potential environmental effects of a proposed project. Next, the Water Board determines whether these effects need to be eliminated or minimized and, if so, how the project plan should be modified. In the end, the Water Board makes a recommendation on the need for further assessment.
The legislation requires that the Water Board conduct a pre-screening of a proposal for development (s.124). Where the Water Board determines that the development might have a significant adverse impact on the environment, or might be a cause of public concern, the Water Board refers the proposal to the Review Board for an environmental assessment (s.125).
Environmental Assessment
Environmental assessment is the second stage of the environmental impact assessment process. Projects may be referred to the Review Board by the Water Board (the preliminary screener), some other government department or agency, the First Nation qualified to make a referral, or on the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board’s own motion.
The Review Board is responsible for the environmental impact assessment process throughout the Mackenzie Valley. It is the main instrument for environmental assessment and review, replacing the CEAA in the Mackenzie Valley except under specific instances.
The Review Board:
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Conducts environmental assessments;
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·
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Conducts environmental impact reviews;
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·
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Maintains a public registry of all preliminary screenings conducted by Regulatory Authorities; and
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·
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Makes recommendations to the Minister of DIAND for rejection or approval of any proposal.
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Once a development proposal is referred to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board for an environmental assessment, notices are placed in northern newspapers. The next step is for the developer to submit a “project description” to the Review Board. The project description describes what the developer plans to do and how it will be carried out. The Review Board develops a work plan and terms of reference in order to conduct the Environmental Assessment.
The public has an opportunity to comment on the project and identify issues which may require consideration. Public information submitted to the Review Board throughout this process, including the project description, and all technical and public submissions, are placed on a public registry.
The Review Board has guidelines for how they conduct environmental assessments. These guidelines provide information for submissions to the Review Board, including timelines and opportunities to present information at any public hearings that may be held. The environmental impact assessment process has several points where the local government and other stakeholders can contribute to and affect the regulatory process. There will also be occasions where the local government will be asked to comment on a proposed development.
The environmental assessment process looks at the same factors considered in the preliminary screening, as well as addressing potential cumulative effects, socio-cultural considerations and alternate means of carrying out the project that are technically and economically feasible and the potential environmental effects of such alternate means. If the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board determines there will be significant adverse environmental impact from a project, it has the choice of referring the development to an Environmental Impact Review before a panel. The Review Board may also recommend measures to prevent or mitigate these impacts.
Environmental Impact Review
The Environmental Impact Review (“EIR”) stage is a detailed analysis and public review. This is normally reserved for development projects where the environmental impact may be significant and could include public hearings in affected communities. An Environmental Impact Review is conducted by a panel consisting of members of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, as well as any expert members they may appoint. The panel is required to issue terms of reference and the applicant must submit an impact statement. There must be public notification of the submission of the impact statement, and public consultation or hearings in communities which may be affected by the development. The panel conducts an analysis of the information received.
Upon completing the assessment, the Review Board submits its Environmental Assessment Report (“EAR”) to the Federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development who is responsible for distributing the EAR to other Ministers with jurisdiction over the proposed development (s.128).
Decision of Ministers
The Minister of DIAND, along with the other Responsible Ministers, is required to make a decision on the EAR. The Minister may adopt the recommendations of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, refer the report back to the Review Board for further consideration (s.130) or reject the Report and order further environmental impact review. Once the recommendations contained in the EAR are adopted by the Minister, and the other responsible Ministers, those recommendations are to be included by the Water Board as conditions of any Water Licence or Land Use Permit that it issues for that proposed development (s.62).
Regulatory Phase
When finally adopted by the Minister the application is sent to Water Board for issuance of permits and licences by the Water Board in the regulatory phase. The regulatory phase is the process of issuing regulatory authorizations once the development is approved through the environmental assessment process. The authorizations include terms and conditions which reflect the recommendations approved during the EA process, as well as other standard conditions for carrying out development.
Decisions of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board are subject to review by the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories.
(c)
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“Grandfather” Provisions
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Part 5 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, S.C. 1998, C.25 requires that any “proposals for development” comply with environmental assessment process consisting of a preliminary screening by the regulatory authority and, if applicable, an environmental assessment and an environmental impact review by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.
However, Section 157.1 of the Act provides that Part 5 does not apply in respect of any licence, permit or other authorization related to an undertaking that is the subject of a licence or a permit issued before June 22, 1984, except the licence, permit, or other authorization for an abandonment, decommissioning or other significant alteration of the project.
Section 157.1 of the Act has been considered by the Court of Appeal of the Northwest Territories in the case
North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. V Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board
(2003 NWTCA5). In that case the Court said (at paragraphs 24 to 27):
“24 However, both the Comprehensive Agreements and the MVRMA also clearly recognize that a full scale environmental review will not be appropriate in respect of certain existing permits, projects and licences. Instead, both reflect some grandfathering of existing developments is required to balance competing interests. Those interests include the legitimate goal of protecting land and water resources in the Mackenzie Valley for the benefit of its citizens, on the one hand, while, at the same time, exempting from the full force of the new environmental legislation undertakings developed under an earlier legislative regime. For example, the Comprehensive Agreements explicitly protect certain mineral interests, and arguably the rights associated therewith, in existence as of the date of the settlement legislation.”
“25 This respect for vested interests is reflected in the MVRMA. Part 7 contains a number of transitional provisions designed to preserve and protect the existing rights and interests. For example, Section 151 provides that certain existing permits continue in effect despite the implementation of the new legislation. Section 152 protects all existing rights to the use of any lands under any lease, easement, or other interest granted under any territorial law, again despite what would otherwise have been the impact of the new legislation on such interests….”
“26 Further confirmation that Parliament did not intend the MVRMA to interfere with existing rights can be seen in the fact that even pending applications for permits and licences are to be dealt with under the prior applicable legislation and not under the MVRMA….”
“27 These provisions collectively reflect that Parliament did not intend to impose an entirely new environmental review process on every project in the Mackenzie Valley irrespective of the status of that project at the time the MVRMA came into effect. Instead, the MVRMA grandfathered certain projects and provided that others yet would be dealt with under prior applicable legislation. In interpreting Section 157.1 therefore, one must recognize that it is designed to grandfather certain undertakings which predate June 22, 1984. Accordingly, this section must be interpreted in a manner which best comports with its intended purpose.”
The Prairie Creek Project was the subject of both a Water Licence and Land Use Permit issued prior to June 22, 1984.
In May 2003, the Company applied to the Water Board for a Land Use Permit for use of the existing road from the Liard Highway to the Prairie Creek Mine. The Company submitted that this development is exempt from the Environmental Assessment process by virtue of Section 157.1 of the Act. The Company’s argument was rejected by the Water Board on June 1, 2004 and the Company filed an Appeal to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories seeking judicial review of the decision of the Water Board. The Appeal was heard by the Supreme Court in December 2004.
In a written decision dated May 6, 2005 in the case
Canadian Zinc Corporation v Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (SCNWT S-0001-CV2004)
the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories ruled in favour of the Company that its Winter Road permit application is “
grandfathered
” and is therefore exempt from the environmental assessment process under the
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (“MVRMA”)
.
The Supreme Court quoted with approval, the earlier 2003 decision of the Northwest Territories Court of Appeal in the case
North American Tungsten Corp. Ltd. v Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board
. The Supreme Court found:
“The reasoning in Tungsten appears to apply squarely to the circumstances of CZC’s (Canadian Zinc Corporation’s) permit application. The Court (of Appeal) referred to the legislative intention that projects which predate June 22, 1984 are to be subjected to a full scale environmental assessment only if they depart significantly from their approved mode of operation and engage in decommissioning, abandonment or significant alteration of the project. The project, in this case, the operation of the winter access road, predates June 22, 1984. As found by the (Water) Board, the permit sought by CZC (Canadian Zinc) is not based on any intentions to significantly alter that project or to abandon or decommission it”.
In its decision the Supreme Court said that the permit sought by Canadian Zinc is related to the operation of the winter access road, a permit in respect of that same undertaking had been issued before 1984, and therefore the exemption provided in Section 157.1 of the MVRMA governs and a Part 5 assessment does not apply.
(d)
|
Permitting History at Prairie Creek
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In 1992 the Company was granted an Exploration Land Use Permit by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development under the
Territorial Lands Act
. Further baseline studies were undertaken in 1994 in support of planned re-development and permitting activity at that time. A new Exploration Land Use Permit N95F346 was issued by the Minister in 1995 under the Territorial Lands Act, which included use of a portion of the winter road.
In 1995 environmental and geotechnical studies were carried out to facilitate the pre-production permitting process. A project description report was compiled by Rescan Environmental Ltd. and filed with the Northwest Territories Regional Environmental Review Committee (“RERC”). This report contains details of all the environmental work completed at the Prairie Creek Property. The report was filed to elicit terms of reference for an initial environmental evaluation report. A permit application was screened in 1995 as a Level 1 screening pursuant to the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
(CEAA) and it was determined that that project could proceed as it was not likely to cause significant adverse effects pursuant to section 20(1)(a) of the CEAA. A Land Use Permit Application for upgrading the access road to an all-weather road was also filed with the appropriate government agency. While the re-permitting process was subsequently discontinued in 1995, these studies represent a significant contribution to the environmental information database in support the Prairie Creek Project.
The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board was created on March 31, 2000. The Water Board and its associated regional boards took over regulatory functions previously performed by the DIAND, the Northwest Territories Water Board, and the Government of the Northwest Territory’s Department of Municipal and Community Affairs on Commissioner’s Lands.
The Company initiated preliminary discussions with the new Water Board and regulatory authorities in Yellowknife in August, 2000 with respect to re-development and re-permitting of the Prairie Creek mine. A follow up presentation was made to the Governmental Mineral Development Advisory Group (“MDAG”) in November 2000 to elicit specific feedback from each of the regulatory agencies on the information requirements necessary for them to fulfill their roles in review of applications for permits and licences for the Prairie Creek mine.
Since August 2000, Prairie Creek has undergone five Environmental Assessments by the Review Board and has received five separate Land Use Permits and two Water Licences to carry out exploration and development at the Prairie Creek Mine and in the immediately surrounding area, through the new Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Process.
(e)
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Land Use Permit – Phase 1 Exploration
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Canadian Zinc applied to Water Board on July 28, 2000 for a Land Use Permit (“LUP”) (MV2000C0030) to carry out a seven drill hole program and to access the Sundog (or CAT) Camp located along the winter road to retrieve fuel and clean up the camp area, which work was planned for the fall of 2000. On October 4, 2000, the Water Board referred the application to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board for environmental assessment. The application was then split into separate LUP applications with specific reference to the drilling program and the Cat Camp clean-up.
Following environmental assessment, a LUP was issued by the Water Board on June 14, 2001 which permitted the seven drill hole program (MV2000C0030A).
(f)
|
Sundog (CAT) Camp – Clean Up Permit
|
On May 9, 2001, the Review Board issued its Report to the Minister recommending that the Cat Camp permit be approved but that the work be done in winter 2001/2002. Canadian Zinc preferred to do it in the summer season when the Prairie Creek Camp was open and there would be easier access. In June 2001 Environment Canada issued a direction to DIAND to take steps to prevent the deposit of petroleum products at Cat Camp into the surrounding environment. In March 2002 DIAND flew in and incinerated the fuel. On June 17, 2002, three months after the fuel was incinerated, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development referred the Environmental Assessment Report back to the Review Board for further consideration, pointing out that it was no longer possible to carry out the proposed development work as there was no longer any fuel to be retrieved. In July 2002 the Review Board dismissed the proceeding.
(g)
|
Land Use Permit – Phase 2 Exploration
|
On March 5, 2001, the Company submitted a Land Use Permit application for a Phase 2 Exploration Drilling Program and this application was also referred for Environmental Assessment. After Environmental Assessment by the Review Board, on November 30, 2001 the Water Board issued Land Use Permit MV2001C0022A, valid for a period of five years, authorizing the drilling of up to 60 exploration holes on the Zone 3 Mining Lease and within 1,000 metres of the Prairie Creek Mine. In November 2006 this Land Use Permit was renewed for a further period of two years. The Land Use Permit was allowed to expire in November 2008 and was superseded as described below in “(j) Land Use Permit – Phase 3 Exploration.”
(h)
|
Water Licence and Land Use Permit – Underground Development
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The Company applied to the Water Board on March 5, 2001 for Type ‘B’ Water Licence and a Land Use Permit (MV2001L2-0003) for underground decline development and metallurgical pilot plant operation planned for the Prairie Creek mine. The application was distributed to government agencies, First Nations communities and other organizations in order for the Water Board to conduct a preliminary screening as required by
Part 5 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
.
However in April 2001, both the Parks Canada Agency and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation referred the proposal to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board for Environmental Assessment (“EA”) pursuant to section 126(2) of the MVRMA. The referral to EA occurred prior to the Water Board’s completion of its preliminary screening of the proposed development.
The Environmental Assessment was conducted throughout 2001 and into 2002. The Review Board submitted its Report of Environmental Assessment (“EA Report”) on February 5, 2002 to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. On September 3, 2002, the Minister requested that, as per section 130(1)(b)(i) of the MVRMA, the Review Board was to give further consideration to unresolved issues in the EA Report relating to the tailings containment area and water treatment in general.
Following further assessment the Review Board submitted its Reasons for Decision on April 4, 2003, outlining recommended revisions and additions to the recommendations in its February 5, 2002 EA Report. On June 16, 2003, the Minister approved the Reasons for Decision and directed the Water Board to proceed with the licensing process.
On September 10, 2003 the Water Board approved the issue of Water Licence MV2001L2-0003, and the Land Use Permit MV2001C0023 subject to the conditions set out therein. The Water Licence contains the terms and conditions that the Board felt necessary to protect the environment, conserve the water resources of the Prairie Creek watershed and provide appropriate safeguards in respect of the Company’s use of waters and deposit of wastes.
On October 10, 2003 an appeal to the Federal Court was filed by the Nahanni Butte Dene Band, Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and the Dehcho First Nations against the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and the Company seeking Judicial Review of the decision of the Water Board to issue the Water Licence to the Company. The Applicants’ grounds were that the Water Board issued the Water Licence without including certain conditions included in the recommendations of the Review Board and in the Minister’s approval, and that the Water Board failed to provide the Applicants with adequate consultation throughout the Licence process. Subsequently both the Attorney General of Canada, representing the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, represented by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund (now known as Ecojustice), applied to the Federal Court to be joined as Intervenors in this Appeal.
The Judicial Review hearing was heard by the Court in August 2005. The Lawyers representing the First Nations had argued that the Water Board had exceeded its jurisdiction in issuing the Water Licence without including certain conditions on water treatment which had been recommended by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and approved by the Minister, and that the Water Board had failed to observe the principles of natural justice.
In December 2005 the Court issued its Judgment directing the Water Board to reissue the Water Licence with the inclusion of additional language which had been agreed between the Company and the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. On February 6, 2006 the Water Board reissued the Water Licence incorporating the wording as per the Order of the Federal Court of Canada. The Water Licence was valid for a period of five years expiring September 10, 2008.
In September 2008, the Water Board granted a two year extension to the Company’s Land Use Permit to September 9, 2010 and the Water Licence was renewed for a period of five years to September 9, 2013.
As contemplated in the Water Licence, the following plans were prepared and have been approved by the Water Board: Minewater Treatment Contingency Plan; Effluent Treatment Options Plan; Abandonment and Reclamation Plan. An existing Fuel Spill Contingency Plan was revised and approved. A Probable Maximum Flood calculation was updated and approved, and flood protection structures and the tank farm facility and associated containment structures were inspected and approved.
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Land Use Permit – Winter Road
In May 2003, the Company applied to the Water Board for a Land Use Permit for use of the existing Winter Road from the Liard Highway to the Prairie Creek Mine. The Company argued that this application is exempt from the Environmental Assessment process by virtue of Section 157.1 of the Act. [See 3.1.9(c) “Grandfather” Provisions] The Company’s argument was rejected by the Water Board on June 1, 2004. The Company filed an Appeal to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories seeking judicial review of the decision of the Water Board. The Appeal was heard by the Supreme Court in December 2004.
In a written decision dated May 6, 2005 in the case
Canadian Zinc Corporation v Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (SCNWT S-0001-CV2004)
the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories ruled in favour of the Company that its Winter Road permit application is “
grandfathered
” and is therefore exempt from the Environmental Assessment process under the
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (“MVRMA”)
.
In its decision the Supreme Court said that the permit sought by Canadian Zinc is related to the operation of the Winter Access Road, a permit in respect of that same undertaking had been issued before 1984, and therefore the exemption provided in Section 157.1 of the MVRMA governs and a Part 5 assessment does not apply.
This application for a Land Use Permit for the road was referred back to the Water Board. In June 2005 the Nahanni Butte Dene Band wrote to the Water Board asserting infringement of Aboriginal rights and inadequate consultation under Section 35 of the Constitution of Canada. The issue was referred to the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development which conducted a preliminary assessment and submitted its report to the Water Board in February 2007.
On April 11, 2007 the Water Board approved the issue of Land Use Permit MV2003F0028 for a period of five years to April 10, 2012.
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Land Use Permit – Phase 3 Exploration
In April 2004, Canadian Zinc applied to the Water Board for an amendment to its previously approved Land Use Permit MV2001C0022A allowing a 60 hole mineral exploration program within 1,000 metres of the Prairie Creek Mine site facility. The amendment was submitted in order to obtain permission to drill anywhere on the extensive mineral leases and claims held by Canadian Zinc at the Prairie Creek Property. Following a Preliminary Screening in June 2004, the Water Board referred the proposed development for Environmental Assessment to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board citing “public concern about the cumulative effects of this project on the South Nahanni Watershed”.
A detailed Environmental Assessment was carried out throughout 2005. Five government agencies, two first nations and one non-governmental organization (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (“CPAWS”)) participated in the Environmental Assessment, which continued over a period of about eighteen months. Canadian Zinc submitted a Detailed Development Description dated December 2004. The Review Board issued its Terms of Reference in April 2005 and held scoping sessions (public meetings) during March and April 2005 in the NWT communities of Fort Liard, Fort Simpson and Wrigley, NT. Canadian Zinc submitted its Developer’s Assessment Report in May 2005 and Technical Reports were submitted by the end of August 2005. A Public Hearing was held in Fort Simpson NT, on October 6, 2005.
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board completed its Report of Environmental Assessment and submitted the Report to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on December 23, 2005.
The Review Board has concluded that, with the implementation of the commitments made by Canadian Zinc and three mitigation measures recommended in the Report, the proposed development is not likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment or be cause for significant public concern. The Review Board recommended to the Minister that this development proceed to the regulatory phase of approvals.
The Review Board examined the Public Record for evidence of possible significant adverse impact on the environment, for evidence of cumulative effects from the development in combination with other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future developments, and for evidence of public concern.
The Review Board found that significant adverse cumulative impacts on the environment can be prevented with adequate environmental management. The Review Board also found that the proposed development is not likely to be cause for significant public concern as long as all of the Company’s commitments and all of the measures recommended by the Review Board are implemented.
The Review Board concluded that some public concern over cumulative effects on the Nahanni watershed exists but that this concern would be greatly diminished if the public had assurance that the Company’s commitments, and the additional mitigation measures recommended by the Review Board, would be effectively implemented. The Review Board found that there would not be a concern if the public is kept up-to-date about the environmental protection measures Canadian Zinc will be using. “The best way for the public to receive this assurance is through an independent community environmental monitor who reports back to the effected communities.”
“The Review Board is of the view that the full responsibility for monitoring, evaluation and management should not necessarily rest on the Company alone. Expert agencies of government, such as Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Environment Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Government of the Northwest Territories, should be involved co-operatively in the design of this comprehensive monitoring program.”
The Review Board noted that incremental development in the Prairie Creek area is likely to continue and is likely to increase rather than decrease in the foreseeable future. There has already been considerable development in the Prairie Creek watershed and development is likely to increase. On the other hand, all present and reasonable foreseeable future developments are by the same developer, are in close proximity, and are operated, if not as one development, in a co-ordinated and overlapping fashion. This provides Canadian Zinc with an opportunity to effectively manage cumulative effects through responsible environmental management of its activities in each of the developments in the area.
The Review Board recommended approval of the proposed development subject to three mitigation measures. The measures are the actions necessary, in the opinion of the Review Board, to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts on the environment. The three measures recommended by the Review Board are:
·
|
Government and regulatory authorities are to ensure that all drill waste is disposed of in a manner that does not allow any harmful substance to enter surface waters.
|
·
|
Canadian Zinc shall take every reasonable effort to employ a local person, selected in consultation with the Dehcho First Nations, as community environmental monitor, who will independently report back to the Dehcho First Nations.
|
·
|
DIAND shall ensure that a comprehensive program to monitor cumulative impacts on fish, wildlife, vegetation and water quality is implemented.
|
In February 2006 the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and on behalf of the Responsible Ministers with jurisdiction (Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Fisheries and Oceans, and the Minister of the Environment on behalf of Environment Canada and Parks Canada), approved the report of the Review Board.
In May 2006 the Water Board issued the Land Use Permit for the Phase 3 exploration drill program, which is valid for five years commencing May 11, 2006. The Company recently received a two year extension to this Land Use Permit which now expires May 10, 2013.
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Water Licence and Quarrying Permit – Road Rehabilitation
In June 2007, Canadian Zinc applied to the Water Board for a Class B Water Licence (MV2007L8-0026) to rehabilitate a portion of the road in the proximity of the mine site and sought authorization from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (“DFO”) to carry out the work. Also in June 2007, the Company applied to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for a quarrying permit to obtain rock to be used in the road rehabilitation.
In June 2007, the Dehcho First Nations claimed that the rehabilitation work constituted a significant alteration to the Winter Road project and requested that the application for the water licence for the proposed rehabilitation work be referred for Environmental Assessment. In December 2007, the Water Board ruled that the proposed rehabilitation work did not constitute a significant alteration.
The issuance of these permits was delayed as they were referred to consultation between the Crown and the Nahanni Band. The Company received the quarry permit on February 29, 2008 and the Water Licence on March 20, 2008. The Water Licence is valid for a period of five years expiring March 19, 2013. The authorization from DFO was received on July 15, 2008.
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Applications for Operating Licence/Permit
On May 28, 2008, the Company applied to the Water Board for a Type “A” Water Licence and three Type “A” Land Use Permits (“LUPs”); one for the operation of the Prairie Creek Mine and the other two for Transfer Facilities along the road. A detailed Project Description Report was filed with the Water Board as part of the permit applications.
The proposed new operation at Prairie Creek utilizes the existing infrastructure and facilities that were built in the 1980’s and which will be upgraded and enhanced to meet current-day environmental standards. The improvements proposed for specific site facilities will further mitigate the potential impact the Project may have on the environment. Specifically, the Company proposes to place waste rock and tailings underground in a cemented backfill mix, use the existing large pond for temporary water storage, and place development waste rock in an engineered facility removed from the Prairie Creek floodplain.
Subsequent to submitting the applications to the Water Board, the Company responded to a number of requests for additional information from the Water Board. On July 14, 2008, the Water Board advised the Company that all applications were deemed complete. A subsequent letter from the Water Board, dated July 21, 2008, indicated that the Water Board was moving forward with its preliminary screening of the application and had requested comments from interested parties by August 8, 2008.
The Water Board conducted a review of the submissions, and comments of reviewers, and interested parties, and of the submissions made by Canadian Zinc. During the course of the preliminary screening the Water Board determined that the land use permit and water licence applications might have a significant impact on the environment and might be the cause of public concern. The concerns were around water quality, wildlife, damage to landscape, and long term risk of contamination. The Water Board, after completing their preliminary screening, resolved, on September 17, 2008, to refer the land use permit applications as well as the water licence application to the Review Board for environmental assessment.
Previous to the official referral, on August 11, 2008, the Company was informed by the Review Board that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, under Section 126(2)(a) of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, had referred the proposed development of Prairie Creek to environmental assessment both on its own behalf and on request from the Nahanni Butte Dene Band as per Article 12 of the Settlement Agreement between the Dehcho First Nations (“DCFN”) and the Government of Canada.
An EA, conducted by the Review Board, is the next stage in the regulatory process following preliminary screening by the Water Board. The initial phase of the EA, and the main activities to date, consisted of community scoping sessions and written hearings submissions and rulings to determine the scope of the Terms of Reference for the EA.
The Company participated in six public scoping sessions in several Dehcho communities and in Yellowknife in late September/early October 2008 to enable discussion and questions to be addressed to assist in determining the overall scope of the EA. The community public sessions demonstrated that there is considerable local community support for the Prairie Creek project and there is no significant public concern amongst the communities. The Review Board was strongly encouraged to undertake a very focused and efficient EA. Two clear themes emerged: protection of water quality is paramount, and, jobs and economic activity are sorely needed in the Dehcho region.
The Review Board originally proposed a deadline of October 14, 2008, for interested parties to provide scoping submissions but this was subsequently extended. Initially, the Review Board indicated that it anticipated providing further guidance on how the EA would proceed in the last week of November 2008.
On November 6, 2008, the Review Board received a Request for Ruling (the “Request”) from Ecojustice on behalf of Dehcho First Nations and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. The Request concerned the question whether the winter access road, and its use, should be included in the EA process. The Review Board subsequently decided to issue information requests to various parties to ensure that all potentially relevant materials to assist their decision on the Request would be available to all interested parties. The information request was published by the Review Board on November 26, 2008, and noted two questions:
(1) Whether the winter road should be part of the scope of development and subject to direct impact assessment during the EA; and
(2) Whether existing mine site infrastructure should be part of the scope of development and subject to direct impact assessment during the EA.
The Review Board proceeded to set deadlines for submissions and responses. These timelines were further extended to January 19, 2009, following a Review Board pre-hearing conference on December 17, 2008. The Review Board considered submissions and responses from interested parties, including Canadian Zinc which submitted that the winter road and existing mine site infrastructure should not be part of the assessment and that the EA should focus on the new developments and the new transfer stations on the winter road.
On March 5, 2009, the Review Board published its Ruling on the Scope of Development, finding that “all physical works and activities associated with the winter access road…..and all physical works and activities associated with the mine site…..are part of the scope of development for the Prairie Creek Mine environmental assessment.”
The Review Board also provided some comments with regard to the scope of assessment, noting that “In its forthcoming Draft Terms of Reference, the Review Board will provide its preliminary determination of the scope of assessment – what issues need to be examined in what level of detail during the environmental assessment – for review and comment. The Review Board reminds all interested parties that while the scope of development defines all the physical works and activities required to undertake the development, that does not mean that all physical works and activities are subject to the same level of assessment. Depending on their potential for impacts and subject to Review Board discretion, parts of the scope of development may be considered very closely, other very little or not at all.
“The Review Board will give full consideration to historic studies, impact assessment and operational information about all aspects of the Prairie Creek Mine before determining whether additional studies are required….The Review Board assures all interested parties it has no intention of ignoring the wealth of relevant existing evidence collected on how the existing infrastructure will likely interact with the environment.
“The Review Board also notes that the Prairie Creek Mine includes a variety of existing structures, including the winter access road and much of the mine site infrastructure. The Review Board accepts the argument made by Canadian Zinc and others that conducting an impact assessment on the construction of facilities, including the road, which have been present on the land for over 25 years is not likely to generate any useful information even if it is possible. The Review Board will not be assessing construction impacts of already built structures. The Board has decided that assessment of these facilities will be restricted to the effects of their ongoing operation in combination with the effects of other construction and operations necessary for the operation of the mine.”
The Review Board issued the
Draft Terms of Reference
and a
Draft Work Plan
in May 2009 and the final
Terms of Reference
and
Work Plan
on June 26, 2009.
Following the issue of the final
Terms of Reference
and
Work Plan
the Company commenced the preparation of the Developer’s Assessment Report (“DAR”) to be filed with the Review Board as part of the Environmental Assessment process. The DAR is a report compiled by the Company and its consultants which incorporates further detailed mine site studies relating to various aspects of the proposed operation and the potential impact on the environment in addition to the studies previously completed as part of the original Project Description Report. Particular emphasis and detail is placed on water quality impacts of the Mine on the Prairie Creek watershed. This includes mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed, and possible downstream impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems.
In addition, since the access road has been included in the scope of development, studies of various potential environmental effects of the operation of the road were further examined. The wider scope of development in the environmental assessment has provided the opportunity to optimize the road access route through examining alternative local routes that will lessen potential environmental impacts. The Company is proposing to re-align sections of the access road to accommodate the wishes of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band by avoiding wetlands and wildlife habitat, and Parks Canada by avoiding karst features in the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve through which part of the access road passes. The result has been the identification of a shorter road route that traverses firmer ground, has fewer bends and better gradients and which will improve safety and reduce human and environmental risks.
In March 2010, the Company submitted its Developer’s Assessment Report (“DAR”) for filing with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and on May 20, submitted an Addendum to the DAR to the Review Board. In a subsequent letter, dated May 28, 2010, the Review Board determined the DAR to be in conformity with the Terms of Reference.
The DAR is a report compiled by the Company and its consultants which incorporates further detailed mine site studies relating to various aspects of the proposed operation and the potential impact on the environment in addition to the studies previously completed as part of the original Project Description Report. Particular emphasis and detail is placed on water quality impacts of the Mine on the Prairie Creek watershed. This includes mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed, and possible downstream impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems.
A summary of the impacts assessed by the DAR is included in this Annual Information Form at “3.1.11—Environmental Matters—Impact Assessment.”
In addition, since the access road has been included in the scope of development, studies of various potential environmental effects of the operation of the road were further examined. The wider scope of development in the environmental assessment has provided the opportunity to optimize the road access route through examining alternative local routes that will lessen potential environmental impacts. The Company is proposing to re-align sections of the access road to accommodate the wishes of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band by avoiding wetlands and wildlife habitat, and Parks Canada by avoiding karst features in the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve through which part of the access road passes. The result has been the identification of a shorter road route that traverses firmer ground, has fewer bends and better gradients and which will improve safety and reduce human and environmental risks.
Following the submission and acceptance of the DAR, the Environmental Assessment proceeded with the first round of Information Requests.
A total of 131 Information Requests from various government departments and regulatory agencies were received on July 23, 2010. The Company’s responses to the Information Requests were submitted to the Review Board on September 13, 2010. A series of Technical Meetings involving all interested parties were then held by the Review Board in the community of Dettah, near Yellowknife, over three days from October 6 to 8, 2010, at which detailed technical reviews and discussions were carried out.
On October 20, 2010 the Review Board published the invitation for a Second Round of Information Requests, focusing on the information presented during the Technical Meetings. A further 53 Information Requests were received from government departments and regulatory agencies by the end of October 2010. The Second Round Information Requests largely focus on water quality questions, including mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed.
To adequately address a number of the Information Requests relating to site water management new bulk rock and water samples were collected from underground at the Prairie Creek Mine in order to perform more locked-cycle flotation tests to produce representative mill process water. The mill process water was further analyzed and tested to aid in determining the optimum water treatment scheme for the proposed mining operations. Additional site studies relating to hydraulic engineering, water storage pond facility, groundwater and transportation were also completed. Additional time was needed to complete these further detailed tests and laboratory studies and the Company submitted its responses to the Second Round of Information Requests to the Review Board on March 4, 2011.
The Review Board had announced on May 28, 2010, an estimated schedule for the EA, which outlined the Analytical phase, to be followed by a Hearing phase and Close of the public registry by December 2010, with a decision from the Review Board by March 2011. The schedule was an estimate only and will be extended to accommodate the additional round of Information Requests. It is expected that public hearings will now be held in April or May 2011 and that the EA process will be completed in mid 2011.
All proceedings, transcripts, technical reports and detailed information on the ongoing Environmental Assessment (EA0809-002) of Canadian Zinc’s Prairie Creek Mine are available on the website registry of the Review Board at http://www.reviewboard.ca/registry/.
After the Review Board decision the Report of EA is forwarded to the Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for further review. It is uncertain how long the review by the Minister may take. If accepted by the Minister the application is returned to the Review Board with recommendations to refer it back to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (“MVLWB”) to proceed to the permitting phase.
Following the EA will be a further regulatory stage, managed by the MVLWB (with input from territorial and federal agencies), before permits are issued. These permits will likely include conditions recommended as a result of the EA.
(m)
Permit Delays
Since August 2000 Canadian Zinc has been working on moving the Prairie Creek Project through the permitting process. The Mackenzie Valley resource management and permitting process is very cumbersome, slow and political, and to date has caused extreme delays to the Company in its efforts develop the Prairie Creek Property. Various permit applications have been the subject of five separate Environmental Assessments and the applications filed in 2008 are now undergoing Environmental Assessment. Five Land Use Permits, including a permit to use the access road in winter months, and two Water Licences have been issued to the Company since 2001 and two appeals for Judicial Review have been made to the Courts, in both of which the Company has prevailed.
In light of the likely extended timeframe that the permitting process will require, the Company has determined that it will continue to limit expenditures at Prairie Creek for the foreseeable future, with the exception of continuing to carry out projects and studies that will be of assistance for the EA process and also in determining and refining future anticipated mine plans. Given the open-ended nature of the Mackenzie Valley permitting process, the Company cannot, with any reasonable assurance at this point in time, provide a detailed estimate as to the likely costs of permitting activities in 2011. It is likely, given the Company’s experience to date, that the EA process will extend for a considerable time.
When the Company receives its operating permits, which is not a certain event, additional finance will be required to bring the mine into commercial production. This will be very dependent on future market conditions, especially with regard to commodity prices, which may impact the Company’s ability to complete development of Prairie Creek. The Company is currently evaluating the cost of the future development required at Prairie Creek and currently estimates that an additional $80 - $100 million will be required. This number, however, is highly uncertain and could materially change based on final project design, permitting conditions and economic circumstances conditions at that time.
3.1.11
Environmental Matters
Impact Assessment
The Developer’s Assessment Report submitted to the Review Board in March 2010 outlines the Company’s assessment of any Potential Environmental Impact that operating the Prairie Creek mine may have on the region as follows:
Human Environment
: The Prairie Creek Mine is a relatively modest project that is proposed for a region of the Northwest Territories that has limited other confirmed economic prospects. The real economic and social impact of this project will be generated through the participation of local labour and business in the area, including the communities of Nahanni Butte, Fort Simpson and Fort Liard. Participation will come in the form of direct employment, direct supply of goods and services, and spin-off activities. There will be a period of adjustment as people and communities integrate into the wage economy. The rise in financial wealth and all that it affords will more than offset this initial adjustment period. For those living in the project area, an operating Prairie Creek Mine offers an opportunity for a generation of employment, and will result in a population that is better educated, better trained and better able to cope with, adapt to and capture new opportunities in the future.
Access road operations are expected to increase traditional land use in the area since a re-aligned access road will afford easier access to hunting areas and trap lines. However, a cooperative effort is required to control road access because unauthorized use poses risks to safety and to wildlife from hunting pressures.
Water Quality
: Recent studies show that the historical discharge of untreated mine drainage has had no significant impact on downstream water and stream sediment quality, or aquatic life. This suggests Prairie Creek is not particularly sensitive to discharges from the Mine. Nevertheless, Canadian Zinc’s water management strategy for operations will minimize the potential for impacts.
Predictions show that the planned discharge from the Mine during operations will not cause metal concentrations in Prairie Creek to exceed the targets when creek flows are in the normal range year round. Canadian Zinc will monitor flows in the creek, and if flows are found to be lower than normal, the discharge will be temporarily adjusted so that the targets are not exceeded. This will mean no impacts on Prairie Creek water at the Mine, or 7 kilometres downstream at the new Nahanni National Park Reserve boundary.
After mine closure, there will be no drainage from mine portals because the Mine and access tunnels will be completely filled. However, bedrock surrounding the Mine workings is expected to allow the passage of groundwater. This water will contain metals, mostly from mineralization considered uneconomic and not mined, and to a lesser extent from the backfilled waste mixture. A small quantity of seepage from the covered Waste Rock Pile is also possible.
It is believed that the natural zinc concentrations that existed in Prairie Creek before any mine development potentially exceeded the water quality target during winter months when creek flows were lower than normal.
Predictions for Prairie Creek after mine closure suggest all metal concentrations will remain within the water quality targets when creek flows are in the normal range year round, but if creek flows are lower than monthly in winter, zinc concentrations could be similar to those predicted to have potentially occurred before mine development. Post-mine predictions also indicate higher cadmium concentrations in winter if creek flows are unusually low. However, cadmium is not stable in the natural environment and disappears quickly because of various natural reactions. Therefore, the target for this metal is unlikely to be exceeded. As such, it is likely that no additional impacts on water quality will occur after mine closure compared to pre-mine conditions
Following Technical Sessions held during October 2010 related to the Prairie Creek Environmental Assessment the Mackenzie Valley Review Board issued a Second Round of Information Requests and the Company received 54 Information Requests from seven agencies. The majority of requests related to further details of the proposed operating mine water quality and management.
In order to adequately address the Information Requests the Company needed to generate water products that would be representative of the proposed Prairie Creek operations. This required the collection of local Prairie Creek minesite source water products and included the collection of a 285 kg bulk mineralization composite rock sample from various underground headings, over 200 litres minewater and water directly from Prairie Creek itself. SGS Canada Inc., of Vancouver completed a Locked Cycle Test utilizing the collected rock and water samples in a laboratory bench scale study. The mill process flow sheet used in the Locked Cycle Test had been previously determined through numerous metallurgical studies. Both concentrates and waste products, including tailings and water, were generated from this laboratory scale milling process.
SGS-CEMI labs completed further primary treatment tests on both the process water and minewater. Further analysis related to effluent discharge of the proposed Prairie Creek Mine were completed by Hatfield Consultants of Vancouver. These included development of proposed site-specific water quality objectives, definition of an internal dilution zone and development of proposed Effluent Quality Criteria. Additional toxicity studies were completed, on the product effluent using both fish and organic growth to determine discharge toxicity levels and impact assessment related to aquatic sensitivities. These studies resulted in developing a more detailed water treatment scheme and water management system for the proposed Prairie Creek site.
The original proposal to use an end of pipe-type design to dispers mine effluent did not produce satisfactory mixing condition within the Prairie Creek dilution zone. Additional investigation of outfall effluent discharge design by Northwest Hydraulic Consultants was completed and a new exfiltration trench has been proposed and at the outfall location into Prairie Creek. In addition a downstream mixing analysis of the outfall water with Prairie Creek flows was also completed with the use of proprietory HEC-RAS hydraulic modeling software .
Fish
: Bull trout and mountain whitefish are found in Prairie Creek near the Mine, however numbers are low. Spawning trout have been found in Funeral Creek, a tributary of Prairie Creek upstream of the Mine. No evidence of spawning has been found downstream of the Mine. Based on the water quality predictions, mine operations should have no impact on fish. Water quality after Mine closure may cause limited impacts in the immediate vicinity of the Mine site when Prairie Creek flows are less than winter normals. These impacts may have occurred naturally before the Mine existed.
Air
: New power generators and an incinerator will limit the release of exhaust gases. Humid conditions will naturally control dust. Any impacts will be limited to the Mine area.
Wildlife and Vegetation
: Impacts to wildlife from Mine operations are expected to be limited and largely avoidable. Dall’s sheep lamb on high ground in the area in the spring and could be disturbed by air traffic. Flight path management will be adopted. There is a potential for mortality of Dall’s sheep, woodland caribou and wood bison associated with access road use. A wildlife sighting and notification system will be adopted, in addition to the posting of speed limits. Grizzly bear-human encounters are possible at the Mine site and programs to limit any attraction of bears will be implemented, along with training to respond appropriately to bear encounters. No significant impacts on vegetation are expected because of the relatively small areas of disturbance relative to the large areas of vegetation types.
Terrain and Stability
: No large-scale landslide features are evident near the Mine and access road, and the risk of major slope failure appears to be small. Small-scale slope failures and mudflows are possible along the access road east of the Mackenzie Mountains, particularly where permafrost might exist in lowland areas. Impacts can be minimized by good drainage and avoiding removal of the vegetation layer during annual road construction. Engineered structures (the Water Storage Pond and Waste Rock Pile) have been designed to be stable during earthquakes. Dykes protecting the site during major floods were designed and built properly. Maintenance repairs have been made to the armour rock on the dykes.
Accidents and Malfunctions
: The majority of Mine activities, and all those associated with chemicals, fuel and hazardous material, will take place within a dyke-protected area, isolated from Prairie Creek. Any spills or contamination can be contained on site, and discharge of site water to the environment can be stopped temporarily. The potential for spills or leaks along the access road will be minimized by controlling road use and using industry-standard containers for transport and storage. Winter conditions will assist in the containment of any spills until a response team can complete a clean-up. The bags of concentrate being transported will be frozen, but road bed tests will be made along the route to make sure material is not being lost.
Cumulative Effects
: Very little other activity is or will likely be occurring in the area during Mine operations that could cause cumulative effects. If the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline construction occurs during the life of the Mine, there will be significant regional disruption, but this is unlikely to significantly affect the Mine because the pipeline will require short-term skilled labour. Unauthorized use of the access road would raise safety and wildlife concerns. Canadian Zinc is hoping to control access, and will closely monitor road activity.
Monitoring and Reporting
: Significant monitoring of operations and the environment will occur during and after the Mine’s life. Canadian Zinc expects individuals from local communities to be involved in this, preferably as employees. Canadian Zinc undertakes to share the monitoring results. Canadian Zinc’s desire is for the current Canadian Zinc-Parks Canada-Dehcho Technical Committee to evolve into a more public, inclusive committee that meets frequently in the region, and is used as a forum to review Mine performance and to discuss and address concerns.
The Developer’s Assessment Report is currently being reviewed by the Review Board as part of the ongoing Environmental Assessment.
Acid Rock Drainage
The mineral resources at the Prairie Creek Mine are hosted in carbonate rocks. The low sulphide values and high excess neutralization potential of the host rocks (and tailings products) indicate that these materials will pose no long term hazard to the environment through sulphide oxidation processes.
Rescan Environmental of Vancouver, B.C. undertook a detailed analysis of the acid generating characteristics of all dominant rock types at the Prairie Creek Mine in 1994. The results indicated an overwhelming dominance of acid neutralizing minerals, with acid neutralizing carbonate minerals exceeding the total capacity to generate acidity by an average factor of almost 200. Initial analysis of flotation tailings generated from metallurgical testwork has indicated a similar excess of neutralization potential. The Company does not anticipate the potential for any acid rock drainage impacts.
Mesh Environmental Inc. (“Mesh”) undertook a follow-up study during 2005/06, with the objectives of significantly expanding Rescan’s 1994 rock sample dataset and incorporating analyses on mineralized rock samples, tailings and concentrates. Sample collection was completed by Mesh at the Mine Site during September 2005. A total 66 samples were included in Mesh’s characterization program.
A total of ten process waste samples, including mill rock, flotation feed, tailings and concentrate samples from tests performed in 2005 were provided by SGS Lakefield Research Limited in Lakefield, Ontario (“SGS Lakefield”, ISO 9001-2000 accredited). So-called mill rock is wall rock dilution that will be separated from mineralized material in the processing plant.
Static laboratory geochemical characterizations were carried out by Mesh, including acid-base accounting (“ABA”), along with: total inorganic carbon and multi-element Inductively Coupled
Plasma (“ICP”) analyses on all samples; and mineralogy, expanded ABA (pyritic sulphur, siderite correction, acid-buffering characterization curves) and grain size analyses on a sub-set of samples. The following conclusions were made:
• all the host rock units are non-potentially acid generating (“non-PAG”), due to generally low amounts of contained sulphur (less than one percent of total sulphur) and the substantial effective buffering capacity provided by reactive carbonates, the latter reflecting the carbonate-rich nature of the host rock material (which conclusion is supported by the behavior of mixed waste rock that has been exposed on surface at the Mine Site for 25 years, which waste rock does not demonstrate acidic pH values and remains classified as non-PAG as a result);
• Main Zone vein- and stratabound-mineralization are classified as potentially acid generating due to an abundance of sulphide mineralization (although Mesh’s kinetic test data to December 2006 suggests that it may take a substantial amount of time for acidity to be generated, due to the significant amount of buffering capacity available from the carbonate host rocks);
• the two mill rock samples produced as by-products from Main Zone vein mineralization and overbreak are non-PAG and contain relatively low sulphur values (approximately 0.3 percent, or less);
• the final composite tailings samples are classified as non-PAG and contain sufficient buffering capacity to maintain neutral conditions under laboratory conditions;
• tailings supernatant is alkaline (pH 10.7 to 10.9), with total solids in solution (“TSS”) of five to 500 milligrams and relatively high sulphate concentrations of 170 to 230 milligrams per litre, respectively, over the two hour test period;
• sulphide concentrates are classified as potentially acid generating due to slightly elevated pyritic sulphur content and very little neutralization capacity;
• as a result of substantially higher neutralization potential, oxide concentrates are classified as non-PAG (oxide zinc concentrate) and as having uncertain acid generation potential (oxide lead concentrate).
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous and toxic waste materials have been stored at the Prairie Creek minesite, including sodium cyanide and PCB’s that remained from Cadillac’s operations in the early 1980’s. Diesel fuel is also stored on site. All such substances were stored in a secured manner and are regularly inspected by government agencies.
A disposal project for the cyanide and PCB’s commenced in 2007 which involved repackaging the materials such that they are ready for removal from the site for ultimate disposal. This program contracted professional toxic waste specialists to repack the new containers which were stored under tarpaulins on the approved chemical storage pad. In July 2008, following receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals, an airlift of the repacked sodium cyanide drums and associated repackaging waste took place utilizing a DHC-5 rear loading Buffalo aircraft, which shuttled the material from the Prairie Creek mine site to Fort Simpson. From Fort Simpson, Hazco Environmental Services Ltd. transported the cyanide by truck to Cyanide Destruct Systems in Barrie, Ontario and the repackaging waste was removed to Earth Tech’s Swan Hills Treatment Centre in Alberta for destruction and disposal.
In 2010 a program was undertaken to remove, by airlift, all PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) contaminated material that has been stored in a dedicated safe facility on site since 1982. The Company contracted Hazco Environmental Services to repackage, remove and transport the PCB material off-site to be disposed of, by incineration, at the certified Earth Tech Swan Hills disposal facilities in Northern Alberta.
Endangered Species
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (“COSEWIC”) lists only two species in the area of the Prairie Creek Mine: the Grizzly Bear (
Ursus arctos
) and the Wolverine (
Gulo gulo
), both of which are listed in the Special Concern category. In areas removed from the minesite, COSEWIC lists the Peregrin Falcon (
Falco peregrinus anatum
), the Woodland Caribou, Boreal population (
Rangifer tarandus caribou
) and the Wood Bison (
Bison bison athabascae
), each of which are considered threatened. No rare or highly valued species of vegetation or plant communities have been identified in the area. COSEWIC does not list any plant species as endangered, threatened or of special concern in the area of the Prairie Creek Mine.
Detailed field studies of wildlife populations and wildlife habitat in the area of the Prairie Creek Mine and the access road were conducted by Beak Consultants Inc. in 1980-81 and again by Rescan in 1994. None of the listed species and no critical habitats, such as denning or nesting areas, were identified in the area of the mine. Grizzly bears and wolverine have been observed or encountered only very infrequently in the area surrounding the mine over the past 20 years.
Caribou populations and potential caribou habitat have been identified in areas removed from the minesite to the north and east in the Mackenzie Mountains. Potential impacts to these populations are primarily transportation related and can be mitigated through standard road safety practices.
Specific surveys of potential Peregrine falcon nesting habitat have identified no nesting sites in the area of the minesite.
Wood bison were re-introduced into the Nahanni Butte area, 90 kilometres to the southeast of the Prairie Creek Mine, in 1980 with additions to the herd made in 1989 and again in 1998. As with caribou, potential impacts to these populations are primarily transportation related, in this case primarily in the area of the Liard Highway, and can be mitigated through standard road safety practices.
In 2010 the Company completed two wildlife surveys with Golder & Associates and Parks Canada, by fixed wing airplane, along the proposed winter road route in order to further assess the wildlife population with an emphasis on Caribou.
Nahanni National Park Reserve / Parks Canada Memorandum of Understanding
The South Nahanni River is highly valued as a wilderness recreation river and is used for canoeing trips during the summer months. These wilderness adventure tours are supported by a number of outfitting companies from as far away as Ontario.
The Nahanni National Park Reserve was created in 1972, following a canoe trip down the river by then Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, specifically for the purpose of setting aside the South Nahanni River for wilderness recreational purposes. Exploration activity at Prairie Creek had been ongoing for many years prior to 1972 and underground development was well advanced at that point in time.
Parliament formally established Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada in 1972, legally protecting it as Canada’s 26
th
National Park under the Canada National Parks Act. It was established as a National Park Reserve in view of the fact that there were outstanding land claims in the area. It will only become a fully fledged National Park once an agreement has been reached with the Dehcho First Nations.
Nahanni National Park Reserve is considered to be of global significance. In 1978, it was the first area added by UNESCO to its list of World Heritage Sites. There are only 13 sites in Canada designated as World Heritage Sites, eight of them being National Parks. Nahanni received this designation because of the geological processes and natural phenomena in the area. In UNESCO’s view, Nahanni is special because it is an unexploited natural area. The presence in this area of three river canyons cutting at right angles to the mountain ranges, with walls of up to 1,000 metres high, Virginia Falls which falls over 90 metres, hot springs, sink holes and karst topography are considered a special combination.
In considering and approving the nomination of Nahanni National Park Reserve for World Heritage Status, the World Heritage Committee stated that “it would be desirable to incorporate the entire upstream watershed in the World Heritage Site.” In 1977, the Minister responsible for Parks Canada directed Parks Canada to examine the possibility of expanding Nahanni National Park Reserve to include more of the head waters of the South Nahanni and the karst terrain. Several studies were conducted to assess this potential.
In June 2009 new legislation was enacted by the Canadian Parliament entitled
“An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act to enlarge Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada”
to provide for the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve. Nahanni National Park Reserve was expanded by 30,000 km
2
, making it the third largest National Park in Canada. The enlarged Park covers most of the South Nahanni River watershed and completely encircles the Prairie Creek Mine. However, the Mine itself and a large surrounding area of approximately 300 km
2
are specifically excluded from the Park and are not part of the expanded Park.
The exclusion of the Prairie Creek Mine from the Nahanni National Park Reserve expansion area has brought clarity to the land use policy objectives for the region and will facilitate various aspects of the environmental assessment process. The Government’s decision on the expansion of Nahanni National Park reflects a balanced approach to development and to conservation which allows for mineral resource and energy development in the Northwest Territories and at the same time protects the environment.
Section 7(1) of the new Act amended the
Canada National Parks Act
to enable the Minister of the Environment to enter into leases or licences of occupation of, and easements over, public lands situated in the expansion area for the purposes of a mining access road leading to the Prairie Creek Area, including the sites of storage and other facilities connected with that road. Heretofore, an access road to a mine through a National Park was not permitted under the
Canada National Parks Act
, and the Act was amended solely for Nahanni National Park Reserve and specifically for the purpose of providing access to the Prairie Creek Area.
Parks Canada
:
On July 29, 2008, Parks Canada Agency (“Parks Canada”) and Canadian Zinc entered into a MOU with regard to the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve and the development of the Prairie Creek Mine, whereby:
·
|
Parks Canada and Canadian Zinc agreed to work collaboratively, within their respective areas of responsibility, authority and jurisdiction, to achieve their respective goals of an expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve and an operating Prairie Creek Mine.
|
·
|
Parks Canada recognized and respects the right of Canadian Zinc to develop the Prairie Creek Mine and was to manage the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve so that the expansion did not in its own right negatively affect development of, or reasonable access to and from, the Prairie Creek Mine.
|
·
|
Canadian Zinc accepted and supported the proposed expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve and will manage the development of the Prairie Creek Mine so the mine does not, in its own right, negatively affect the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
|
Parks Canada and Canadian Zinc (the “Parties”) agreed to make every reasonable effort to address issues of common interest and build a strong working relationship, including convening a Technical Team, including representatives of the Dehcho First Nations, which will better identify, define and consider issues of common interest, including, among other things, access to and from the Prairie Creek Mine through the expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve and the park boundaries around the Prairie Creek Mine properties. The Parties have also agreed to share with one another and the Technical Team any existing technical and scientific information relevant to a discussion and analysis of issues of common interest to the Parties.
The MOU, which is valid for three years is intended to cover the period up to the development of the Prairie Creek Mine (Phase I) and may be amended or renewed as agreed by the Parties and may be terminated by either Parks Canada or Canadian Zinc on not less than three months written notice. It is contemplated that the Phase I MOU will be replaced by a further MOU (Phase II) which will address the operation of the mine and the expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The MOU is an expression of the mutual intentions of the parties and is not legally binding or enforceable. The MOU does not create any new powers or duties or alter or affect any rights, powers or duties established by law, including by the Parks Canada Agency Act and the Canada National Parks Act, or result in the Parties relinquishing any right, jurisdiction, power, privilege, prerogative or immunity.
To the extent that the Prairie Creek Mine is subject to regulatory or government processes, including hearings, Parks Canada reserves the right, while recognizing the intent of the MOU, to participate in any such process and take such positions as it sees fit and the MOU does not constrain Parks Canada from doing so, subject only to the understanding that Parks Canada has agreed not to object to or oppose, in principle, the development of the Prairie Creek Mine.
Environmental Obligations
As at December 31, 2009, the Company has estimated the present value of expenditures required for reclamation costs at the Prairie Creek Property to be approximately $2.350 million ( 2009- $2.383 million on an undiscounted basis), mostly to be incurred at the end of the life of the mine. Asset retirement obligations are recognized in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be determined. The fair value of the estimated asset retirement cost is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset when incurred or revised, and amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. Increases in the asset retirement obligation resulting from the passage of time are recorded as accretion expenses. Actual expenditures incurred are charged against the accumulated obligation. Various assumptions are used in determining the liability including current mine plans, future retirement costs and estimates of resources. The estimates used require extensive judgment as to the nature, cost and timing of the work to be completed and may change with future changes to cost structures, environmental laws and requirements and remediation practices employed. Management evaluates the asset retirement obligation estimates at the end of each reporting period to determine whether the estimates continue to be appropriate. Other than specific environmental matters discussed in this Annual Information Form, the Company is not aware of any material environmental matter requiring significant capital outlays in the immediate future.
3.1.12
First Nations
The Prairie Creek Mine is located on land claimed by the Nahanni Butte Dene Band of the Dehcho First Nations (“Dehcho” or “DCFN”) as their traditional territory. The Nahanni Butte (Nahaahdee) First Nation is a “band” pursuant to the Indian Act RSC 1985. The members of the Dehcho First Nations are Aboriginal people within the meaning of Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
The Dehcho are a distinct group of Aboriginal people, whose ancestors were among the South Slavey people of the Dene Nation of what is now the Northwest Territories, and the Metis people within the DCFN territory. The Dehcho have had their own system of laws, religion, economy, customs, traditions and language since time immemorial. Many Dehcho people continue to rely heavily on the land, water and resources within DCFN territory for sustenance, social and ceremonial purposes.
The DCFN is an organization representing all of the Dene and Metis peoples in the Dehcho territory of the Northwest Territories which comprise thirteen separate communities. The DCFN have incorporated a society under the laws of the Northwest Territories in order to provide leadership, governance, administration and program delivery to their member communities. The DCFN is a governing body of the Dehcho people lands, administers oversees a number of programs and services for its member communities including those relating to health, employment, education, and land and resource management.
The DCFN and their member Aboriginal communities hold collective Aboriginal title and rights and treaty rights to Dehcho territory and hold other Aboriginal rights as a collective in relation to their land and governance over the land and the Dehcho people.
In the Mackenzie Valley, land is owned, or managed, controlled and administered by different governments or landowners. Land can be either Crown or Commissioner’s land administered by land managers, or privately owned.
In the Northwest Territories, private lands are owned largely by First Nations with settled land claims. There are currently three major landowners in the Mackenzie Valley - the Gwich’in, Sahtu and Tlicho. It is anticipated that as claims are settled in the Dehcho region, more private lands will be created and Aboriginal groups will become recognized landowners in their respective regions.
The Federal Government has recognized that the inherent right of self government is an existing Aboriginal right recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Dehcho are engaged in ongoing land settlement negotiations with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories in what is referred to as the
“Dehcho Process.”
The Federal Government first attempted to negotiate land claim settlements in the Northwest Territories, with the Dene/Metis in the late 1980’s without success. Subsequently settlement agreements were reached first with the Gwich’in and Sahtu Dene/Metis people and later with the Tlicho in 2005. The Dehcho have not settled their land claim with the Federal Government. The Dehcho and the Federal Government of Canada both claim legal title to this territory, the Dehcho by virtue of historical occupation and the Federal Government under Treaty 8, signed in 1900, and Treaty 11 signed in 1921 and 1922. The Federal Government and the Dehcho First Nations disagree on the interpretation of Treaties 8 and 11 and legal title to the land remains in dispute. Canada maintains that under the Treaties the Dehcho extinguished ownership of their traditional lands. The Dehcho have threatened to take the Federal Government to court, or to the United Nations, over the key issue of sovereignty. The Dehcho territory has an area of approximately 210,000 km
2
and has a native population of approximately 6,000.
Since the mid 1990’s the Dehcho and the Federal Government have been engaged in the Dehcho Process whereby the Federal Government and the Government of the Northwest Territories have agreed to negotiate with the Dehcho First Nations on a government to government basis in order to set out land, resources and governance rights to apply in the Dehcho territory. The objective of negotiations is to complete a Dehcho Final Agreement which clarifies and builds upon existing Treaties by implementing a Dehcho government which will make laws and deliver programs and services; be a public government based upon Dehcho First Nations laws and customs and other Canadian laws and customs; and be the primary government for the delivery of programs and services to residents of the Dehcho territory. The Final Agreement will also describe intergovernmental relationships and jurisdictions, provide for certainty and clarity of rights respecting land, resources and governance and provide for the use, management and conservation of land, water and other resources, including wildlife, fish and their habitat in the Dehcho territory.
Early negotiations proved very slow in part because the Dehcho initially rejected the land selection process by which other land claim disputes have been typically settled in the North. Under the typical system, the Federal Government and First Nations select by negotiation particular areas of land in the area under dispute. Once selected the Government makes a financial payment and the claim is settled. However, the Dehcho have been holding out for full constitutional, legal and governmental control over their entire region, where effectively the laws of Canada would no longer apply, and this has led to lengthy and difficult negotiations.
The DCFN’s position is that the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act cannot and should not apply within Dehcho territory, that the legislation was enacted without the participation of, or any consultation with, the DCFN and was imposed on the Dehcho territory against DCFN wishes. The DCFN have stated that the Final Agreement must, among other things, include a new resource management regime in Dehcho territory other than the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.
In 2001, the Federal Government and the Dehcho First Nations entered into a
Framework Agreement
dated May 23, 2001. The Framework Agreement contemplates providing a structure for the negotiation of the
Final Agreement
. However, all negotiations are without prejudice to the legal position of the parties and nothing in the Framework Agreement is to be interpreted as creating, recognizing or denying rights or obligations of any of the parties. The Federal Government and the Dehcho agreed that it is desirable that the negotiations proceed at a pace which allows for the people of the Dehcho territory, and particularly the Elders, to remain fully informed and involved in the process.
As contemplated in the Framework Agreement, an
Interim Measures Agreement
, also dated May 23, 2001, was executed between the parties to provide for interim arrangements pending the negotiation and signing of the Dehcho Final Agreement.
Under the Interim Measures Agreement, the Governments and the Dehcho agreed to develop a land use plan for the Dehcho lands outside Nahanni National Park Reserve and for that purpose to establish a Land Use Planning Committee. The purpose of the Land Use Plan is to provide for the conservation, development and utilization of the land, waters and other resources in the Dehcho territory, taking into consideration the principles of respect for the land, as understood and explained by the Dehcho Elders, and sustainable development.
Under the Interim Measures Agreement, Canada and the Dehcho agreed to negotiate for the purpose of identifying lands to be withdrawn from disposal and mineral staking and Canada agreed to withdraw from disposal, by Order in Council under the
Territorial Lands Act
, the lands identified in this process.
The Interim Measures Agreement specifically provides at sections 19 and 23 that land withdrawn from disposal under the Agreement shall be subject to the continuing exercise of existing rights, titles, interests, entitlements, licences and permits and that the provisions of the Agreement shall not effect access to or across withdrawn lands.
The Agreement also provides that no new water licences or land use permits will be issued under the
Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
within the Dehcho territory except after written notice to the Dehcho First Nations and after a reasonable period of time for the Dehcho to make representations with respect to the application for such licence or permit. Canada also agreed not to issue any new prospecting permits under the
Canada Mining Regulations
in the Dehcho territory without the support of the affected Dehcho First Nation.
The parties also agreed to enter into negotiations for the purpose of concluding an
Interim Resource Development Agreement
with the objective of fostering resource development in the Dehcho Territory and to accrue benefits from Canada to the Dehcho First Nations. An Interim Resource Development Agreement was signed on April 17, 2003 under which Canada agreed to provide to the Dehcho First Nations a percentage of Federal resource royalties collected from the Dehcho area of the Mackenzie Valley.
Canada also agreed that the Final Agreement will ensure that a major mining project that requires any authorization from Canada, and that will impact on the Dehcho, shall be subject to negotiation with the Dehcho of an agreement relating to that project. A major mining project is defined as a project related to the development or production of minerals that will employ an average of 50 persons annually for the first five years in the Dehcho territory and for which more that $50 million will be expended in capital costs. The Company believes that the Prairie Creek Project is currently the only such major mining project in the Dehcho territory.
The Interim Measures Agreement also provided that the Dehcho may propose protected areas for land withdrawal or permanent protection under the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy. The parties also agreed to negotiate an interim management arrangement respecting the management of Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The Interim Measures Agreement was made without prejudice to the legal position of the parties and nothing in the Agreement is to be interpreted as creating, recognizing or denying rights or obligations on the part of the parties.
In 2003, Canada and the Dehcho agreed to an interim withdrawal of lands covering an area of approximately 80,000 km
2
for a period of five years. The withdrawal was confirmed by Order in Council dated August 13, 2003. The areas of the withdrawn lands do not include the Prairie Creek Mine but include all of the Company’s Mining Lease 2854 and part of Mining Leases 2931, 3314 and 3313. The withdrawn land also includes an area over which part of the Company’s road to the Prairie Creek Property passes. However in accordance with Sections 19 and 23 of the Interim Measures Agreement such withdrawal is subject to the continuing exercise of existing rights, titles, interests, entitlements, licences, permits, reservations, benefits and privileges and does not affect access to or across withdrawn land.
In August 2003, a
Memorandum of Understanding respecting the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve
dated 24 June 2003 was signed between the Dehcho and the Parks Canada Agency, whereby as part of the Dehcho Process, Parks Canada and the Dehcho agreed to work co-operatively towards completion of a feasibility study towards the addition of the identified lands to the Nahanni National Park Reserve and to recommend an amendment to the Canada National Parks Act for a new boundary for the expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve and, as part of the Dehcho Final Agreement, moving the Nahanni National Park Reserve to full National Park status under the Canada National Parks Act.
At the same time in August 2003, an
Interim Park Management Arrangement
for the Nahanni National Park Reserve was signed between the Dehcho and Parks Canada Agency designed to give the Dehcho a greater role in the Park management process. A Consensus Team was established, comprising three appointees of Parks Canada and four from the Dehcho First Nations (two from Nahanni Butte) to address, amongst other things, making recommendations in respect of impacts of land and resource uses in areas outside Nahanni National Park Reserve.
Under the Arrangement the Dehcho and Parks Canada agreed that while the current jurisdiction of Parks Canada is restricted to Nahanni National Park Reserve, the ecological integrity of the Park Reserve depends on the ecological integrity of the South Nahanni River watershed as a whole. The Prairie Creek Mine is located within the watershed of the South Nahanni River.
The Interim Park Management Arrangement is a statement of interests only and is not legally binding. Nothing in the Arrangement obliges Canada to act in a manner inconsistent with federal or territorial legislative or regulatory jurisdictions or authorities and the Nahanni National Park Reserve shall be administered and managed in accordance with the
Canada National Parks Act
.
During 2005 negotiations on the Dehcho Process broke down because of issues surrounding the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline. In June 2005 the Dehcho First Nations entered into a
Settlement Agreement
with Canada [represented by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development] to settle Court actions which had been commenced by the Dehcho in the Northwest Territories Supreme Court and in the Federal Court against Canada and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board arising out of disputes concerning the Mackenzie Gas Project. In the Settlement Agreement Canada and the Dehcho agreed to resolve issues related to the participation of the Dehcho in the environmental and regulatory review of the Mackenzie Gas Project and which they agreed to facilitate.
The Settlement Agreement recites that Canada and the Dehcho have differing views as to the existence and scope of the rights of the Dehcho First Nation(s) recognized by Section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982, and the nature and extent of Canada’s requirements to consult with the Dehcho First Nations. In the Settlement Agreement the parties agreed to take all reasonable steps to negotiate the terms of the Dehcho Final Agreement which would include agreement to establish a
Dehcho Resource Management Authority
(DCRMA) which will be a body of public government. The Final Agreement will describe the legal capacity, structure, accountability, rights, powers, privileges and responsibilities of the DCRMA; source(s) of the DCRMA’s powers, privileges and responsibilities; relationship of the DCRMA to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, and rules regarding conflict of laws and the priorities of laws. For greater certainty, the Final Agreement may provide for a stand alone DCRMA harmonized with the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. The Settlement Agreement provides that the Final Agreement will provide for the circumstances in which laws within the jurisdiction of the Dehcho First Nations, any successor organization, or any government established pursuant to a Final Agreement, will take priority over the laws of Canada in the event of a conflict. The parties agreed to negotiate a Final Agreement in accordance with the Dehcho First Nations Framework Agreement.
In the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to implement a Land Use Plan that is approved by the Dehcho First Nations, approved the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Northwest Territories, and favourably considered by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada, as soon as possible after the Plan’s completion.
In the 2005 Settlement Agreement the parties affirmed the Interim Resource Development Agreement dated April 17, 2003 and agreed to take immediate steps to establish a working group comprised of the parties to the Dehcho First Nations Interim Measures Agreement for the purposes of ensuring that the issues arising from the implementation of the Resource Development Agreement are addressed in a timely manner. The parties also agreed that once an Agreement in Principle is ratified, the resource royalty sharing formula set out in the Interim Resource Development Agreement will be replaced with any Resource Revenue Sharing Formula agreed to in the Agreement in Principle.
The Settlement Agreement further provides that, except for certain specified articles of the Agreement, the Settlement Agreement is not legally binding and is intended as an expression of goodwill and as a political commitment.
Negotiations under the Dehcho Process continued during 2006 with Canada presenting a formal comprehensive offer of land selection, local governance provisions and financial compensation but this offer was rejected by the Dehcho First Nations. The Dehcho First Nations are insisting on the approval of a Land Use Plan (see below). Negotiations continued intermittently during 2007 through 2009 with no apparent progress reported.
The
Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee
(the Committee), was formally established in February 2002 under the authority of the Dehcho Interim Measures Agreement with the responsibility to prepare a land use plan for the Dehcho territory. The land use planning process is a community driven process where the goals and values of the residents of the Dehcho guide the development of the Plan. The Committee works closely with other planning partners such as governments, public agencies, non-government organizations and businesses to fulfill its mandate.
Land use planning boards are responsible for preparing comprehensive land use plans for their respective settlement areas. These plans guide the use of Crown, settlement, and other private lands and provide direction for the conservation, development and use of land, waters and other resources. Essentially, the land use planning boards create plans which lay out the permitted and prohibited uses of all land within a settlement area. They develop land use plans for their regions and recommend approvals, exceptions and amendments to related plans.
A Land Use Plan is a public document that sets aside different areas for different uses, and describes what activities are permitted or not permitted in specified areas. The land use plan applies to both Crown and settlement lands. It does not apply to lands within municipal boundaries or lands within national parks or historic sites.
Once the land use planning board has adopted a Land Use Plan, it must submit the plan to the First Nation of the settlement area, the Territorial Minister and the Federal Minister for approval.
The mission statement of the Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee is to develop a land use plan as a management tool to determine what type of land use activities should occur and where they should take place. The plan will balance economic, social, environmental and cultural needs and interests. The plan will be guided by the principals of sustainable development and respect for the land as understood and explained by the Dehcho Elders. The planning area excludes municipal areas and Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The purpose of the Land Use Plan is to promote the social, environmental, cultural and economic well being of residents and communities in the Dehcho territory, having regard to the interests of all Canadians. The Plan shall provide for the conservation, development and utilization of the land, waters and other resources in the Dehcho territory.
The Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee includes representatives of the Dehcho First Nations, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Government of Canada. As outlined under the Dehcho Interim Measures Agreement the DCFN appointed two members while the two Governments each appointed one member. Upon the recommendation of the Committee, the parties to the Interim Measures Agreement appoint a fifth member as Chairperson.
Once approved the Land Use Plan will provide legally binding direction to regulatory agencies and decision-makers in their assessment of development projects, protected areas proposals and other land uses.
The Land Use planning process considered the traditional use and occupancy information that was gathered to determine the Interim Land Withdrawals, along with other information on the natural resources and the economic and social needs of the communities. In turn, the Plan will guide the revision of the Interim Land Withdrawals based on the new information that has been gathered. Representatives of the Planning Committee visited the Prairie Creek minesite in September 2004.
The Company made a detailed submission to the Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee and participated in the planning process. The Company commented on each draft of the Plan as such draft was produced and participated in various Public Forums. The Company had concerns about the latest draft of the Land Use Plan (November 2005 – Revised February 2006) and recommended that the draft in its current form not be approved. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has also expressed concern to the Committee (January 2006).
The draft Land Use Plan was approved by the General Assembly of the Dehcho First Nations in May 2006 and submitted to the Minister for consideration. The Minister did not accept the Plan arguing that it incorporated too much land to be preserved from development. In April 2007 the Federal Government and the Dehcho First Nations entered into an agreement to form a new Committee with representatives from all sides to negotiate a new revised plan. The Company understands that negotiations on a draft Land Use Plan are continuing.
The outcome of the Dehcho Process negotiations is expected to be a Final Agreement that will provide, amongst other things, for the implementation of a Dehcho government within the Dehcho territory. It is expected that the negotiations towards a Dehcho Final Agreement will take many years to complete.
The Company cannot predict the impact, if any, that the Dehcho Final Agreement if eventually approved and signed may have on the Prairie Creek Mine or the permitting thereof.
3.1.13
Nahanni Butte Dene Band
The Prairie Creek Mine is located 90 kilometres from the nearest settled community of Nahanni Butte, located at the confluence of the South Nahanni and Liard Rivers, 146 kilometres downstream of the minesite. The population of Nahanni Butte is approximately 90 people and water for domestic purposes is supplied by well. There is no permanent road access into the Prairie Creek Property, other than the existing Winter Road which was established in 1981. Regular access is by air only to a private airstrip controlled by the Company. There is no other existing land occupation, nor commercial land or water based activities in the vicinity of the mine. Similarly, no traditional use or trapping activity has been observed in the minesite area in recent history.
In October 2008, Canadian Zinc and the Nahanni Butte Dene Band entered into a MOU, to establish a mutually beneficial, co-operative and productive relationship. In the MOU, the Band agreed to maintain close communication links with Canadian Zinc, participate in good faith in current and pending environmental assessment and regulatory processes, and not to oppose, “in principle,” mining operations at Prairie Creek. Canadian Zinc has agreed to apply best efforts to employ Band members and to assist the Band and its community to benefit from business opportunities associated with the exploration and development of the Prairie Creek Project. The MOU also provides for the subsequent negotiation of an Impact Benefits Agreement regarding mining operations. Nothing within the MOU is intended to define, create or extinguish any rights of the Band or Canadian Zinc and the MOU is not legally binding on the parties.
The Company continued discussions and engagement with the Band throughout 2009, specifically regarding their Traditional Knowledge and alternate routes for the access road to Prairie Creek, taking into consideration the expressed preferences of the community of Nahanni Butte. The Band outlined their concerns with the project and the Company’s responses to date include investigation of road realignment options and surveys of specific locations along the access road for heritage resources.
During the year 2010, the Company continued its Impact Benefits Agreement discussions and engagement with the local communities of Nahanni Butte Dene Band.
On January 20, 2011 the Company signed the NAH?A DEHE DENE PRAIRIE CREEK AGREEMENT which provides for an ongoing working relationship between Canadian Zinc Corporation and the Nah?a Dehe Dene Band (Nahanni Butte Dene Band) that respects the goals and aspirations of each party and will enable the Nahanni community members to participate in the opportunities and benefits offered by the Prairie Creek Project and confirms their support for the Prairie Creek Mine.
The Agreement provides a framework such that training, employment and business contracts are made available to Nahanni to ensure maximization of benefits from opportunities arising from the Prairie Creek Project in a manner that will be to the mutual benefit of both parties.
The Company believes that the separate goals of the Dehcho First Nations in achieving political sovereignty and economic self-sufficiency whilst protecting the environment are compatible. The Nah?a Dehe Dene Prairie Creek Agreement provides for a positive and cooperative working relationship between the Company and Nahanni Butte in respect of developing and operating an environmentally sound mining undertaking at Prairie Creek, which will not have significant adverse environmental effects on the ecological integrity of the South Nahanni River or the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
3.1.14
Liidlii Kue First Nation (“LKFN”)
In October 2008, CZN and Liidlii Kue First Nation of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to formally establish a mutually beneficial, co-operative and productive relationship with regard to the exploration and development of the Prairie Creek Mine and to demonstrate that LKFN and Canadian Zinc intend to work together, as responsible corporate citizens of the region, in a spirit of co-operation for mutual benefit as well as social, ecological, cultural and economic well-being.
The Liidlii Kue First Nation of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, is a member of the Dehcho First Nations. Fort Simpson, located approximately 500 kilometres east of the Prairie Creek Mine, is the administrative centre and main service centre of the Dehcho region. Fort Simpson has a population of approximately 1,200 and the LKFN Band, which is the largest in the Dehcho has 1,175 Members.
The purpose of the MOU is:
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to provide a process through which Canadian Zinc, in pursuing its exploration and development activities at the Prairie Creek Mine, can consult with and accommodate the interests of LKFN with a view to amicably reconciling any issues that might arise;
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to establish a relationship through which LKFN can identify opportunities for its businesses and members to participate in Canadian Zinc’s exploration and development activities; and
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to set out the objectives, process and topics for the negotiation of an IBA between LKFN and Canadian Zinc, which is specifically intended to cover the future operations of the Prairie Creek Mine project.
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The MOU provides for implementation of a more formalized structure for communication and information exchange through, among other things, the appointment of a Community Information Representative, establishing a Communications Committee and hiring an Environmental Monitor.
In the MOU, Canadian Zinc has agreed to make its best efforts to employ LKFN members and to assist LKFN and its community to benefit from business opportunities associated with the exploration and development of the Prairie Creek Project. Canadian Zinc and LKFN have agreed to use their best efforts to negotiate an IBA but nothing in the MOU is intended to define, create or extinguish any rights of LKFN or Canadian Zinc and the MOU is not legally binding on the parties. Discussions with LKFN continued throughout 2009 and 2010 as the parties move towards completion of an impact and benefits agreement.
In conducting its business, Canadian Zinc faces a number of risks common to the mining and exploration industry. These are summarized below. There are also certain specific risks including those listed below, associated with an investment in the Company and prospective investors and their advisors should consider carefully these specific risk factors associated with an investment in Canadian Zinc.
4.1
Political and Legislative
Canadian Zinc conducts its operations in the Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories of Canada in an area which is claimed by the Dehcho First Nations as their traditional territory. The Dehcho have not settled their land claim with the Federal Government of Canada. The Dehcho and the Federal Government both claim legal title to this territory and legal title to the land remains in dispute. The Company’s operations are potentially subject to a number of political, legislative and other risks. Canadian Zinc is not able to determine the impact of political, legislative or other risks on its business or its future financial position.
Canadian Zinc’s operations are exposed to various levels of political, legislative and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, cancellation, renegotiation or nullification of existing leases, claims, permits and contracts; expropriation or nationalization of property; changes in laws or regulations; changes in taxation laws or policies; royalty and tax increases or claims by governmental, Aboriginal or other entities; retroactive tax or royalty claims and changing political conditions; government mandated social expenditures; governmental regulations or policies that favour or require the awarding of contracts to local or Aboriginal contractors or require contractors to employ residents of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction or area; or that require that an operating project have a local joint venture partner, which may require to be subsidized; and other risks arising out of sovereignty or land claims over the area in which Canadian Zinc’s operations are conducted.
The mining, processing, development and mineral exploration activities of Canadian Zinc are subject to extensive federal, territorial and local laws and regulations, including various laws governing prospecting, development, production, taxes, labour standards and occupational health, mine safety, toxic substances, land use, water use and other matters. Such laws and regulations are subject to change and can become more stringent and costly over time. No assurance can be given that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner which could limit or curtail exploration, production or development. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing operations and activities of exploration and mining, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a substantial adverse impact on Canadian Zinc.
In 1998 - 2000 there was a major change to the legislative and regulatory framework and regulations in the Mackenzie Valley. There can be no assurance that these laws and regulations will not change in the future in a manner that could have an adverse effect on the Company’s activities and/or its financial condition.
In relation to Northwest Territories specifically, a number of policy and social issues exist which increase Canadian Zinc’s political and legislative risk. The Government of Canada is facing legal and political issues, such as land claims and social issues, all of which may impact future operations. This political climate increases the risk of the Government making changes in the future to its position on issues such as mining rights and land tenure, which in turn may adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations. Future government actions cannot be predicted, but may impact the operation and regulation of the Prairie Creek mine. Changes, if any, in Government policies, or shifts in local political attitude in the Northwest Territories may adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations or business.
Canadian Zinc’s exploration, development and production activities may be substantially affected by factors beyond Canadian Zinc’s control, any of which could materially adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s financial position or results of operations. The occurrence of these various factors and uncertainties cannot be accurately predicted. The Company is not able to determine the impact of these risks on its business.
4.2
Permitting, Environmental and other Regulatory Requirements
The operations of Canadian Zinc require licences and permits from various governmental and regulatory authorities. Canadian Zinc believes that it is presently complying in all material respects with the terms of its current licences and permits. However, such licences and permits are subject to change in various circumstances. Canadian Zinc does not hold all necessary licences and permits under applicable laws and regulations for the operation of the Prairie Creek mine. There can be no guarantee Canadian Zinc will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary licences and permits as are required to explore and develop its properties, commence construction or operation of mining facilities or properties under exploration or development, or to obtain them within a reasonable time.
The Prairie Creek Project is located in an environmentally sensitive and remote area in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories, within the watershed of the South Nahanni River. The South Nahanni River is considered to be of global significance, is highly valued as a wilderness recreation river and is a designated World Heritage Site. The South Nahanni River flows through the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The Prairie Creek mine is encircled by the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve. However, an area of approximately 300 km
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immediately surrounding the Prairie Creek Mine is specifically excluded from the Park. In 2009 new legislation entitled
“An Act to Amend the Canada National Parks Act to enlarge Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada”
was enacted, which also authorized the Minister of Environment to enter into leases, licences of occupation or easements over Nahanni Park lands for the purposes of a mining access road leading to the Prairie Creek Mine Area, including the sites of storage and other facilities connected with that road. The Company will require permits from the Minister of Environment and / or the Parks Canada Agency for the purposes of accessing the Prairie Creek Mine Area. There can be no guarantee the Company will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary permits or to obtain them within a reasonable time or on acceptable terms.
The Company has experienced long delays in obtaining permits to date. The Company anticipates continuing difficulties and delays with its permitting activities and faces ongoing opposition and legal challenges from certain interests.
Canadian Zinc’s activities are subject to extensive federal, provincial, territorial and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection and employee health and safety. Canadian Zinc is required to obtain governmental permits and provide bonding requirements under federal and territorial water and mine regulations. All phases of Canadian Zinc’s operations are subject to environmental regulation. These regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of water and air quality standards and land reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner, which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, and more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects. There is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulation, if any, will not adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations.
Environmental laws and regulations are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. These laws are continuously evolving. Any changes in such laws, or in the environmental conditions at Prairie Creek, could have a material adverse effect on Canadian Zinc’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations. Canadian Zinc is not able to determine the impact of any future changes in environmental laws and regulations on its future financial position due to the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate form such changes may take. The Company does not currently consider that its expenditures required to maintain ongoing environmental monitoring obligations at the Prairie Creek mine are material to the results and financial condition of the Company. However, these costs could become material in the future and would be reported in the Company’s public filings at that time.
Although Canadian Zinc makes provision for reclamation costs, it cannot be assured that these provisions will be adequate to discharge its obligations for these costs. As environmental protection laws and administrative policies change, Canadian Zinc will revise the estimate of its total obligations and may be obliged to make further provisions or provide further security for mine reclamation cost. The ultimate amount of reclamation to be incurred for existing and past mining interests is uncertain. Additional discussion on the impact of reclamation costs is included in this Annual Information Form at “3.1.11. Environmental Matters--Environmental Obligations.”
Existing and possible future environmental legislation, regulations and actions could cause additional expense, capital expenditures, restrictions and delays in the activities of the Company, the extent of which cannot be predicted. Before production can commence on the Prairie Creek Property the Company must obtain regulatory approval, permits and licences and there is no assurance that such approvals will be obtained. No assurance can be given that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or made, or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied, in a manner which could limit or curtail production or development.
Regulatory approvals and permits are currently, and will in the future be, required in connection with Canadian Zinc’s operations. To the extent such approvals are required and not obtained, Canadian Zinc may be curtailed or prohibited from proceeding with planned exploration or development of its mineral properties or from continuing its mining operations.
Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions. The Company may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations.
Failure to comply with applicable environmental and health and safety laws can result in injunctions, damages, suspension or revocation of permits and imposition of penalties. There can be no assurance that Canadian Zinc has been or will be at all times in complete compliance with all such laws, regulations and permits, or that the costs of complying with current and future environmental and health and safety laws and permits will not materially adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s business, results of operations or financial condition. Environmental hazards may exist on the properties on which Canadian Zinc holds interests which are unknown to Canadian Zinc at present and which have been caused by previous owners or operators of the properties.
Amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining and exploration companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on Canadian Zinc Corporation and cause increases in exploration expenses, capital expenditures or production costs or require abandonment or delays in the development of mining properties.
The Prairie Creek project has, on numerous occasions, experienced significant delays in obtaining permits and licences necessary for the conduct of its operations. If at any time in the future permits essential to operations are not obtained, or not obtained in a timely manner, or exemptions not granted, there is a risk that the Prairie Creek mine may not be able to operate.
4.3
Metal Prices and Market Sentiment
The market price of metals and minerals is volatile and cannot be controlled. Metal prices have fluctuated widely, particularly in recent years. If the price of metals and minerals should drop significantly, as occurred in late 2008, the economic prospects for the Prairie Creek Project could be significantly reduced or rendered uneconomic. There is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of ore are delineated, a profitable market may exist for the sale of products, including concentrates from that ore. Factors beyond the control of the Company may affect the marketability of any minerals discovered or concentrates produced. The marketability of minerals is affected by numerous other factors beyond the control of the Company, including quality issues, impurities, government regulations, royalties, allowable production and importing and exporting of minerals, the effect of which cannot be accurately predicted. Factors tending to affect the price of metals include:
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• The relative strength of the U.S. dollar against other currencies;
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• Government monetary and fiscal policies;
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• Expectations of the future rate of global monetary inflation and interest rates;
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• General economic conditions and the perception of risk in capital markets;
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• Political conditions including the threat of terrorism or war;
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• Investment and industrial demand; and
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• Global production and inventory stocks.
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The effects of these factors, individually or in aggregate, on the prices of zinc, lead and/or silver is impossible to predict with accuracy. Fluctuations in metal prices may adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s financial performance and results of operations. Further, if the market price of zinc, lead and/or silver falls or remains depressed, Canadian Zinc may experience losses or asset write-downs and may curtail or suspend some or all of its exploration, development and mining activities.
Furthermore, sustained low metal prices can halt or delay the development of new projects; reduce funds available for mineral exploration and may result in the recording of a write-down of mining interests due to the determination that future cash flows would not be expected to recover the carrying value.
Metal prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond Canadian Zinc’s control such as the sale or purchase of such commodities by various central banks and financial institutions, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation, fluctuation in the value of the United States dollar and foreign currencies, global and regional supply and demand, and the political and economic conditions of major mineral and metal producing countries throughout the world. Future production from Canadian Zinc’s mining properties is dependent on mineral prices that are adequate to make these properties economic. The prices of metals have fluctuated widely in recent years, and future or ongoing serious price declines could cause continued development of and commercial production from Canadian Zinc’s properties to be impracticable. Depending on the price of metal, cash flow from mining operations may not be sufficient and Canadian Zinc could be forced to discontinue production and may lose its interest in, or may be forced to sell, its properties.
In addition to adversely affecting Canadian Zinc’s reserve or resource estimates and its financial condition, declining commodity prices can impact operations by requiring a reassessment of the feasibility of a particular project. The need to conduct such a reassessment may cause substantial delays or may interrupt operations until the reassessment can be completed.
Currency fluctuations may affect the costs that Canadian Zinc incurs at its operations. Zinc, lead and silver are sold throughout the world based principally on the U.S. dollar price, but operating expenses are incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar increases the cost of production in U.S. dollar terms at mines located in Canada.
The development of the Company’s properties will depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain financing through private placement financing, public financing, the joint venturing of projects, bank financing or other means. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining the required financing.
Securities of junior and small-cap companies have experienced substantial volatility in the past, often based on factors unrelated to the financial performance or prospects of the companies involved. These factors include macroeconomic developments in North America and global and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. The share price of Canadian Zinc is likely to be significantly affected by short-term changes in metal prices. Other factors unrelated to Canadian Zinc’s performance that may have an effect on the price of its shares include the following: the extent of analytical coverage available to investors concerning Canadian Zinc’s business may be limited if investment banks with research capabilities do not follow the Company’s securities; lessening in trading volume and general market interest in the Company’s securities may affect an investor’s ability to trade significant numbers of common shares; the size of Company’s public float may limit the ability of some institutions to invest in the Company’s securities; and a substantial decline in the price of the common shares that persists for a significant period of time could cause the Company’s securities to be delisted from an exchange, further reducing market liquidity.
As a result of any of these factors, the market price of the Company’s shares at any given point in time may not accurately reflect Canadian Zinc’s long-term value. Securities class action litigation often has been brought against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. Canadian Zinc may in the future be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and damages and divert management’s attention and resources.
The development and exploration of Canadian Zinc’s property will require substantial additional financing. Failure to obtain sufficient financing will result in delaying or indefinite postponement of exploration, development or production on Canadian Zinc’s property or even a loss of property interest. There can be no assurance that additional capital or other types of financing will be available when needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favourable to Canadian Zinc.
4.4
Exploration and Development
The business of exploring for minerals and mining involves a high degree of risk. There is no assurance the Company’s mineral exploration activities will be successful. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. In exploring and developing its mineral deposits the Company is subjected to an array of complex economic factors and technical considerations. Unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, power outages, labour disruptions, flooding, explosions, cave-ins, landslides, environmental hazards, and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour are other risks involved in the conduct of exploration and development programs. Such risks could materially adversely affect the business or the financial performance of the Company.
There is no certainty that the expenditures made by Canadian Zinc towards the search and evaluation of mineral deposits will result in discoveries of commercial quantities of ore. The exploration for and development of mineral deposits involves significant risks which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Major expenses may be required to locate and establish mineral reserves, to develop metallurgical processes and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that the exploration or development programs planned by Canadian Zinc will result in a profitable commercial mining operation. Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors, some of which are: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; metal prices which are highly cyclical; and government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in Canadian Zinc not receiving an adequate return on invested capital.
A specific risk associated with the Prairie Creek Property is its remote location. Mining, processing, development and exploration activities depend, to one degree or another, on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources and water supply are important factors, which affect capital and operating costs. Unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations, financial condition and results of operations.
The development plan for the Prairie Creek Project is based upon a Project Description Report prepared internally
by the Company, with the assistance of outside consultants, in 2008. A Project Description Report is not a Feasibility Study. The Project Description Report outlined the plan for the development of the Prairie Creek Project based on the historical development and existing infrastructure at the Prairie Creek Property and on the Resource Estimation in the 2007 NI 43-101 Technical Report. The Resource Estimation in the Technical Report does not constitute mineable reserves. The historical development was carried out principally in 1980 to 1982 and the infrastructure, including the mill, was constructed in the same period based on a feasibility study prepared by Kilborn Engineering (Pacific) Limited in 1980. The Kilborn feasibility study is outdated and cannot be relied upon. The existing infrastructure, including the mill, buildings, camp etc. is over twenty-five years old and, although it has been held under care and maintenance, it has lain idle for more than twenty-five years and was never operated. There is significant risk attaching to the proposed operation of aged equipment. In February 2011 the Company engaged SNC-Lavalin Inc. to complete a Feasibility Study on the Prairie Creek Mine.
Mining operations generally involve a high degree of risk. Canadian Zinc’s mining operations will be subject to all the hazards and risks normally encountered in the development and production of minerals, including unusual and unexpected geologic formations, seismic activity, rock bursts, cave-ins, flooding and other conditions involved in the drilling and removal of material, any of which could result in damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, damage to life or property, environmental damage and possible legal liability. Mining and milling operations are subject to hazards such as equipment failure or failure of retaining dams around tailings disposal areas, which may result in environmental pollution and consequent liability.
4.5
Uncertainty in the Estimation of Mineral Resources
The figures for Mineral Resources contained in this document are estimates only and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved, that the indicated level of recovery will be realized or that Mineral Resources can be mined or processed profitably. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating Mineral Resources, including many factors beyond Canadian Zinc’s control. Such estimation is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation. In addition, there can be no assurance that mineral or metal recoveries in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production.
Inferred mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty which may attach to inferred mineral resources, there is no assurance that inferred mineral resources will be upgraded to measured and indicated mineral resources as a result of continued exploration.
Fluctuation in metal prices, results of drilling, metallurgical testing and production and the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimate may require revision of any such resource or reserve estimate. The volume and grade of resources mined and processed and recovery rates may not be the same as currently anticipated. Any material reductions in estimates of Mineral Resources, or of Canadian Zinc’s ability to extract these Mineral Resources, could have a material adverse effect on Canadian Zinc’s results of operations and financial condition.
Mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates are imprecise and depend partly on statistical inferences drawn from drilling and other data which may prove to be unreliable. Future production could differ dramatically from mineral resource estimates for many reasons including the following:
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• Mineralization or formations could be different from those predicted by drilling, sampling and similar examinations;
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• Declines in the market price of metals may render the mining of some or all of Canadian Zinc’s mineral resources uneconomic;
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• Increases in operating mining costs and processing costs could adversely affect mineral reserves or resources; and
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• The grade of mineral reserves or resources may vary significantly from time to time and there can be no assurance that any particular level of metal may be recovered from the mineral reserves or resources.
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Any of these factors may require Canadian Zinc to reduce its mineral reserve or mineral resources estimates.
4.6
Insurance and Uninsured Risks
Canadian Zinc’s business is subject to a number of risks and hazards generally, including adverse environmental conditions, industrial accidents, labour disputes, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground or slope failures, cave-ins, changes in the regulatory environment and natural phenomena such as inclement weather conditions, floods and earthquakes. Such occurrences could result in damage to mineral properties or production facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage to Canadian Zinc’s properties or the properties of others, delays in mining, monetary losses and possible legal liability.
Although Canadian Zinc maintains insurance to protect against certain risks in such amounts as it considers reasonable, its insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with the Company’s mining operations. Canadian Zinc may also be unable to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. Moreover, insurance against risks such as environmental pollution or other hazards as a result of exploration and production is not generally available to Canadian Zinc or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. In particular, the Company is not insured for environmental liability or earthquake damage.
Canadian Zinc might also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against, or which Canadian Zinc may elect not to insure against, because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause Canadian Zinc to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon its financial performance and results of operations.
4.7
Key Executives and Conflicts of Interest
Canadian Zinc is dependent on the services of key executives, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President of Exploration and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and a small number of other skilled and experienced executives and personnel. Due to the relatively small size of the Company, the loss of these persons or Canadian Zinc’s inability to attract and retain additional highly skilled or experienced employees may adversely affect its business and future operations.
Certain of the directors and officers of the Company also serve as directors and/or officers of, or have significant shareholdings in, other companies involved in natural resource exploration and development and consequently there exists the possibility for such directors and officers to be in a position of conflict. Two directors of Canadian Zinc also serve as directors of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc. Any decision made by any of such directors and officers involving Canadian Zinc will be made in accordance with their duties and obligations to deal fairly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In addition, each of the directors is required to declare and refrain from voting on any matter in which such directors may have a conflict of interest in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia) and other applicable laws.
To the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which Canadian Zinc may participate, the directors of Canadian Zinc may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Company’s directors, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for the approval of such participation or such terms.
From time to time several companies may collectively participate in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties thereby allowing for their participation in larger programs, permitting involvement in a greater number of programs and reducing financial exposure in respect of any one program. It may also occur that a particular company will assign all or a portion of its interest in a particular program to another of these companies due to the financial position of the company making the assignment. Under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, the directors of the Company are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. In determining whether or not Canadian Zinc will participate in a particular program and the interest therein to be acquired by it, the directors will primarily consider the degree of risk to which the Company may be exposed and its financial position at that time.
4.8
Title Matters
Mining leases and surface leases issued to the Company by the Federal Government have been surveyed but other parties may dispute the Company’s title to its mining properties. The mining claims in which the Company has an interest have not been surveyed and, accordingly, the precise location of the boundaries of the claims and ownership of mineral rights on specific tracts of land comprising the claims may be in doubt. These claims have not been converted to lease, and are, accordingly, subject to regular compliance with assessment work requirements.
Failure to comply strictly with applicable laws, regulations and local practices relating to mineral right applications and tenure, could result in loss, reduction or expropriation of entitlements.
While the Company has investigated its title to all its mining leases, surface leases and mining claims and, to the best of its knowledge, title to all properties is in good standing, this should not be construed as a guarantee of title and title may be affected by undetected defects. The validity and ownership of mining property holdings can be uncertain and may be contested. There are currently a number of pending Aboriginal or Native title or Treaty or traditional land ownership claims relating to Northwest Territories. The Company’s properties at Prairie Creek are subject to Aboriginal or Native land claims. Title insurance generally is not available, and Canadian Zinc’s ability to ensure that it has obtained secure title to individual mineral properties or mining concessions may be severely constrained. Canadian Zinc’s mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered liens, agreements, transfers or claims, including Native land claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. No assurances can be given that there are no title defects affecting such properties.
4.9
Competition
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases. There is aggressive competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties considered to have commercial potential. Canadian Zinc faces strong competition from other mining companies in connection with the acquisition of properties, mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel. Many of these companies have greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than Canadian Zinc. As a result of this competition, Canadian Zinc may be unable to maintain or acquire attractive mining properties on terms it considers acceptable or at all. Consequently, Canadian Zinc’s operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
4.10
Acquisitions
From time to time Canadian Zinc undertakes evaluations of opportunities to acquire additional mining assets and businesses. Any resultant acquisitions may be significant in size, may change the scale of Canadian Zinc’s business, and may expose Canadian Zinc to new geographic, political, operating financial and geological risks. Canadian Zinc’s success in its acquisition activities depends on its ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, to acquire them on acceptable terms, and integrate their operations successfully with those of Canadian Zinc. Any acquisition would be accompanied by risks, such as a significant decline in metal prices; the ore body proving to be below expectations; the difficulty of assimilating the operation and personnel; the potential disruption of Canadian Zinc’s ongoing business; the inability of management to maximize the financial and strategic position of Canadian Zinc through the successful integration of acquired assets and businesses; the maintenance of uniform standards, control, procedures and policies; the impairment of relationships with employees, customers and contractors as a result of any integration of new management personnel; and the potential unknown liabilities associated with acquired assets and business. In addition Canadian Zinc may need additional capital to finance an acquisition. Debt financing related to any acquisition will expose Canadian Zinc to the risk of leverage, while equity financing may cause existing shareholders to suffer dilution. There can be no assurance that Canadian Zinc would be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions.
4.11
Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc
As discussed at in this Annual Information Form at Section “2--General Development of the Business--Three Year History--Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc,” the Company holds a 15% a interest in Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc, which operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji. Operations in Fiji add increased risks to the Company’s business affairs. Fiji has experienced political unrest and there may, at times, be challenges to foreign owned companies. In Fiji, VGM expenditures are made in Fijian dollars and revenues are in U.S. dollars. The parent company in the VGM group is based in the United Kingdom and reports in £ Sterling. The impact of foreign exchange fluctuations may have a material impact on the results of operations of VGM. As VGM is operating a working gold mine, it is exposed to risk from changes in commodity prices (notably gold) and also the price of oil on the world markets. Adverse changes in these prices could have a material impact on the operations of VGM.
4.12
Requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Similar Canadian Regulations
Since 2007, the Company has documented and tested its internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”). As of December 31, 2010, SOX requires an annual assessment by management of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an attestation by the Company’s independent auditors addressing internal controls over financial reporting.
Due to its size, its limited staff resources and financial constraints, the Company is exposed to certain potential deficiencies in its internal controls over financial reporting. If the Company is unable to maintain the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting, as such standards are modified, supplemented, or amended from time to time, the Company may not be able to ensure that it can conclude on an ongoing basis that it has effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of SOX. The Company’s inability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of SOX on an ongoing, timely basis could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of its financial statements, which in turn could harm the Company’s business and negatively impact the trading price of its common shares. In addition, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could impact the Company’s operating results or cause it to fail to meet its reporting obligations. Future acquisitions (if any) may provide the Company with challenges in implementing the required processes, procedures and controls in the acquired operations. Acquired companies may not have disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting that are as thorough or effective as those required by securities laws currently applicable to the Company.
No evaluation can provide complete assurance that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting will detect or uncover all failures of persons within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be reported. The effectiveness of the Company’s controls and procedures could also be limited by simple errors or faulty judgments. In addition, as the Company continues to develop, the challenges involved in implementing appropriate internal controls over financial reporting will increase and will require that the Company continue to enhance its internal controls over financial reporting. Although the Company will be required to devote substantial time and will incur substantial costs, as necessary, in an effort to ensure ongoing compliance, the Company cannot be certain that it will be successful in continuing to comply with Section 404 of SOX.
4.13
History of Losses and No Assurance of Profitable Operations
The Company has incurred losses since inception of $28.331 million through December 31, 2010. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to operate profitably during future periods. If the Company is unable to operate profitably during future periods, and is not successful in obtaining additional financing, the Company could be forced to cease its exploration and development plans as a result of lacking sufficient cash resources.
4.14
Shareholder Dilution
As of December 31, 2010, there were 130,448,492 common shares outstanding. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had 7,500,000 share purchase options and 431,893 warrants outstanding allowing the holders to purchase 7,931,893 common shares. Directors and officers of the Company hold 5,550,000 of these share purchase options, contractors and employees of the Company hold 1,950,000 share purchase options and brokers hold 431,893 share purchase warrants. The exercise of all of the existing share purchase options and warrants would result in percentage ownership dilution to the existing shareholders.
4.15
Potential Future Equity Financings
The Company has used equity financing in order to meet its needs for capital and may engage in equity financings during future periods. Subsequent issuances of equity securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for equity securities would result in further percentage ownership dilution to existing shareholders and could depress the price of the Company’s shares.
4.16
Dividend Policy
No dividends have been paid by the Company to date. The Company anticipates that it will retain all future earnings and other cash resources for the future operation and development of its business and the Company does not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors after taking into account many factors, including the Company’s operating results, financial condition and current and anticipated cash needs.
Canadian Zinc's capital structure consists of only one class of common shares without par value, with an unlimited authorized capital. Each common share is entitled to one vote and all common shares rank equally for the payment of dividends and for all distributions, whether upon dissolution, a winding up or otherwise.
At December 31, 2010, the Company had 130,448,492 shares issued and outstanding. At March 16, 2011, the Company had 130,689,242 shares issued and outstanding.
At December 31, 2010, the Company also had 7,500,000 stock options
outstanding and 431,893 warrants outstanding. At March 16, 2011, the Company had 7,622,500 options outstanding and 368,643 warrants outstanding. Each stock option and each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share.
Stock Options
|
Options December 31, 2010
|
Options March 16, 2011
|
Exercise/Conversion Price
|
Expiry Date
|
70,000
|
70,000
|
$0.89
|
June 27, 2011
|
800,000
|
800,000
|
$0.90
|
December 13, 2011
|
75,000
|
75,000
|
$0.94
|
October 15, 2012
|
1,675,000
|
1,655,000
|
$0.23
|
March 27, 2014
|
4,880,000
|
4,722,500
|
$0.45
|
May 12, 2015
|
-
|
300,000
|
$0.71
|
January 27, 2016
|
7,500,000
|
7,622,500
|
|
|
Warrants
|
Warrants December 31, 2010
|
Warrants March 16, 2011
|
Exercise/Conversion Price
|
Expiry Date
|
94,750
|
31,500
|
$0.40
|
June 30, 2012
|
337,143
|
337,143
|
$0.70
|
December 23, 2012
|
431,893
|
368,643
|
|
|
The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CZN”.
The following table shows the price ranges and volume traded of the Company’s common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on a monthly basis for each month of 2010.
Price Range 2010
|
Month
|
High
Cdn. $
|
Low
Cdn $
|
Volume
|
January
|
0.45
|
0.31
|
3,852,003
|
February
|
0.45
|
0.37
|
1,908,777
|
March
|
0.56
|
0.40
|
2,906,888
|
April
|
0.53
|
0.44
|
2,308,351
|
May
|
0.50
|
0.36
|
2,818,001
|
June
|
0.44
|
0.37
|
1,526,460
|
July
|
0.60
|
0.34
|
4,001,632
|
August
|
0.47
|
0.40
|
1,631,401
|
September
|
0.71
|
0.43
|
5,135,326
|
October
|
0.78
|
0.56
|
5,294,453
|
November
|
0.74
|
0.61
|
5,197,031
|
December
|
0.73
|
0.60
|
3,924,262
|
Year 2010
|
0.78
|
0.31
|
40,504,585
|
Source: TSX
7.1
|
Name, Occupation and Security Holding
|
Name, Province or State and Country of Ordinary Residence and Position Held with the Company
|
Principal Occupation During Preceding
Five Years
|
Date First Became Director of the Company
(5)
|
Common Shares beneficially owned, controlled or directed, directly or indirectly
(1) (6)
|
Brian Atkins
(2) (3)
British Columbia, Canada Director
|
Chartered Accountant; Partner at KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, from 1978 to 2005; Director of North Shore Credit Union; Member of Independent Review Committee of Inhance Investment Management Inc. until December 2009.
|
June 2008
|
100,000 common shares
|
John F. Kearney
Ontario, Canada
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Zinc Corporation since 2003; Chairman of Labrador Iron Mines Limited since May 2007; Chairman of Conquest Resources Limited since 2001; Chairman of Anglesey Mining plc since 1994; Director of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc since July 2009.
|
November 2001
|
2,148,909 common shares
|
John MacPherson
(2) (3)
British Columbia, Canada
Director
|
Director and Chairman of Tower Energy Ltd. until 2007; Private Businessman; Director of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc since July 2009.
|
May 1999
|
115,000 common shares
|
Dave Nickerson
(2) (3) (4)
Northwest Territories, Canada
Director
|
Professional Engineer, Mining consultant, Director, Tyhee Development Corp.; previously Chairman of Northwest Territories Water Board; Member of Parliament, Member of NWT Legislative Assembly; Government Minister.
|
March 2004
|
35,000 common shares
|
Alan Taylor
(4)
British Columbia, Canada
Vice President, Exploration, Chief Operating Officer and Director
|
Vice President, Exploration of Canadian Zinc Corporation since 1999 and Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Zinc Corporation since March 2004.
|
March 2004
|
Nil
|
Trevor Cunningham
British Columbia, Canada
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President Finance and Corporate Secretary
|
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance of Canadian Zinc Corporation since January 2010; Certified Management Accountant; former Project Manager of BC Hydro Corporation (January 2009 to July 2010); Corporate Controller of Ucore Uranium Inc. (February 2008 to December 2008); Corporate Controller of Alexco Resources Corp. (January 2006 to January 2008).
|
N/A
|
Nil
|
(1)
|
The information as to common shares beneficially owned, controlled or directed by the above-named directors as at the date hereof, not being within the knowledge of the Company, has been furnished by the respective directors individually.
|
(2)
|
Member of the Audit Committee.
|
(3)
|
Member of the Compensation Committee.
|
(4)
|
Member of Health and Safety Committee.
|
(5)
|
All Directors are elected annually to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
|
(6)
|
All directors and executive officers as a group own, control or direct, directly or indirectly a total of 1,941,409 common shares.
|
7.2
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies, Penalties or Sanctions
John Kearney served as a non-executive director of McCarthy Corporation plc from July 2000 to March 2003. In June 2003, McCarthy Corporation plc adopted a voluntary arrangement with its creditors pursuant to the legislation of the United Kingdom.
7.3
Conflicts of Interest
Certain of the directors and officers of the Company, including the President and Chief Executive Officer, also serve as directors and/or officers of, or have significant shareholdings in, other companies involved in natural resource exploration and development. Two directors of the Company also serve as directors of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc. Consequently there exists the possibility for such directors and officers to be in a conflict of interest position.
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Company’s common shares is:
Computershare Investor Services Inc.
510 Burrard Street, 4
th
floor
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B9
and
100 University Avenue
Toronto, ON M5J 2Y1
The Company acts as its own Agent and Registrar for the Company’s Share Purchase Warrants. The Share Purchase Warrants are not traded or quoted on any stock exchange.
The Company is not a party to any material contract, other than a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business, entered into within the last financial year or before the last financial year (if the contract is still in effect).
Minefill Services, Inc. (Dr. David Stone and Stephen Godden – Qualified Independent Persons (the “Authors”)) prepared the October 2007 Technical Report on the Prairie Creek Mine (see “3. Description of the Business--3.1.7. 2007 Resource Estimation”). Minefill and the Authors are independent of the Company and to the knowledge of the Company, do not hold any registered or beneficial interests, direct or indirect, in any securities or other property of the Company.
Alan Taylor, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has prepared, supervised the preparation of or reviewed, the parts of this Annual Information Form that are of a scientific or technical nature. Alan Taylor does not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, any common shares of the Company. Mr. Taylor does hold 700,000 stock options to purchase common shares of the Company at prices ranging from $0.23 to $0.90 per share.
The Company’s auditors are Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Accountants, who have prepared an independent auditors’ report dated March 9, 2011 in respect of the Company’s audited financial statements with accompanying notes as at and for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. Ernst & Young LLP have advised that they are independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia.
11.
|
AUDIT
COMMITTEE INFORMATION
|
11.1
Audit Committee Charter
The Audit Committee has adopted a Charter, the text of which is set out below:
“Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors”
I. MANDATE
The Audit Committee (the “
Committee
”) is appointed by the Board of Directors (the “
Board
”) of Canadian Zinc Corporation (the “
Corporation
”) to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to financial accounting and reporting process and internal controls for the Corporation. The Committee’s mandate and responsibilities are to:
• recommend to the Board the external auditors to be nominated and the compensation of such
auditor;
• oversee and monitor the work and performance of the Corporation's external auditors,
including meeting with the external auditors and reviewing and recommending all
renewals or replacements of the external auditors and their remuneration;
• pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided to the Corporation by the external
auditors;
• review the financial statements and management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) and
annual and interim financial results press releases of the Corporation;
• oversees the integrity of internal controls and financial reporting procedures of the
Corporation and ensure implementation of such controls and procedures;
• provide oversight to any related party transactions entered into by the Corporation.
II. AUTHORITY OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Committee shall have the authority to:
|
(1)
|
engage independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties;
|
|
(2)
|
set and pay the compensation for advisors employed by the Audit Committee; and
|
|
(3)
|
communicate directly with the external auditors.
|
III. COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS
|
(1)
|
The Committee and its membership shall meet all applicable legal, regulatory and listing requirements, including those of all applicable securities regulatory authorities.
|
(2) The Committee shall be composed of three directors as shall be designated by the Board
from time to time. The members of the Committee shall appoint from among themselves a
member who shall serve as Chair. A minimum of two members of the Committee present
either in person or by telephone shall constitute a quorum.
The Committee members will be elected annually at the first meeting of the Board following the annual general meeting of shareholders.
(1)
|
Each member of the Committee shall be “independent” and shall be “financially literate” (as each such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 52-110)
|
(2)
|
The Committee shall meet at least quarterly, as circumstances dictate or as may be required by applicable legal or listing requirements.
|
(3)
|
Any member of the Committee may participate in the meeting of the Committee by means of conference telephone or other communication equipment, and the member participating in a meeting pursuant to this paragraph shall be deemed, for purposes hereof, to be present in person at the meeting.
|
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES
(1)
|
The Committee shall review the annual audited financial statements to satisfy itself that they are presented in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles (“
GAAP
”) and report thereon to the Board and recommend to the Board whether or not same should be approved, prior to their being filed with the appropriate regulatory authorities. The Committee shall also review the interim financial statements.
|
(2)
|
The Committee shall review any internal control reports prepared by management and the evaluation of such report by the external auditors, together with management’s response.
|
(3)
|
The Committee shall be satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Corporation’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Corporation’s financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis and annual and interim earnings press releases before the Corporation publicly discloses this information.
|
(4)
|
The Committee shall review management’s discussion and analysis relating to annual and interim financial statements and any other public disclosure documents, including interim earnings press releases, before the Corporation publicly discloses this information.
|
(5)
|
The Committee shall meet no less frequently than annually with the external auditors to review accounting practices, internal controls and such other matters as the Committee deems appropriate.
|
(6)
|
The Committee shall establish procedures for
|
(a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Corporation regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and
(b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Corporation of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
(7)
|
The Committee shall provide oversight to any related party transactions entered into by the Corporation.
|
(8)
|
In the event that the Corporation wishes to retain the services of the Corporation’s external auditors for tax compliance or tax advice or any non-audit services the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall consult with the Audit Committee, who shall have the authority to approve or disapprove such non-audit services. The Audit Committee shall maintain a record of non-audit services approved by the Audit Committee for each fiscal year and provide a report to the Board on an annual basis.
|
(9)
|
The Committee shall review and approve the Corporation's hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former auditors of the Corporation.
|
(10)
|
The Committee shall perform any other activities consistent with this Charter and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
|
11.2
Composition of Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, as at March 16, 2011, is composed of Brian Atkins, Dave Nickerson and John MacPherson. The Company considers each member of the Audit Committee to be financially literate and independent for the purposes of National Instrument 52-110 (“NI 52-110”).
The education and experience of each Audit Committee Member is set out below:
Brian A. Atkins, CA graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation from the British Columbia Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mr. Atkins joined KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, in 1969 and was admitted as a partner in 1978. As a KPMG partner, Mr. Atkins provided audit, accounting and advisory services to a number of public and private companies continually throughout the period until his retirement from KPMG in September 2005. Mr. Atkins is currently a director of the North Shore Credit Union and a Member of the Independent Review Committee of Inhance Investment Management Inc. until December 2009. He has a thorough understanding of generally accepted accounting principles used by the Company in preparing its annual and quarterly financial statements. He has a thorough understanding of internal controls over financial reporting
Dave Nickerson B.Sc., M.Sc. Mr. Nickerson holds a Bachelors degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Birmingham and a Masters degree in Mineral Exploration from Laurentian University and has taken Post-Graduate Courses in Mineral Development and in Legislation Strategy at McGill University, Montreal. He is a Professional Engineer and a member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories. He was elected as Member of Parliament for three terms 1979 to 1988, during part of which time he served as a member of the House Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories 1975 to 1979. He served as the Chairman of the Northwest Territories Water Board from 1988 to 1994. He has served as a director of public companies for a period in excess of five years. He has an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements and has the ability to assess the general application of such accounting principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves. He has experience evaluating financial statements with accounting issues comparable to the financial statements and issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements. He has an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting.
John MacPherson has served on the Boards of many public companies as Chairman, President or Director for over 39 years. Having worked in the investment industry he was licenced to sell securities which required him to understand and evaluate complex financial reports. He has an understanding of the accounting principles used by the Company to prepare its financial statements and has the ability to assess the general application of such accounting principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves.
11.3
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted procedures requiring Audit Committee review and approval in advance of all particular engagement for services provided by the Auditors. Consistent with applicable laws, the procedures permit limited amounts of services, other than audit services, to be approved by the Audit Committee provided the Audit Committee is informed of each particular service. All of the engagements and fees for Fiscal 2009 and 2010 were approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews with the auditors whether non-audit services to be provided, if any, are compatible with maintaining the Auditor’s independence.
Since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year (January 1, 2010) there has not been a recommendation of the Audit Committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor which was not adopted by the Board of Directors.
11.4
Audit Fees and Services
The aggregate amounts billed by auditors for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 for audit fees, audit related fees, tax fees and all other fees are set forth below:
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2010
(4)
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
|
Audit Fees
(1)
|
$118,150
|
$136,600
|
Audit-Related Fees
(2)
|
22,500
|
-
|
Tax Fees
(3)
|
-
|
-
|
All Other Fees
|
3,150
|
-
|
Total
|
$143,800
|
$136,600
|
(1)
“Audit Fees” represent fees for the audit of the annual financial statements, and review in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings.
(2)
“Audit Related Fees” represent fees for assurance and related services that are related to the performance of the audit.
(3)
“Tax Fees” represent fees for tax compliance, tax advice and planning.
(4)
Fees for the year ended December 31, 2010, are based, in part, upon estimates received by Canadian Zinc as final invoices are yet to be rendered as at March 16, 2011.
Additional information relating to the Company may be found on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
.
Additional information, including Directors' and officers' remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of the Company's securities, and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, if applicable, is contained in the Company's Information Circular for its most recent Annual Meeting of Shareholders that involved the election of Directors, which may be found on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
.
Additional financial information is contained in the Company’s Audited Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for its most recently completed financial year which may be found on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
.
This Annual Information Form contains forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Company’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Information Form include statements with respect to:
·
|
the Company’s planned/proposed Prairie Creek mine operations which includes future mine grades and recoveries;
|
·
|
expectations around the process for obtaining operating permits;
|
·
|
references to ongoing work to convert the Project Description Report into a Pre-Feasibility Study and related future cost estimates for site infrastructure; and
|
·
|
the impact to the Company of future accounting standards and discussion of risks and uncertainties around the Company’s business.
|
Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, or “plan”, or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, mineral reserves, mineral resources, results of exploration, reclamation and other post-closure costs, capital costs, mine production costs, the timing of exploration, development and mining activities and the Company’s financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements by reason of factors such as changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets, changes in demand and prices for the minerals the Company expects to produce, delays in obtaining permits, litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments in areas in which the Company operates, technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the Company’s activities, labour relations matters, costs and changing foreign exchange rates and other matters discussed under “Risk Factors” herein and under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2009 – Liquidity, Financial Condition and Capital Resources and Review of Financial Results”.
Other delays in factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, the receipt of permits or approvals, changes in commodity and power prices, changes in interest and currency exchange rates, geological and metallurgical assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral resources), unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure with plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations), cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters, political risk, social unrest, and changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves. The Company does not currently hold a permit for the operation of the Prairie Creek Mine.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other factors which may cause results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements are included in the filings by the Company with securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this Annual Information Form, such as “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred” “resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F which may be secured from us, or from the SEC’s website at
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
March 16, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”), dated March 16, 2011, focuses upon the activities, results of operations, and liquidity, financial condition and capital resources of Canadian Zinc Corporation (the “Company” or “Canadian Zinc” or “CZN”) for the year ended December 31, 2010. In order to better understand the MD&A, it should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The significant accounting policies are outlined in Notes 2 and 3 to the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010. These principles conform in all material respects with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, except as disclosed in Note 20 to the financial statements.
Additional information about the Company, including the Company’s Annual Information Form, is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
and on the Company’s website at
www.canadianzinc.com.
Information is also available through the EDGAR system accessible through the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s website
www.sec.gov
.
Readers should be aware that historical results are not necessarily indicative of future performance; actual results will vary from estimates and variances may be significant.
The Company reports its financial information in Canadian dollars and all monetary amounts set forth herein are expressed in Canadian dollars unless specifically stated otherwise.
Alan Taylor, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer, Vice President Exploration and Director of Canadian Zinc Corporation, is the Company’s Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosures in the MD&A.
This MD&A contains forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Company’s future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements in this MD&A include statements with respect to:
·
|
the Company’s planned/proposed Prairie Creek Mine operations;
|
·
|
expectations around the process for obtaining operating permits;
|
·
|
the Company’s plans for further exploration at the Prairie Creek Mine;
|
·
|
future cost estimates pertaining to further development of the Prairie Creek Mine and items such as long-term environmental reclamation obligations;
|
·
|
the outlook for future prices of zinc, lead and silver;
|
·
|
the Company’s planned conversion to International Financial Reporting Standards; and
|
·
|
the impact to the Company of future accounting standards and discussion of risks and uncertainties around the Company’s business.
|
Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, or “plan”, or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, mineral reserves, mineral resources, results of exploration, reclamation and other post-closure costs, capital costs, mine production costs, the timing of exploration, development and mining activities and the Company’s financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements by reason of factors such as changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets, changes in demand and prices for the minerals the Company expects to produce, delays in obtaining permits, litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments in areas in which the Company operates, technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the Company’s activities, labour relations matters, costs and changing foreign exchange rates and other matters discussed under “Liquidity, Financial Condition and Capital Resources” and “Review of Financial Results.”
Other delays in factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, the receipt of permits or approvals, changes in commodity and power prices, changes in interest and currency exchange rates, geological and metallurgical assumptions (including with respect to the size, grade and recoverability of mineral resources), unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations), cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters, political risk, social unrest, and changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves. The Company does not currently hold a permit for the operation of the Prairie Creek Mine.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other factors which may cause results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements are included in the filings by the Company with securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this MD&A, such as “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred” “resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F which may be secured from us, or from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Canadian Zinc Corporation is a development stage company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CZN,” and in the United States on the OTCBB under the symbol “CZICF,” and is engaged in the business of exploration and development of natural resource properties.
The Company’s principal focus is to advance the Prairie Creek Mine (the “Mine” or “Prairie Creek”), a zinc/lead/silver property located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, towards production.
The Prairie Creek Property hosts total Measured and Indicated Resources of 5,840,329 tonnes grading 10.71% zinc, 9.90% lead, 0.326% copper, and 161.12 grams silver per tonne, a large Inferred Resource of 5,541,576 tonnes grading 13.53% zinc, 11.43% lead, 0.514% copper and 215 grams silver per tonne and additional exploration potential. The Mine is partially developed with an existing 1,000 tonne per day mill and related infrastructure.
The Prairie Creek mineral deposit contains substantial quantities of zinc, lead and silver. The Measured and Indicated Resource is capable of supporting a mine life in excess of fourteen years at the planned initial rate of 600 tonnes per day, which will increase to 1,200 tonnes per day, and the future inclusion of Inferred Resources is expected to extend the mine life to at least 20 years.
The proposed development and operation of the Prairie Creek Project is currently undergoing Environmental Assessment (“EA”) by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, and it is expected that the EA process will be completed in 2011.
Prairie Creek Mine – Environmental Assessment (“EA”) Overview
In March 2010, the Company submitted its Developer’s Assessment Report (“DAR”) for filing with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (“MVEIRB” or “Review Board”) and on May 20, submitted an Addendum to the DAR to the Review Board. In a subsequent letter, dated May 28, 2010, the Review Board determined the DAR to be in conformity with the Terms of Reference.
The DAR is a report compiled by the Company and its consultants which incorporates further detailed mine site studies relating to various aspects of the proposed operation and the potential impact on the environment in addition to the studies previously completed as part of the original Project Description Report. Particular emphasis and detail is placed on water quality impacts of the Mine on the Prairie Creek watershed. This includes mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed, and possible downstream impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems.
In addition, since the access road has been included in the scope of development, studies of various potential environmental effects of the operation of the road were further examined. The wider scope of development in the environmental assessment has provided the opportunity to optimize the road access route through examining alternative local routes that will lessen potential environmental impacts. The Company is proposing to re-align sections of the access road to accommodate the wishes of the Nahanni Butte Dene Band by avoiding wetlands and wildlife habitat, and Parks Canada by avoiding karst features in the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve through which part of the access road passes. The result has been the identification of a shorter road route that traverses firmer ground, has fewer bends and better gradients and which will improve safety and reduce human and environmental risks.
Following the submission and acceptance of the DAR, the Environmental Assessment proceeded with the first round of Information Requests.
A total of 131 Information Requests from various government departments and regulatory agencies were received on July 23, 2010. The Company’s responses to the Information Requests were submitted to the Review Board on September 13, 2010. A series of Technical Meetings involving all interested parties were then held by the Review Board in the community of Dettah, near Yellowknife, over three days from October 6 to 8, 2010, at which detailed technical reviews and discussions were carried out.
On October 20, 2010 the Review Board published the invitation for a Second Round of Information Requests, focusing on the information presented during the Technical Meetings. A further 53 Information Requests were received from government departments and regulatory agencies by the end of October 2010. The Second Round Information Requests largely focus on water quality questions, including mine water effluent, groundwater and surface water regimes in the Prairie Creek watershed.
To adequately address a number of the Information Requests relating to site water management new bulk rock and water samples were collected from underground at the Prairie Creek Mine in order to perform more locked-cycle flotation tests to produce representative mill process water. The mill process water was further analyzed and tested to aid in determining the optimum water treatment scheme for the proposed mining operations. Additional site studies relating to hydraulic engineering, water storage pond facility, groundwater and transportation were also completed. Additional time was needed to complete these further detailed tests and laboratory studies and the Company submitted its responses to the Second Round of Information Requests to the Review Board on March 4, 2011.
The Review Board had announced on May 28, 2010, an estimated schedule for the EA, which outlined the Analytical phase, to be followed by a Hearing phase and Close of the public registry by December 2010, with a decision from the Review Board by March 2011. The schedule was an estimate only and will be extended to accommodate the additional round of Information Requests. It is expected that public hearings will now be held in April or May 2011 and that the EA process will be completed in mid 2011.
All proceedings, transcripts, technical reports and detailed information on the ongoing Environmental Assessment (EA0809-002) of Canadian Zinc’s Prairie Creek Mine are available on the website registry of the Review Board at http://www.reviewboard.ca/registry/.
After the Review Board decision the Report of EA is forwarded to the Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for further review.
It is uncertain how long the review by the Minister may take. If accepted by the Minister the application is returned to the Review Board with recommendations to refer it back to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (“MVLWB”) to proceed to the permitting phase.
Following the EA will be a further regulatory stage, managed by the MVLWB (with input from territorial and federal agencies), before permits are issued. These permits will likely include conditions recommended as a result of the EA.
Since 2001 the Company has successfully obtained seven permits for the exploration and development of the Prairie Creek property from the MVLWB, including two Type “B” Water Licences, four Land Use permits for exploration activities and underground development and a winter road permit. Various aspects of the Prairie Creek Project have been the subject of five previous EAs carried out by MVEIRB, all of which resulted in recommendations that the relevant project be allowed to proceed.
Although the Company has experienced long delays in obtaining permits, and expects a continued lengthy process with its permitting activities, the Company has, to date, successfully carried out extensive programs at Prairie Creek, in accordance with all regulatory requirements and in compliance with all permits and licences.
Given the open-ended nature of the Mackenzie Valley permitting process, and the Company’s experience to date, it is likely that the Environmental Assessment process will extend for a considerable time.
Prairie Creek Operations Update
Work at the Prairie Creek mine site during the summer of 2010 included continuing care and maintenance, environmental monitoring programs, road construction and repair, and a diamond drill exploration program.
Further repair work to the mine access road was completed, specifically adjacent to the Prairie and Funeral creeks. Engineering assessments along the road access route, including terrain, vegetation and creek crossing studies, were carried out by various consultants during 2010. In addition a new eight kilometre long access road to the new drill pad at Casket Creek was constructed.
In August a perimeter land survey was completed on the Gate mineral claims resulting in an adjusted total surface area for the new Gate mining leases of 2,776 hectares. The Gate Claims contain similar geology to that of the Prairie Creek mine and grassroots exploration developed new base metal targets some of which still remain underexplored. The proximity of these claims to the Prairie Creek Mine, and the similarities in geology, justified upgrading the mineral tenure of these claims to long term mining leases. The new Mining Leases were received February 16, 2011 and are dated September 9, 2009 and have a term of twenty one years up to September 9, 2030.
The Way 6 mineral claim expired on November 1, 2010 and was allowed to lapse due to lack of significant anomalies worthy of further exploration. The grand total of land holdings (including mining claims, mining leases and surface leases) at Prairie Creek now totals 8,218 hectares.
A program was undertaken to remove, by airlift, all PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) contaminated material that has been stored in a dedicated safe facility on site since 1982. This follows a similar program that removed all old cyanide from the site in 2008. The Company contracted Hazco Environmental Services to repackage, remove and transport the PCB material off-site to be disposed of, by incineration, at the certified Earth Tech Swan Hills disposal facilities in Northern Alberta.
More than 136,000 litres of diesel fuel were hauled into the Prairie Creek site by DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft to support further operations and, in preparation for the diamond drill program, an airlift of a new drill rig to the site was carried out.
Community Relations
During the year 2010, the Company continued its Impact Benefits Agreement discussions and engagement with the local communities of Nahanni Butte Dene Band and Liidlii Kue First Nation (Fort Simpson) with whom Canadian Zinc has entered into Memoranda of Understanding to establish mutually beneficial, cooperative and productive relationships. Canadian Zinc has agreed to use its best efforts to employ community members on a first preference basis and to assist the communities to benefit from the business opportunities associated with the Prairie Creek Project.
On January 20
th
2011 the Company attended a ceremony in Nahanni Butte and signed the The NAH?A DEHE DENE PRAIRIE CREEK AGREEMENT which provides for an ongoing working relationship between Canadian Zinc Corporation and the Nah?a Dehe Dene Band (Nahanni Butte Dene Band) that respects the goals and aspirations of each party and will enable the Nahanni community members to participate in the opportunities and benefits offered by the Prairie Creek Project and confirms their support for the Prairie Creek Mine.
The Agreement provides a framework such that training, employment and business contracts are made available to Nahanni to ensure maximization of benefits from opportunities arising from the Prairie Creek Project in a manner that will be to the mutual benefit of both parties.
On-going community relations continued throughout the year, including meetings, events, and community sponsorship programs. A regional council has been formed, referred to as the Nahendeh Aboriginal Economic Council (“NAEC”) which involves a number of local communities in the Dehcho region. The mandate of the NAEC is to provide leadership and awareness in the successful development of aboriginal businesses, contract bidding, employment training programs and employment to meet the needs of the Prairie Creek Mine and other future economic developments in the region, and to facilitate the pooling of regional resources to service contracts that might otherwise be beyond the capacity of the individual Bands.
The Company is very much in support of regional training initiatives which will assist the future Prairie Creek Mine operations securing an educated and trained local work force. Discussions and meetings have been held with the Mine Training Society and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency relating to developing programs to provide an opportunity for residents of the Dehcho to improve their skills through training, which in turn will provide more options for their future employment.
Deep Hole Exploration Program
The 2010 diamond drill exploration program was designed to test for extensions of the inferred vein mineral resource to the north of the Prairie Creek Mine, where the host geology and structure are projected to continue at depth, approximately 1.5 kilometres north of the last drill hole within the currently defined mineral resource.
Since the target geology was projected to occur at a depth beyond the reach of the Company’s existing drills, a new higher capacity HTM2500 diamond drill rig was airlifted to the property. A drilling pad was selected at a location next to Casket Creek, a new eight kilometre long access road was constructed and diamond drilling at Casket Creek commenced in early August. To mid October 2010, 2,703 metres of drilling had been completed in three holes.
Drill hole PC-10-186 was successfully completed to a depth of 1,557 m. This hole intersected and confirmed the presence of the target Whittaker Formation, which hosts the majority of the defined mineral resource at the Prairie Creek mine, at a down hole depth of 1,500 m. New stratigraphical information at depth in this hole enabled determination of a more precise target location of the potential vein hosting structure.
A second wedged drill hole, PC-10-186W1, was redirected from the upper part of PC-10-186 and steered to the west toward the revised target location. Down hole technical problems were encountered after about 150 metres into the wedged hole, at an estimated depth of about 536 metres, forcing abandonment of this hole.
A third hole, PC-10-187, with a revised orientation, was collared at surface from the same drill pad and had reached a down hole depth of 652 metres when weather conditions created difficulties and concerns related to the eight kilometre drill access road and it was decided to suspend drilling activities until next season. The drill rig has been winterized and remains on location at the Casket Creek drill site.
The 2010 deep drilling exploration program has confirmed the presence of the host Whittaker geological formation at the projected horizon, about four kilometres north of the Prairie Creek Mine portal, and the potential vein target, projected to lie at a down hole depth of about 1,500 metres, remains
untested. The nearest drill hole, PC-95-125 located approximately 1.5 kilometres to the south towards the Mine, drilled in 1995, returned multiple mineralized vein intersections 750 metres down the hole, including a 6.3 metre intercept grading 18.7% zinc, 8.5% lead and 239 grams per tonne silver. It is anticipated that the deep hole exploration program will continue in 2011.
The Company holds a Land Use Permit MV2004C0030 for exploration issued by the MVLWB for the period up to May 2011. The Company recently received a two year extension to this Land Use Permit which now expires May 10, 2013.
Feasibility Study Commenced
In February 2011 the Company engaged SNC-Lavalin Inc., (“SNC”) of Vancouver to complete a Feasibility Study on the Prairie Creek Mine. With the Environmental Assessment Process nearing completion the major operational parameters are now being determined that will factor into the project implementation and this presents the opportunity to evaluate the capital costs and financial analysis through the completion of the Feasibility Study, in anticipation of construction financing. It is expected that the Feasibility Study will be completed before the end of 2011 and will allow CZN to base financing decisions.
The general scope of the Feasibility Study will include the following:
·
|
Detailed Engineering and Design, including mining equipment, on-site and off-site infrastructure, transportation and logistics;
|
·
|
Construction Schedule and Execution plan;
|
·
|
Capital and Operating cost estimates.
|
A number of key aspects of the Study are already well advanced and will be integrated into the Feasibility Study through the continued participation of subcontractors including; DRA Americas for DMS plant design; Mine Paste Engineering for Paste Plant design; Golder & Associates for site facility design; and SGS Lakefield Research Ltd., for metallurgy and processing.
SNC is experienced in the design, development and delivery of mining, processing, tailings, infrastructure and transportation facilities and some SNC personnel have had involvement in the Prairie Creek Project since it was originally designed by Kilborn Engineering (subsequently acquired by SNC) and constructed in 1982. SNC also has comprehensive knowledge with respect to the unique challenges of designing and constructing mine projects in the Northwest Territories, having been recently involved in the development of Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine (NWT) and Newmont’s Hope Bay Davis North gold project (Nunavut).
A substantial amount of technical data has been accumulated on the Prairie Creek Project, dating back to before the completion of the Prairie Creek Definitive Feasibility Study by Kilborn Engineering in 1980. Subsequent to this formal report numerous other technical and economic studies have been carried out while exploration of the property continued. Over the course of the last two years SNC-Lavalin has been assisting the Company with various aspects of project planning and design as part of the ongoing Environmental Assessment process.
Investment in Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc
Canadian Zinc currently holds 12,573,380 shares of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc (“VGM”), which represents approximately 15% of the issued share capital. VGM is a UK company, listed on AIM (part of the London Stock Exchange), which currently owns and operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine located in Fiji.
The shares of VGM were acquired for investment purposes. Depending on the performance of the Vatukoula mine and on market and other conditions, Canadian Zinc may from time to time in the future increase or decrease its ownership, control or direction over the shares of VGM, through market transactions, private agreements or otherwise.
Cautionary note: The historic and forward-looking information presented below with regard to the actual and proposed operations of Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc has been summarized from VGM’s publicly filed documents.
The Vatukoula Gold Mine (formerly the Emperor Gold Mine) in Fiji has an operational history of over 70 years during which time it is reported to have produced some seven million ounces of gold and over two million ounces of silver from the treatment of around 22.5 million tonnes of ore. Production at the mine was suspended by the previous owners in 2006. VGM acquired the Vatukoula Gold Mine in April 2008 and has since then re-established gold mining operations.
VGM has reported, in an updated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources Report (prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 by Mr. John Tyrell and Mr. David Lee, who are Qualified Persons and full-time employees of AMC Consultants Pty Ltd.) that, as at August 31, 2010, the Vatukoula Gold Mine had:
·
|
A combined Proven and Probable Reserve estimate of 3.4 million tonnes of ore grading 7.6 grams of gold per tonne for contained gold of 830,000 ounces;
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·
|
An underground combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 6.6 million tonnes grading 10.8 grams of gold per tonne for contained gold of 2.3 million ounces; and
|
·
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An Inferred Mineral Resource of 4.2 million tonnes grading 9.9 grams of gold per tonne for contained gold of 1.34 million ounces.
|
Year ended 31 August 2010
For its financial year ended August 31, 2010, VGM recorded Net Profit of £4.5 million, compared to a loss of £9.4 million in 2009. Turnover for the year ended August 31, 2010 was £40.4 million, compared to a turnover of £18.8 million 2009, the increase being attributable to a significant increase in production and higher gold price received.
Gold recoveries increased to 59,658 ounces of gold, recovered from 441,924 tonnes of ore (2009: 33,757 ounces of gold from 220,516 tonnes of ore). Underground operations produced over 243,000 tonnes at an average grade of 7.43 grams per tonne, representing a 29% increase over 2009.
VGM Summary
Years ended 31 August
|
2009
|
2010
|
Production statistics
|
|
|
Underground ore processed
|
188,421
|
243,417
|
Average ore head grade(g/t Au)
|
6.28
|
7.43
|
Surface ore processed
|
32,095
|
198,507
|
Average ore head grade (g/t Au)
|
1.78
|
1.75
|
Process recovery rate
|
85%
|
86%
|
Gold recovered (ounces)
|
33,757
|
59,658
|
Gold produced (ounces)
|
33,426
|
56,214
|
|
|
|
Cash cost per ounce recovered (US$/oz)
|
895
|
810
|
Cash cost per ounce produced (US$/oz)
|
904
|
860
|
Ore mined for the year ended August 31, 2010 increased to 261,188 tonnes from 212,536 tonnes in the previous year. The ramp up in underground production has shown a steady increase in underground ore mined over the past four quarters. This has increased from 45,105 tonnes in the first quarter, to 62,606 tonnes in the second, 71,534 tonnes in the third and 81,943 tonnes in the final quarter.
Underground production for the year increased gradually as part of the mine’s sustainable production plan. Initially, production from underground was in the region of 13,000 tonnes per month, increasing to over 22,000 tonnes by the end of the year. Overall underground operations produced over 243,000 tonnes at an average grade of 7.43 grams per tonne, recovering 48,741 ounces during the year.
The erratic grade delivered as a result of underground operations has been a feature of the year’s production. Delivered grades from the mine, as recorded at the processing plant varied from four grams per tonne to over twenty grams per tonne on a daily average. In the early part of the year, this was the result of the accelerated development program and a relatively small proportion of underground ore from the stoping areas.
Recoveries from the oxide circuit for the year were 10,917 ounces of gold produced from just over 198,000 tonnes of material at a grade of 1.75 grams gold per tonne. Mine geologists are undertaking surface exploration to identify additional oxide material.
Over the course of the second half of the year and continuing in to the 2011 financial year, the development of the mine has been a major focus. Previously underground mining operations were restricted by the lack of availability of new mining areas which was further compounded by the absence of suitable mine planning drill locations.
Toward the end of the year the Philip Shaft was repaired between levels 16 and 18. The shaft was damaged following mining of the shaft pillar by previous operators. The existing shaft support was removed and a new support was installed. Some of the shaft furniture has been replaced. Since year-end, the lower sections of the shaft have been inspected and refurbished as required. The mine is now able to use the hoists in the Philip Shaft to level 18.
VGM Financial Highlights
Years ended 31 August
|
2008*
|
2009
|
2010
|
£ ‘000
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
3,817
|
18,837
|
40,354
|
Gross (loss)/margin
|
(624)
|
1,408
|
12,322
|
Operating (loss)/profit
|
(4,371)
|
(9,991)
|
3,809
|
Net (loss)/profit before taxation
|
(4,068)
|
(9,906)
|
3,685
|
Net cash (used)/generated in operating activities
|
(7,540)
|
(4,235)
|
3,708
|
Net cash inflow/(outflow)
|
2,213
|
(1,258)
|
11,431
|
*represents production from 1
st
April 2008 when the Company acquired the Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji
VGM’s reported revenue for the year ended August 31, 2010 increased to £40.4 million, which compares to £18.8 million in the previous financial year and £3.8 million in 2008. Overall, there was a significant improvement in VGM’s gross profit, which rose from £1.4 million in 2009 to £12.3 million. This reflected the higher levels of gold production and higher gold prices achieved during the year. In addition higher production volumes from open pit sources and more efficiencies led to a decrease in unit costs on a per tonne and per ounce basis.
Cash operating costs per ounce of gold recovered were US$810 per ounce for 2010, down from US$895 in the same period last year. The average gold price realised for 2010 was US$1,150 per ounce, up very significantly from US$881 per ounce realised in the previous year.
Net profits after tax increased to £4.5 million (2009: loss of £9.4 million). The majority of this increase is attributable to the increase in production, and part is attributable to an increase in non-cash foreign exchange gains which were £2.2 million (2009: £1.0 million).
VGM generated net cash of £3.7 million (2009: used £4.2 million) from its operational activities.
During the year VGM’s capital expenditure increased to £9.9 million (2009: £1.7 million). This reflected an investment of £6 million in plant property and equipment (2009: £1.2 million) and £3.9 million of expenditure on mines property and development (2009: £0.4 million). The increase in capital expenditure reflects part of the additional investment required to increase production levels to our stated target of 100,000 ounce per annum.
After investing £9.9 million (2009: £1.7 million) in capital expenditure during the year the cash out flows before financing were £6.2 million (2009: £5.9 million). During the year VGM raised proceeds of £18.6 million cash and cash equivalents strengthening its cash position at August 31, 2010 to £12.8 million, compared with £1.1 million in August 2009.
VGM First Quarter 30th November 2010
For the first quarter ended November 30, 2010, VGM reported that ore mined and delivered increased 12% to 80,914 tonne from 72,444 tonnes in the previous quarter. The grade delivered was 6.48 g/t, a reduction from the previous quarters 8.81 g/t, as a result of planned increased development which resulted in lower grade development, ore being mined and delivered.
Underground development increased by over 100% to 5,457 metres (2,650 metres in the previous quarter). Accelerated underground development is scheduled until May 2011 in order to increase production to achieve the target 100,000 ounce per year annualised rate.
The first quarter was focused on an intensive development program at the mine in order to overcome the historic shortage of operating areas and to prepare for the increase in production to achieve the planned long term gold production rate. Development was increased over 100%. However the increase in ore mined was below plan, and gold production for this quarter was marginally lower than forecast. VGM anticipates that development will be maintained at this increased rate until about May 2011 and as a result expects that gold production will be lower in the second quarter than the first quarter.
VGM Production Summary
|
Sep 2010- Nov 2010 Q1
(unaudited)
|
12 Months to Aug 2010
(audited)
|
Underground Mining / Sulphide Processing
|
|
|
Development (metres)
|
5,457
|
8,721
|
Sulphide Ore delivered (t)
|
80,914
|
243,417
|
Sulphide head grade (g/t)
|
6 .48
|
7.43
|
Oxide Plant
|
|
|
Ore delivered (t)
|
52,682
|
198,507
|
Oxide head grade (g/t)
|
1.64
|
1.75
|
Total (Sulphide + Oxide)
|
|
|
Ore processed (t))
|
134,646
|
441,924
|
Average ore head grade (g/t)
|
4.49
|
4.80
|
Total Recovery (%)
|
85%
|
86%
|
Gold recovered *(oz)
|
16,565
|
59,658
|
Gold shipped (oz)
|
18,055
|
54,642
|
Cash Costs
|
|
|
Cash cost / recovered ounce** (US$)
|
1,057
|
810
|
Cash cost / tonne*** (US$)
|
130
|
198
|
Average realised gold price (US$ / oz)
|
1,314
|
1,150
|
Mine net operating earnings (loss) (£ ,000)
|
3,221
|
12,926
|
Due to changes in the accounting methodology effective as at the beginning of the current financial year, development expenditure carried out in ore is now expensed rather than capitalised, which has increased the reported unit costs
* includes gold which has been partially processed, but not produced as gold dore or shipped
** excludes amortization and depreciation, unrealised foreign exchange rate movements, provisions, and gold stock movements
*** only includes mining and milling plus royalties
Underground Mining and Development
Ore mined and delivered from underground sources in the quarter increased 12% to 80,914 tonnes from 72,444 tonnes in the previous quarter. The grade delivered was 6.48 g/t, a reduction from the previous quarter’s grade of 8.81 g/t. Development increased by over 100% to 5,457 metres (2,650 metres in the previous quarter), this increase is part of the program to establish sufficient operating areas to sustain our long term planned production rate. The increase in ore delivered from underground sources is attributable to both ore from conventional mining and from development. The increased development rates, where a large proportion was mined as strike drive development in ore, has resulted in a lower grade of 6.48 g/t of gold. Strike drive development along the plane of the ore (the strike), provides Vatukoula with both long term access and valuable information on the grade of the ore.
The program to establish sufficient operating areas will continue until the mine is in a position to maintain production at our long term planned rate of 100,000 ounces per annum. This initiative is currently planned to continue for a further five months and expected to be complete in May 2011. VGM anticipates that for the second quarter, ending 28 February 2011, development will be maintained at this increased rate and as a result, it is expected that the mined grade, and hence gold production will be lower than in the first quarter.
Surface ore delivered to the oxide plant of 52,682 tonne was slightly below last quarters 54,279 tonne, a 3 percent decline, and the grade delivered was lower at 1.64 g/t compared to 1.75 g/t. The lower delivered tonnage is due to the completion of mining of the low-grade oxide surface stock pile. Surface mining of low grade oxide material continues but it is expected to cease mining and processing of oxide ore in May 2011 when the mine will switch to solely processing higher grade sulphide underground ore.
During the quarter the Vatukoula Treatment Plant processed 134,646 tonne of combined sulphide and oxide ores at an average grade of 4.49 g/t. Recoveries ran at 84.88% with 16,656 ounces of gold recovered during the quarter. The mine shipped and sold 18,055 ounces of gold during the quarter, as the mine drew down from the gold in the circuit.
VGM First Quarter Financial results and Operating Costs (unaudited)
Mine net operating earnings (unaudited) for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 were recorded at £3.2 million down from £5.5 million (unaudited) in the last quarter.
The average gold price realised for the quarter was US$1,314 per ounce, up from US$1,199 per ounce realised in the previous quarter. The result of this increase gave the mine similar revenue figures compared to last quarter even with the lower gold sales.
Financial Highlights (unaudited)
|
First Quarter
ended Nov 2010
|
Fourth Quarter
ended Aug 2010
|
Third Quarter
ended May 2010
|
12 months ended 31 August 2010
|
Gold recovered
|
16,565 ozs
|
21,107 ozs
|
13,306 ozs
|
59,658 ozs
|
Gold sales
|
18,055 ozs
|
19,251 ozs
|
11,299 oz
|
54,642 ozs
|
Average gold price received per ounce
|
US$1,314
|
US$1,199
|
US$1,161
|
US$1,150
|
Mine net operating earnings (unaudited)
|
£ 3.2 million
|
£ 5.6 million
|
£ 1.5 million
|
£12.9 million
|
Cash operating costs in the quarter increased to US$130 per tonne mined. The primary driver for these increases was the increase in development that was carried out in ore. Cash operating costs per ounce of gold recovered were US$1,057 per ounce. The majority of this increase is primarily attributable to the lower grade ore processed, as part of the development program, which has reduced gold production. Operating costs increased in the quarter as a consequence of planned accelerated development in the first half of the year and VGM believes that for the full fiscal year ending August 31, 2011cash costs will be around US$ 785 per ounce of gold.
Exploration
The Vatukoula exploration program encompasses two objectives. Firstly, to identify and detail new areas for mining and any expansion potential within the Vatukoula mine license area and secondly to undertake regional exploration on the Vatukoula Exploration permits.
An exploration program which focuses on three main targets / types of deposit has been developed. The first of the targets are potential extensions along strike and down-dip of existing ore bodies. The second set of targets lie within mining leases and special prospecting license and are typical oxide deposits which could be suitable to open pit mining operations. The third and final target group are all on the special prospecting licenses, which have been identified as highly prospective based on both historic drill holes and shallow surface mining.
During the first quarter, studies were initiated which included the integration of all existing data on the extensive exploration undertaken to date on the project. An exploration group was engaged to assist Vatukoula geologists in identifying and targeting potential exploration sites.
A number of potential exploration targets have been identified both within the mine area, underground and on surface. Two drill rigs have been commissioned to begin the exploration drilling. The first will target surface deposits and the second, will target from surface underground extension of known ore deposits and test other targets, which are currently not being mined.
For further information on VGM refer to the company’s website: www.vgmplc.com.
Outlook
Canadian Zinc’s primary focus during 2011 will be on completing the Environmental Assessment process for the operating permits for the Prairie Creek Mine. It is expected that the EA process will be completed during 2011.
The Company completed a $2.5 million flow-through financing in June, 2010 and a further $2.5 million flow-through financing in December 23, 2010 to fund further exploration at Prairie Creek. The deep drill exploration program at Prairie Creek will continue in 2011. In addition further drilling will occur in the northern part of the property.
When the Company receives its operating permits, which is not a certain event, additional financing will be required to bring the mine into commercial production. This will be very dependent on future market conditions, especially with regard to commodity prices, which may impact the Company’s ability to complete development of Prairie Creek. The Company is currently evaluating the cost of the future development required at Prairie Creek and currently estimates that an additional $80 - $100 million will be required. This number, however, is highly uncertain and could materially change based on final project design, permitting conditions and economic circumstances at that time.
SNC Lavalin has been engaged to complete a Feasibility Study on the Prairie Creek Mine since a number of key operating parameters are now, or will shortly be defined. It is expected that the Feasibility Study will be completed before the end of 2011 and will allow CZN to base financing decisions.
The Company recorded significant gains on its investment in Vatukoula Gold Mines during the year 2010. At December 31, 2010, the Company’s investment in VGM had a market value of $39.4 million and represents the Company’s largest balance sheet item. The outlook for this investment is dependent on the ongoing performance of VGM. At March 14, 2011, the market value of the Company’s investment in VGM was $31,815,000.
Canadian Zinc’s long-term aim has been, and continues to be, to bring the Prairie Creek Mine into production. CZN is committed to the responsible and sustainable development of the Prairie Creek Mine. The Company is acutely aware of the ecological value and importance of the area to First Nations, conservationists and the public in general. CZN intends to operate the Prairie Creek Mine with best available technology and environmental protection so that the temporary impact on the environment during operations are minimal, and long-term effects after closure of the mine will be negligible. CZN believes that mineral development and conservation of ecological resources need not be mutually exclusive.
The Company’s vision is the development and successful operation of the Prairie Creek Mine with controlled road access, where the ecology is protected, and mineral extraction with its related economic benefits successfully co-exist with traditional aboriginal land uses and the neighboring Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The Company has continued to make progress with its strategy to bring the Prairie Creek Mine into production and, as described in this MD&A, has submitted applications for operating permits which are currently undergoing environmental assessment. CZN has sought to continue cost-saving measures in the short-term, in order to focus on the currently required key activities and to preserve cash resources.
From time to time Canadian Zinc undertakes evaluations of opportunities to acquire additional mining assets and businesses. Canadian Zinc believes that acquisition of suitable mining assets or businesses using the Company’s funds could add shareholder value and diversify the interests of the Company.
As described in this MD&A in the section “Risks and Uncertainties,” Canadian Zinc’s activities and status as an exploration / development company expose the Company to a variety of risks, many of which are beyond the direct control of the Company.
However, management has sought to manage risks within its control using several key components:
Corporate Values
: Canadian Zinc promotes its corporate values throughout the Company and has a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that is distributed to all employees and signed by them to acknowledge receipt and compliance with the Code.
Policies
: Canadian Zinc maintains a set of corporate policies designed to provide guidelines and determine authority levels for certain transactions.
Internal Reporting
: Canadian Zinc holds regularly scheduled board meetings and also provides reports, on a monthly basis, to the board of directors. The Company believes that the frequency of regular reporting and meetings, supplemented by additional meetings as needed, provides for effective and timely risk management and oversight.
Whistleblower System
: Canadian Zinc has a system in place, using a third-party independent service provider, where employees or other interested stakeholders may report any potential ethical concerns. The reports can be made on a confidential basis and any concerns reported are received by the Chairman of the Audit Committee. Should a matter be reported, the audit committee has been empowered to seek assistance from any personnel it deems relevant and also external legal counsel. All employees receive a copy of the whistleblower policy upon commencing employment with Canadian Zinc and are required to acknowledge receipt thereof.
The following summary financial information has been derived from the financial statements of the Company, which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
(thousands of Canadian dollars
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
except per share amounts)
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
Statement of operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
18,407
|
|
$
|
(611)
|
|
$
|
(4,228)
|
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
$
|
(0.005)
|
|
$
|
(0.04)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
|
$
|
7,364
|
|
$
|
7,443
|
|
$
|
20,948
|
Marketable securities
|
$
|
39,400
|
|
$
|
15,382
|
|
$
|
2,024
|
Total assets
|
$
|
53,463
|
|
$
|
29,152
|
|
$
|
29,521
|
Total liabilities
|
$
|
1,542
|
|
$
|
1,639
|
|
$
|
1,673
|
Shareholders’ equity
|
$
|
51,921
|
|
$
|
27,513
|
|
$
|
27,848
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company is at the exploration and development stage and does not generate revenue or cash flows from operations. The income for the year 2010 and the losses for the years 2009 and 2008 represent administrative expenses and expenditures incurred on the Prairie Creek property, offset in the 2010 and 2009 results by gains on marketable securities.
This review of the results of operations should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other public disclosure documents of the Company.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company reported net income of $18,407,000 compared to a loss of $611,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in net income in 2010 was primarily attributable to gains on the Company’s marketable securities, principally its shares in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc, offset by higher mineral exploration and development expenses.
Mineral Exploration and Development Costs
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company expensed $4,181,000 million on its mineral exploration and development programs at Prairie Creek compared to $2,260,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Excluding accretion and depreciation charges relating to the asset retirement obligation and mining plant and equipment of $212,000 in the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - $252,000), the exploration and development expenditures for Prairie Creek amounted to $3,969,000 in 2010 compared to $2,008,000 in 2009. Details of the mineral exploration and development costs are shown in Note 11 to the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The overall increase in expenditures at the Prairie Creek Mine Site relates primarily to the Company’s summer drill program amounting to $2,001,000 (2009 - $nil). The Company also incurred $1,163,000 (2009 - $1,052,000) related to permitting and environmental matters, which included costs related to studies required for the Company’s Developer’s Assessment Report as filed with the MVEIRB as part of the permitting process for operating permits at Prairie Creek, as well as liaising with local communities and Parks Canada, among others.
As described in this MD&A in the section above entitled “Overview, Review of Activities and Outlook,” the Company considers that it has made continued progress in this area. However, the process for obtaining operating permits in the Mackenzie Valley in general, and relating to the Prairie Creek Mine in particular, has been marked by long delays and this extended process is expected to continue. The Company intends to continue to work through the process for obtaining operating permits in 2011 and expects that there will continue to be significant costs associated with the process. Given the open-ended nature of the permitting process, the Company is not able to provide, with any reasonable assurance, an estimate as to the total costs for obtaining operating permits.
Revenue and Investment Income
The Company is in the development stage and does not generate any cash flows from operations. To date the Company has not earned any significant revenues other than interest and related investment income. Investment income for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $48,000 compared to $242,000 for 2009. The decrease is attributable to the overall decrease in amounts available for investment during the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the prior year and the continued minimal rates of interest being paid for balances on account with financial institutions.
Administrative Expenses
Administrative expenses (excluding stock-based compensation and depreciation) were largely unchanged for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $1,719,000 compared to $1,728,000 in the year ended December 31, 2009.
Other Income (Expenses)
Stock-based compensation
: In 2010, the Company recorded an expense for stock-based compensation of $1,015,000 (2009 - $288,000) relating to the vesting of stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and contractors. The stock-based compensation expense value was calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation method with assumptions as described in the ”Critical Accounting Estimates” section to this MD&A. The assumptions used in the calculation are described in Note 15(a) to the audited financial statements at December 31, 2010.
Gain/loss on marketable securities
: The Company reported overall gains on securities of $25,341,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - $6,102,000). These gains primarily arose as a result of the increase in quoted prices for the marketable securities in which the Company invested. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company realized gains of $463,000 (2009 - $1,441,000) through the sale of a portion of its marketable securities (which realized gain is included in the overall gain figures reported above). All the Company’s marketable securities have been designated as held for trading assets by the Company. The total gain recorded on marketable securities for the year ended December 31, 2010, is based upon the market value of the shares at December 31, 2010 and the actual gains realized during the year. Further details relating to the Company’s marketable securities are included in Note 6 to the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Foreign Exchange
: The Company incurred a foreign exchange loss of $44,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 –$260,000), of which $44,000 was unrealized as at December 31, 2010. The losses primarily arose as a result of the overall strengthening of the Canadian dollar compared to the U.S. dollar which impacted the carrying value of cash held by the Company in U.S. dollars.
American Eagle Option
: During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company incurred an expense of $1.811,000 million relating to the option to acquire American Eagle Resources Inc., which through its subsidiary owns 100% of the Tuvatu Gold Project in Fiji. The Company agreed to early termination of the Tuvatu option in exchange for warrants to acquire up to 1,250,000 shares of American Eagle at the lesser of $2 per share or 25% above the price of an initial public offering. These warrants were written off at December 31, 2009. The Company also incurred expenditures of $585,000 during the year ended December 31, 2009 relating to evaluation of the Tuvatu property. There were no costs relating to the American Eagle option in the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2010.
Related Party Transactions
The Company incurred rent expense with a corporation with a common director of the Company in the amount of $24,000 (2009 - $24,000). These transactions were within the normal course of business and have been recorded at amounts agreed to by the transacting parties. At December 31, 2010, $2,000 relating to amounts owing to related parties was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (2009 - $nil). Particulars relating to related party transactions are shown in Note 17 to the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Income Taxes
The Company is currently not profitable and has recorded a valuation allowance against its future income tax assets. Following renouncement, in prior years, of flow-through share expenditures, the Company recorded future income tax income as per the reconciliation of income taxes for each of the past three years below:
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
Statutory tax rate
|
|
29.10%
|
|
30.70%
|
|
31.00%
|
Income taxes/(recovery) computed at statutory rates
|
$
|
5,357
|
$
|
(187)
|
$
|
(1,311)
|
Permanent differences
|
|
301
|
|
(256)
|
|
64
|
Expired losses
|
|
301
|
|
183
|
|
192
|
Other
|
|
(130)
|
|
(7)
|
|
118
|
Investment income subject to capital gains tax rate
|
|
(3,620)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Income tax rate changes
|
|
(194)
|
|
(75)
|
|
403
|
Change in valuation allowance
|
|
(2,015)
|
|
342
|
|
534
|
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
The Company follows the guidance prescribed by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA”) Emerging Issues Committee Recommendation 146, “Flow-through Shares,” such that future income tax income is recognized, and shareholders’ equity reduced, on the day the Company files the tax documents to renounce expenditures with the tax authorities.
(thousands of dollars except per share amounts)
Quarter ended
|
Investment Income $
|
Net Income (Loss) $
|
Net (Loss) Income per Common Share – basic and diluted $
|
December 31, 2010
|
12
|
7,501
|
0.06
|
September 30, 2010
|
12
|
8,328
|
0.07
|
June 30, 2010
|
14
|
(4,661)
|
(0.04)
|
March 31, 2010
|
10
|
7,239
|
0.06
|
December 31, 2009
|
14
|
(2,487)
|
(0.021)
|
September 30, 2009
|
16
|
(1,092)
|
(0.009)
|
June 30, 2009
|
82
|
3,265
|
0.027
|
March 31, 2009
|
130
|
(297)
|
(0.002)
|
The Company’s investment income has generally decreased as a result of lower cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balances over the past eight quarters as the Company has funded its activities and invested in marketable securities. In addition, the decline in the rate of return for such investments has remained significantly low following the global economic crisis.
The net income for three of the four quarters in fiscal 2010 largely represents the increase in the fair market value of the Company’s investment in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc. The net loss during the second quarter of fiscal 2010 represents the decrease in the fair market value of the Company’s investment in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc.
The net loss for three of the four quarters in fiscal 2009 largely represents the decrease in the fair market value of the Company’s marketable securities. The net income during the second quarter of fiscal 2009 reflects the increase in fair value of the Company’s investment in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc.
As at December 31, 2010, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4,464,000, short term investments of $2,900,000 and marketable securities of $39,400,000 (for a total of $46,764,000). The Company also had a positive working capital balance of $46,657,000. As at December 31, 2009, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $5,197,000, short term investments of $2,246,000, marketable securities of $15,382,000, and a positive working capital balance of $22,476,000.
The Company’s short term investments at December 31, 2010, consist primarily of Guaranteed Investment Certificates; the Company does not hold, and has never held, any asset-backed commercial paper. The Company’s accounts payable and accrued liabilities at December 31, 2010 were $242,000 compared to $401,000 as at December 31, 2009.
On June 30, 2010, the Company completed a brokered private placement for total proceeds of $2,500,000 ($2,130,000 net of issuance costs) consisting of 6,250,000 in Flow-Through Shares at $0.40 per share, which must be used for qualifying exploration expenditures. In consideration of the agent’s services in connection with the private placement, the agents were paid an aggregate cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised. In addition, the agents received broker warrants exercisable for common shares of the Company equal in number to 10% of the Flow-Through Common Shares issued. The broker warrants entitle the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.40 per common share until June 30, 2012. A fair value of $114,000 was assigned to the warrants issued and added to the contributed surplus account.
On December 23, 2010, the Company completed a brokered private placement for total proceeds of $2,500,000 ($2,173,000 net of issuance costs) consisting of 3,571,429 in Flow-Through Shares at $0.70 per share, which must be used for qualifying exploration expenditures. In consideration of the agent’s services in connection with the private placement, the agents were paid an aggregate cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised. In addition, the agents received broker warrants exercisable for common shares of the Company equal in number to 10% of the Flow-Through Common Shares issued. The broker warrants entitle the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.70 per common share until December 23, 2012. A fair value of $81,000 was assigned to the warrants issued and added to the contributed surplus account.
The net proceeds of both private placements, which must be used for qualifying exploration expenditures, are being used to finance a diamond drill exploration program as described in the “Deep Hole Exploration Program” section of this MD&A.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, 1,196,250 (2009 – nil) stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $0.23 were exercised for proceeds of $277,000 (2009 - $nil).
Canadian Zinc does not generate any cash flows from operations and has no income other than investment income. The Company relies on equity financings to fund its working capital requirements and planned exploration, development and permitting activities.
The Company believes that the funds available to it remain sufficient for current operations and will enable Canadian Zinc to continue, for at least one year assuming no other factors changed, with the permitting process and limited summer work program for Prairie Creek. However, the Company’s expenditures could increase significantly in the short-term due to factors beyond the Company’s control, such as regulatory matters associated to the permitting process, and in particular, the possibility that external consultants’ time may be required. CZN cannot predict all costs that may be required as a result of external conditions imposed upon it and these expenditures could cause the Company’s cash and cash equivalents resources to be depleted at a faster rate than currently anticipated.
The Company is partially financed through the issuance of flow-through shares, requiring that the Company spend the proceeds for qualified mineral exploration expenses. Moreover, tax rules regarding flow-through investments set deadlines for carrying out the exploration work, subject to penalties if the conditions are not respected. The Company has until December 31, 2011 to make qualified mineral exploration expenses before being subject to penalties.
Additional capital will be required in order to bring the Prairie Creek Mine into production in the future. The ability to raise additional finance may be impaired, or such financing may not be available on favorable terms, due to conditions beyond the control of the Company, such as continued uncertainty in the capital markets and depressed commodity prices, or the conditions imposed upon the Company in its operating permits. This is discussed in more detail in the “Risks and Uncertainties” section in this MD&A. The Company currently anticipates that, depending on final design and operating permit conditions, the additional capital required to install the planned new facilities and to bring the Prairie Creek Mine into production will be in the area of $80 – 100 million.
The Company currently holds marketable securities in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc. The investments in VGM were acquired during 2009 and represent 100% of the total market value of CZN’s marketable securities at December 31, 2010. CZN’s ability to realize these investments (and make a gain) is dependent on the performance of the Company’s shares that have been acquired, which is not certain. At March 14, 2011 the market value of CZN’s shareholding in Vatukoula Gold Mines was $31,815,000, compared to $39.4 million at December 31, 2010,
The following table reflects the Company’s aggregate financial commitments as of December 31, 2010:
($’000s)
|
Payment due by period
|
Contractual Obligations
|
Total (CDN$)
|
Less than 1 year
|
1-3 years
|
3-5 years
|
More than 5 years
|
Operating Lease Obligation (1)
|
261
|
169
|
92
|
-
|
-
|
Asset Retirement Obligation (2)
|
2,350
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2,350
|
Total
|
2,611
|
169
|
92
|
-
|
2,350
|
(1)
|
Represents obligations under operating leases for office space and equipment.
|
(2)
|
The asset retirement obligation represents the undiscounted value of total payments of $2,350,000 which are anticipated to be predominantly incurred at the end of the life of the Prairie Creek Mine.
|
The table above does not include the annual fees related to the Company’s mining leases, surface leases and mineral claims which total approximately $45,000 per annum and property taxes of approximately $30,000 per annum.
Adoption of New Stock Option Plan
At December 31, 2010, there were 7,500,000 incentive stock options outstanding all of which were granted under the Company’s 2004 Rolling Stock Option Plan (the “2004 Plan”). At the Annual General Meeting held on June 16, 2010, shareholders approved the adoption of a new incentive stock option plan (the “2010 Plan“). The 2010 Plan is a fixed share stock option plan pursuant to which options on up to 6,000,000 common shares may be issued to directors, officers, employees and service providers of the Company. No new stock options will be granted under the 2004 Plan, which is a 10% rolling stock option plan, but the 7,500,000 stock options outstanding as at December 31, 2010 under the 2004 Plan will remain outstanding and subject to that plan. Stock options will only be granted under the 2010 Stock Option Plan to the extent that the aggregate number of options outstanding under the 2010 Plan and the 2004 Plan does not exceed 6,000,000. As the Company currently has 7,500,000 options outstanding under the 2004 Plan, the Company will not grant options under the 2010 Plan until such time as this number of options outstanding falls below 6,000,000.
The Company classifies its financial assets as either held for trading, available-for-sale, or loans and receivables. Financial liabilities are classified as either held for trading, or loans and receivables. The Company’s accounting policy for each category of financial instrument is summarized below:
Loans and receivables are initially recognized at fair value including direct and incremental transaction costs and are subsequently measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest method. The Company has classified its other receivables as loans and receivables.
Held for trading: Financial assets and liabilities that are purchased and incurred with the intention of generating income in the near term are classified as held for trading. Financial instruments included in this category are initially recognized at fair value and transaction costs are taken directly to net income (loss) along with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value. Regular-way purchases and sales of financial assets are accounted for on the trade date. The Company has designated its cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, marketable securities and restricted cash as held for trading.
Held-to-maturity investments are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that the Company has the intention and ability to hold to maturity. These are initially recognized at fair value including direct and incremental transaction costs and are subsequently valued at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. The Company has no financial assets classified as held-to-maturity.
Available-for-sale assets are financial assets that are designated as available-for-sale and are not categorized into any other categories as described above. These assets are initially recognized at fair value including direct and incremental transaction costs and are subsequently held at fair value with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value included in other comprehensive income until ultimate sale when the cumulative gain or loss is transferred to net income. The Company had no financial assets designated as available-for-sale.
Other liabilities: If not classified as held for trading, financial liabilities are classified as other liabilities. After initial measurement at fair value, other liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Gains or losses are recognized in net income (loss) in the period when the liability is derecognized. The Company has classified its accounts payable and accrued liabilities as other liabilities.
The fair values of the Company’s held for trading (current) assets, such as cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and marketable securities, equal their carrying values of $46,764,000 at December 31, 2010 (2009 - $22,825,000) as these items are carried (on the balance sheet) at fair values with gains and losses recorded in the statement of operations. The nature of the Company’s held for trading assets are such that they are valued based upon quoted market prices as at the reporting date
Effective June 1, 2010, the Company renewed its normal course issuer bid (the “Bid”) pursuant to which the Company may purchase up to a maximum of 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company. The Bid may be carried out from June 1, 2010 for a period of up to one year. Pursuant to TSX policies, daily purchases made by the Company under the Bid may not exceed 33,038 common shares, subject to certain prescribed exceptions. All common shares purchased pursuant to the Bid will be cancelled and returned to treasury.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company acquired nil (2009 - 68,500) common shares under the Bid for a total cost of $nil (2009 - 12,000). All shares purchased in 2009 under the Company’s normal course issuer bid were cancelled and returned to treasury as soon as practical after the purchase date.
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP and require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities (if any). The Company’s management makes assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and that are based upon historical experience, current conditions and expert advice. These estimates are reviewed on an ongoing basis for updated information and facts. The use of different assumptions would result in different estimates, and actual results may differ from results based on these estimates.
A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies is included in Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010. The following is a discussion of the accounting estimates that are considered by management to be significant in determining the Company’s financial results and position:
Impairment of long-lived assets
The carrying value of resource interests at December 31, 2010 was $5,053,000 (2009 - $5,053,000) and for plant and equipment was $772,000 (2009 - $483,000). Long-lived assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment is considered to exist if total estimated future cash flows or probability-weighted cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the assets, including resource interests and plant and equipment. An impairment loss, if any, is measured and recorded based on discounted estimated future cash flows or the application of an expected present value technique to estimate fair value in the absence of a market price.
At December 31, 2010, management carried out an impairment review and determined that, notwithstanding the Company’s history of losses, and based upon best estimates available, no impairment of the carrying value of resource interests was indicated.
In assessing the future estimated cash flows management uses various estimates including, but not limited to, future operating and capital costs as well as future commodity prices and estimates based upon indicated and inferred resources. By their very nature, there can be no assurance that these estimates will actually be reflected in the future construction or operation of the Prairie Creek Mine. The ultimate recoverability of amounts deferred for resource interests is dependent upon, amongst other things, obtaining the necessary financing to complete the development of, and obtaining the necessary permits to operate, the Prairie Creek mine.
Asset retirement obligation (environmental estimates)
Asset retirement obligations are recognized in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be determined. The fair value of the estimated asset retirement cost is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset when incurred or revised, and amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. Increases in the asset retirement obligation resulting from the passage of time are recorded as accretion expenses. Actual expenditures incurred are charged against the accumulated obligation. Various assumptions are used in determining the liability including current mine plans, future retirement costs and estimates of resources. The estimates used require extensive judgment as to the nature, cost and timing of the work to be completed and may change with future changes to cost structures, environmental laws and requirements and remediation practices employed. Management evaluates the asset retirement obligation estimates at the end of each reporting period to determine whether the estimates continue to be appropriate.
As at December 31, 2010, the Company estimates that the total undiscounted cash flows required to settle the reclamation and remediation obligations at the Prairie Creek Property are $2,350,000 (2009 - $2,383,000), mostly to be incurred at the end of the life of the mine. These cash flows have been determined to have a present value of $1,300,000 (2009 - $1,238,000) based upon the following assumptions: long-term inflation rate of 2%; a credit-adjusted risk-free discount rate of 6.5%; and a weighted average useful life production facilities and equipment of at least ten years.
Stock-based compensation
The Company applies the fair-value method of accounting for stock-based compensation in accordance with the recommendations of CICA 3870, “Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments.” Stock-based compensation expense is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“Black-Scholes”). Black-Scholes requires management to make various estimates and assumptions that impact the value assigned to the option expense including the predicted future volatility of the stock price, the risk free interest rate, dividend yield and the expected life of the options. Management has used the following assumptions for its Black-Scholes calculations:
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Years ended December 31,
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2010
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2009
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2008*
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Dividend yield
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0%
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0%
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n/a
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Risk free interest rate
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1.54% to 2.38%
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1.90%
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n/a
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Expected life
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2.5 to 3.5 years
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4 years
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n/a
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Expected volatility
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79.5% to 87.0%
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83%
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n/a
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* No stock options were granted in 2008.
Any change in the assumptions used could have a material impact on the fair value of the stock-based compensation value. In addition, the Black-Scholes option pricing model was developed for options that have characteristics that are materially different to the Company’s stock options, and for purposes other than to determine the fair value to be assigned to stock options.
The Company adopted various new accounting standards, as described below, during the year ended December 31, 2010.
Business Combinations, Consolidations and Non-controlling Interests
: On January 1, 2010, the Company elected to adopt the recommendations included in CICA Handbook Sections 1582, “Business Combinations,” 1601, “Consolidations” and 1602, “Non-controlling Interests” which replace 1581, “Business Combinations” and 1600, “Consolidated Financial Statements.” The new standards will only impact the Company’s financial reporting should a future business combination be entered into by Canadian Zinc.
Additional information on the adoption of these accounting standards, and on proposed future standards, can be found in Note 3 to the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
In February 2008, the CICA Accounting Standards Board confirmed that the use of IFRS will be required in 2011 for public companies in Canada (i.e., IFRS will replace Canadian GAAP for public companies). The official changeover date will apply for interim and annual financial statements relating to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. IFRS requires that in the year of implementation the comparative financial statements be restated to conform to the standards in place at the end of the year of adoption i.e. IFRS in place at December 31, 2011.
The Company has commenced the process to transition from current Canadian GAAP to IFRS, led by the Company’s CFO. The transition process consists of three primary phases:
(i) Scoping and Diagnostic Phase: A preliminary diagnostic review has been completed by the Company, which included the determination, at a high level, of the financial reporting areas most likely to be impacted by IFRS.
(ii) Impact analysis, evaluation and design phase: In this phase, each area identified during the scoping phase is addressed to determine more specific changes required to existing accounting policies and identify new accounting policies under IFRS. This phase includes analysis and conclusion on the accounting choices available under IFRS. The Company has identified key areas that may have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. These are discussed in more detail later in this section of the MD&A.
(iii) Implementation and review phase: This phase will include execution of any changes to business processes and completion of formal documents analyzing the transition to IFRS for approval by the Board of Directors. It will also include the final production of complete IFRS-compliant financial statements for review by the audit committee.
In order to meet the various timelines and challenges presented by the transition to IFRS, and over-arching the three phases noted above, the Company has considered the elements of a changeover plan and, for Canadian Zinc, considers the following to be the key activities, milestones and status:
Key Activity
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Key Milestones
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Status
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Financial Statement Preparation:
- Identify differences in Canadian GAAP / IFRS accounting policies.
- Select ongoing IFRS policies.
- Select IFRS 1 choices.
- Develop financial statement format.
- Quantify effects of changes in initial IFRS 1 disclosures and 2010 financial statements.
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Senior management sign-off and audit committee review for all key accounting policy choices to be concluded by April 2011.
Draft financial statements to be prepared under IFRS format, with IFRS accounting policies.
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An analysis, primarily in the form of “white papers”, has been substantially completed. This includes an analysis and discussion on key differences between Canadian GAAP and IFRS, and documents expected disclosures (such as accounting policies and format under IFRS), IFRS optional exemptions selected by the Company (detailed below) and related issues to be addressed in the Company’s future IFRS financial statements.
An opening balance sheet as at January 1, 2010 under IFRS has been completed and expected disclosures for the Q1 2011 financial statements are expected to be finalized by April 2011. Once completed, these financial statements may require updating as new IFRS standards are pronounced.
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Training:
Canadian Zinc is a relatively small company with limited operations and staff resources. Consideration is to be given to the level of expertise required for:
- Employees in general;
- Senior management and the Board, including the Audit Committee.
In order to manage and assess the IFRS conversion process the Company considers that the following personnel must possess sufficient understanding of IFRS as early as possible:
- CFO
- CEO
- Members of the Audit Committee.
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Appropriate levels of expertise are required throughout the IFRS conversion project with ongoing training provided as needed.
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The Company has provided time for the CFO and Audit Committee Chairman to attend externally provided IFRS training sessions.
The CEO, and certain other directors, currently sit on the Boards of companies that report under IFRS so possess knowledge of IFRS.
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Control Environment - Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR):
For all accounting policy changes identified, the Company will assess ICFR design and effectiveness implications.
Appropriate changes to ICFR will be implemented as appropriate.
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Assessment of ICFR has been performed throughout 2010 as the accounting policy changes are being documented and resolved. The Company plans to be able to test the new ICFR relating to IFRS conversion in April 2011.
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At the current time, the Company anticipates that many of its ICFR relating to IFRS will form part of its current financial reporting process controls with the key element being management and board understanding of IFRS.
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Control Environment - Disclosure Controls and Procedures:
As the Company progresses through its IFRS conversion process and identifies accounting policy changes, these are to be reported to the public to ensure ongoing communication on the conversion.
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Publish the likely impact of conversion on an ongoing basis and revised 2010 results and financial position in public filings during 2011 (i.e. comparative data previously presented under Canadian GAAP will be presented under IFRS).
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Brief overview of high-level expected changes to accounting policies is presented in this MD&A (see below).
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Business Activities:
At the current time, Canadian Zinc has very limited business activities as it continues to seek operating permits for the Prairie Creek Mine site.
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Should the business transition to active operations during 2011 and beyond, the Company will seek to adopt accounting policies that comply with IFRS, such as for inventory.
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Canadian Zinc will continue to monitor its business activities to determine whether there are changes that will require review under the IFRS conversion process.
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Infrastructure – Information Technology:
Canadian Zinc will be required to ensure that its accounting system can capture data that facilitates reporting under IFRS (i.e. information during 2010 that will be reported initially under Canadian GAAP and then under IFRS in 2011 comparatives).
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The Company has ensured data collected in 2010 can be used in both Canadian GAAP and IFRS reporting.
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Management has evaluated the changes that are required and have and will continue to capture data in more detailed general ledger accounts.
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As discussed in the table above, Canadian Zinc has substantially completed its review of accounting policies and the changes that may be required to current accounting policies under Canadian GAAP. The following discussion highlights some of the findings of this exercise:
IFRS 1, “First Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards,” provides entities adopting IFRS for the first time with a number of optional exemptions and mandatory exceptions, in certain areas, to the general requirement for full retrospective application of IFRSs. The various accounting policy choices available are being assessed and those determined to be most appropriate will be implemented. At the current time, CZN expects to apply the following optional exemptions under IFRS 1:
(a)
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Share-based payments (stock-based compensation) vested as at December 31, 2009 will not be retrospectively applied;
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(b)
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financial instruments designated as held for trading under Canadian GAAP will be designated as at fair value through profit or loss (to the extent permitted) in order to maintain the current accounting practice of changes in fair value being reported directly in the statement of operations, and;
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(c)
|
decommissioning liabilities included in the cost of property, plant and equipment will be calculated as permitted under IFRS 1 rather than full retrospective application.
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Canadian Zinc has also identified, in broad terms, certain key areas of financial reporting which may be significantly affected by the adoption of IFRS. These are discussed in the table below:
Standards
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Difference from Canadian GAAP
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Potential Impact
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|
|
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Presentation and Disclosure
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IFRS requires significantly
more disclosure than Canadian
GAAP for certain standards.
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The increased disclosure requirements will cause the Company to change financial reporting processes to ensure the appropriate data is collected.
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Stock-based Compensation
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Under Canadian GAAP, vesting of employee stock options can be recognized on a straight-line basis whereas IFRS requires that each tranche of stock option vesting is treated as having a separate fair value.
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The amount of the expense recognized under IFRS may be different to that under Canadian GAAP and is recognized more up-front. To minimize future adjustments, the Company has measured all options issued in 2010 in a manner consistent with both IFRS and Canadian GAAP.
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Impairment of long-lived assets
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IFRS requires the assessment of asset impairment to be based on discounted cash flows while Canadian GAAP only requires discounting if the carrying value of assets exceeds the undiscounted cash flows.
IFRS also requires the reversal of any previous asset impairments, excluding goodwill, where circumstances have changed. GAAP prohibits the reversal of impairment losses.
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Based on our technical analysis, we do not anticipate an adjustment for impairment of assets on transition to IFRS.
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Asset retirement obligations (ARO)
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IFRS requires asset retirement obligations to be adjusted to the discount rate in affect at each balance sheet date while GAAP retains the historical discount rate. In addition, IFRS requires that ARO are accrued for constructive as well as legal obligations. Canadian GAAP only requires that legal obligations are included.
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The ARO recorded under IFRS may be greater than that under Canadian GAAP and the accounting treatment in the future may see more fluctuations in the amount reported.
At transition date we estimate the adjustment related to the ARO to result in an increase in deficit and a decrease in net assets of $0.4 million.
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The above list and related comments should not be regarded as a complete list of changes that will (or could) result from the Company’s transition to IFRS. It is intended to highlight certain areas that management believes may be most significant. The standard-setting bodies of Canadian GAAP and IFRS have significant ongoing projects that could affect the ultimate differences between Canadian GAAP and these changes may have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. As a result, the final impact on the Company’s financial statements will only be measurable once all of the applicable IFRS standards at the final changeover are known, which is an ongoing process.
In conducting its business, Canadian Zinc faces a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its ability to control or predict. Because of these risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Investors are urged to review the discussion of risk factors associated with the Company’s business below and as set out in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 16, 2011, which has been filed with the Canadian Securities Regulators on SEDAR (
www.sedar.com
).
The risks below, and as described in the Company’s Annual Information Form and other Canadian and U.S. filings, are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to, or that are currently deemed to be immaterial, also may materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition and/or operating results.
Acquisitions
From time to time Canadian Zinc undertakes evaluations of opportunities to acquire additional mining assets and businesses. Any resultant acquisitions, such as those discussed in this MD&A in the “Overview, Review of Activities and Outlook” section, may be significant in size, may change the scale of Canadian Zinc’s business, and may expose Canadian Zinc to new geographic, political, operating financial and geological risks. Canadian Zinc’s success in its acquisition activities depends on its ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, to acquire them on acceptable terms, and integrate their operations successfully with those of Canadian Zinc. Any acquisition would be accompanied by risks, such as a significant decline in metal prices; the ore body proving to be below expectations; the difficulty of assimilating the operation and personnel; the potential disruption of Canadian Zinc’s ongoing business; the inability of management to maximize the financial and strategic position of Canadian Zinc through the successful integration of acquired assets and businesses; the maintenance of uniform standards, control, procedures and policies; the impairment of relationships with employees, customers and contractors as a result of any integration of new management personnel; and the potential unknown liabilities associated with acquired assets and business. In addition Canadian Zinc may need additional capital to finance an acquisition. Debt financing related to any acquisition will expose Canadian Zinc to the risk of leverage, while equity financing may cause existing shareholders to suffer dilution. There can be no assurance that Canadian Zinc would be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions.
Vatukoula Gold Mines plc
As discussed in this MD&A, the Company has acquired a significant interest in Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc, which operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji. Operations in Fiji add increased risks to the Company’s business affairs. Fiji has experienced political unrest and there may, at times, be challenges to foreign owned companies. In Fiji, VGM expenditures are made in Fijian dollars and revenues are in U.S. dollars. The parent company in the VGM group is based in the United Kingdom and reports in £ Sterling. The impact of foreign exchange fluctuations may have a material impact on the results of operations of VGM. As VGM is operating a working gold mine, it is exposed to risk from changes in commodity prices (notably gold) and also the price of oil on the world markets. Adverse changes in these prices could have a material impact on the operations of VGM.
Political and Legislative
Canadian Zinc conducts its operations in the Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories of Canada in an area which is claimed by the Dehcho First Nations as their traditional territory. The Dehcho have not settled their land claim with the Federal Government of Canada. The Dehcho and the Federal Government both claim legal title to this territory and legal title to the land remains in dispute. The Company’s operations are potentially subject to a number of political, legislative and other risks. Canadian Zinc is not able to determine the impact of political, legislative or other risks on its business or its future financial position.
Canadian Zinc’s operations are exposed to various levels of political, legislative and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, cancellation, renegotiation or nullification of existing leases, claims, permits and contracts; expropriation or nationalization of property; changes in laws or regulations; changes in taxation laws or policies; royalty and tax increases or claims by governmental, Aboriginal or other entities; retroactive tax or royalty claims and changing political conditions; government mandated social expenditures; governmental regulations or policies that favour or require the awarding of contracts to local or Aboriginal contractors or require contractors to employ residents of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction or area; or that require that an operating project have a local joint venture partner, which may require to be subsidized; and other risks arising out of sovereignty or land claims over the area in which Canadian Zinc’s operations are conducted.
The mining, processing, development and mineral exploration activities of Canadian Zinc are subject to extensive federal, territorial and local laws and regulations, including various laws governing prospecting, development, production, taxes, labour standards and occupational health, mine safety, toxic substances, land use, water use and other matters. Such laws and regulations are subject to change and can become more stringent and costly over time. No assurance can be given that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner which could limit or curtail exploration, production or development. Amendments to current laws and regulations governing operations and activities of exploration and mining, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a substantial adverse impact on Canadian Zinc.
In 1998 - 2000 there was a major change to the legislative and regulatory framework and regulations in the Mackenzie Valley. There can be no assurance that these laws and regulations will not change in the future in a manner that could have an adverse effect on the Company’s activities and/or its financial condition.
In relation to the Northwest Territories specifically, a number of policy and social issues exist which increase Canadian Zinc’s political and legislative risk. The Government of Canada is facing legal and political issues, such as land claims and social issues, all of which may impact future operations. This political climate increases the risk of the Government making changes in the future to its position on issues such as mining rights and land tenure, which in turn may adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations. Future government actions cannot be predicted, but may impact the operation and regulation of the Prairie Creek mine. Changes, if any, in Government policies, or shifts in local political attitude in the Northwest Territories may adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations or business.
Canadian Zinc’s exploration, development and production activities may be substantially affected by factors beyond Canadian Zinc’s control, any of which could materially adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s financial position or results of operations. The occurrence of these various factors and uncertainties cannot be accurately predicted. The Company is not able to determine the impact of these risks on its business.
Permitting, Environmental and Other Regulatory Requirements
The operations of Canadian Zinc require licences and permits from various governmental and regulatory authorities. Canadian Zinc believes that it is presently complying in all material respects with the terms of its current licences and permits. However, such licences and permits are subject to change in various circumstances. Canadian Zinc does not hold all necessary licences and permits under applicable laws and regulations for the operation of the Prairie Creek mine. There can be no guarantee Canadian Zinc will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary licences and permits as are required to explore and develop its properties, commence construction or operation of mining facilities or properties under exploration or development, or to obtain them within a reasonable time.
The Prairie Creek Project is located in an environmentally sensitive and remote area in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories, within the watershed of the South Nahanni River. The South Nahanni River is considered to be of global significance, is highly valued as a wilderness recreation river and is a designated World Heritage Site. The South Nahanni River flows through the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
The Prairie Creek mine is encircled by the newly expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve, however an area of approximately 300 square kilometres immediately surrounding the Prairie Creek Mine is specifically excluded from the Park. In 2009 new legislation entitled
“An Act to Amend the Canada National Parks Act to enlarge Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada”
was enacted, which also authorized the Minister of Environment to enter into leases, licences of occupation or easements over Nahanni Park lands for the purposes of a mining access road leading to the Prairie Creek Mine Area, including the sites of storage and other facilities connected with that road. The Company will require permits from the Minister of Environment and / or the Parks Canada Agency for the purposes of accessing the Prairie Creek Mine Area. There can be no guarantee Canadian Zinc will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary permits or to obtain them within a reasonable time or on acceptable terms.
The Company has experienced long delays in obtaining permits to date. The Company anticipates continuing difficulties and delays with its permitting activities and faces ongoing opposition and legal challenges from certain interests.
Canadian Zinc’s activities are subject to extensive federal, provincial, territorial and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection and employee health and safety. Canadian Zinc is required to obtain governmental permits and provide bonding requirements under federal and territorial water and mine regulations. All phases of Canadian Zinc’s operations are subject to environmental regulation. These regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of water and air quality standards and land reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, and more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects. There is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulation, if any, will not adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations.
Environmental laws and regulations are complex and have tended to become more stringent over time. These laws are continuously evolving. Any changes in such laws, or in the environmental conditions at Prairie Creek, could have a material adverse effect on Canadian Zinc’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations. Canadian Zinc is not able to determine the impact of any future changes in environmental laws and regulations on its future financial position due to the uncertainty surrounding the ultimate form such changes may take. The Company does not currently consider that its expenditures required to maintain ongoing environmental monitoring obligations at the Prairie Creek Mine are material to the results and financial condition of the Company. However, these costs could become material in the future and would be reported in the Company’s public filings at that time.
Although Canadian Zinc makes provision for reclamation costs, it cannot be assured that such provision is adequate to discharge its obligations for these costs. As environmental protection laws and administrative policies change, Canadian Zinc will revise the estimate of its total obligations and may be obliged to make further provisions or provide further security for mine reclamation costs. The ultimate amount of reclamation to be incurred for existing and past mining interests is uncertain. Additional discussion on the impact of reclamation costs is included in this MD&A in the section “Critical Accounting Estimates - Asset retirement obligation (environmental estimates).”
Existing and possible future environmental legislation, regulations and actions could cause additional expense, capital expenditures, restrictions and delays in the activities of the Company, the extent of which cannot be predicted. Before production can commence on the Prairie Creek Property the Company must obtain regulatory approval, permits and licences and there is no assurance that such approvals will be obtained. No assurance can be given that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or made, or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied, in a manner which could limit or curtail production or development.
Regulatory approvals and permits are currently, and will in the future be, required in connection with Canadian Zinc’s operations. To the extent such approvals are required and not obtained, Canadian Zinc may be curtailed or prohibited from proceeding with planned exploration or development of its mineral properties or from continuing its mining operations.
Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions. The Company may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations.
Failure to comply with applicable environmental and health and safety laws can result in injunctions, damages, suspension or revocation of permits and imposition of penalties. There can be no assurance that Canadian Zinc has been or will be at all times in complete compliance with all such laws, regulations and permits, or that the costs of complying with current and future environmental and health and safety laws and permits will not materially adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s business, results of operations or financial condition. Environmental hazards may exist on the properties on which Canadian Zinc holds interests which are unknown to Canadian Zinc at present and which have been caused by previous owners or operators of the properties.
Amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing operations and activities of mining and exploration companies, or more stringent implementation thereof, could have a material adverse impact on Canadian Zinc Corporation and cause increases in exploration expenses, capital expenditures or production costs or require abandonment or delays in the development of mining properties.
The Prairie Creek project has, on numerous occasions, experienced significant delays in obtaining permits and licences necessary for the conduct of its operations. If at any time in the future permits essential to operations are not obtained, or not obtained in a timely manner, or exemptions not granted, there is a risk that the Prairie Creek Mine may not be able to operate.
Metal Prices and Market Sentiment
The market price of metals and minerals is volatile and cannot be controlled. Metal prices have fluctuated widely, particularly in recent years. If the price of metals and minerals should drop significantly, as occurred in late 2008, the economic prospects for the Prairie Creek Project could be significantly reduced or rendered uneconomic. There is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of ore are delineated, a profitable market may exist for the sale of products, including concentrates from that ore. Factors beyond the control of the Company may affect the marketability of any minerals discovered or concentrates produced. The marketability of minerals is affected by numerous other factors beyond the control of the Company, including quality issues, impurities, government regulations, royalties, allowable production and importing and exporting of minerals, the effect of which cannot be accurately predicted. Factors tending to affect the price of metals include:
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•
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The relative strength of the U.S. dollar against other currencies;
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•
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Government monetary and fiscal policies;
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•
|
Expectations of the future rate of global monetary inflation and interest rates;
|
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•
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General economic conditions and the perception of risk in capital markets;
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•
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Political conditions including the threat of terrorism or war;
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•
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Investment and industrial demand; and
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•
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Global production and inventory stocks.
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The effects of these factors, individually or in aggregate, on the prices of zinc, lead and/or silver is impossible to predict with accuracy. Fluctuations in metal prices may adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s financial performance and results of operations. Further, if the market price of zinc, lead and/or silver falls or remains depressed, Canadian Zinc may experience losses or asset write-downs and may curtail or suspend some or all of its exploration, development and mining activities.
Furthermore, sustained low metal prices can halt or delay the development of new projects; reduce funds available for mineral exploration and may result in the recording of a write-down of mining interests due to the determination that future cash flows would not be expected to recover the carrying value.
Metal prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond Canadian Zinc’s control such as the sale or purchase of such commodities by various central banks and financial institutions, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation, fluctuation in the value of the United States dollar and foreign currencies, global and regional supply and demand, and the political and economic conditions of major mineral and metal producing countries throughout the world. Future production from Canadian Zinc’s mining property is dependent on mineral prices that are adequate to make these properties economic. The prices of metals have fluctuated widely in recent years, and future or continued serious price declines could cause continued development of and commercial production from Canadian Zinc’s properties to be impracticable. Depending on the price of metal, cash flow from mining operations may not be sufficient and Canadian Zinc could be forced to discontinue production and may lose its interest in, or may be forced to sell, its properties.
In addition to adversely affecting Canadian Zinc’s reserve or resource estimates and its financial condition, declining commodity prices can impact operations by requiring a reassessment of the feasibility of a particular project. The need to conduct such a reassessment may cause substantial delays or may interrupt operations until the reassessment can be completed.
Currency fluctuations may affect the costs that Canadian Zinc incurs at its operations. Zinc, lead and silver are sold throughout the world based principally on the U.S. dollar price, but operating expenses are incurred in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar increases the cost of production in U.S. dollar terms at mines located in Canada.
The development of the Company’s properties will depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain financing through private placement financing, public financing, the joint venturing of projects, bank financing or other means. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining the required financing.
Securities of junior and small-cap companies have experienced substantial volatility in the past, often based on factors unrelated to the financial performance or prospects of the companies involved. These factors include macroeconomic developments in North America and global and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. The share price of Canadian Zinc is likely to be significantly affected by short-term changes in metal prices. Other factors unrelated to Canadian Zinc’s performance that may have an effect on the price of its shares include the following: the extent of analytical coverage available to investors concerning Canadian Zinc’s business may be limited if investment banks with research capabilities do not follow the Company’s securities; lessening in trading volume and general market interest in the Company’s securities may affect an investor’s ability to trade significant numbers of common shares; the size of Company’s public float may limit the ability of some institutions to invest in the Company’s securities; and a substantial decline in the price of the common shares that persists for a significant period of time could cause the Company’s securities to be delisted from an exchange, further reducing market liquidity.
As a result of any of these factors, the market price of the Company’s shares at any given point in time may not accurately reflect Canadian Zinc’s long-term value. Securities class action litigation often has been brought against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. Canadian Zinc may in the future be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and damages and divert management’s attention and resources.
The development and exploration of Canadian Zinc’s property will require substantial additional financing. Failure to obtain sufficient financing will result in delaying or indefinite postponement of exploration, development or production on Canadian Zinc’s property or even a loss of property interest. There can be no assurance that additional capital or other types of financing will be available when needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favourable to Canadian Zinc.
Exploration and Development
The business of exploring for minerals and mining involves a high degree of risk. There is no assurance the Company’s mineral exploration activities will be successful. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. In exploring and developing its mineral deposits the Company is subjected to an array of complex economic factors and technical considerations. Unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, power outages, labour disruptions, flooding, explosions, cave-ins, landslides, environmental hazards, and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour are other risks involved in the conduct of exploration and development programs. Such risks could materially adversely affect the business or the financial performance of the Company.
There is no certainty that the expenditures made by Canadian Zinc towards the search and evaluation of mineral deposits will result in discoveries of commercial quantities of ore. The exploration for and development of mineral deposits involves significant risks which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Major expenses may be required to locate and establish mineral reserves, to develop metallurgical processes and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that the exploration or development programs planned by Canadian Zinc will result in a profitable commercial mining operation. Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors, some of which are: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; metal prices which are highly cyclical; and government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in Canadian Zinc not receiving an adequate return on invested capital.
A specific risk associated with the Prairie Creek Property is its remote location. Mining, processing, development and exploration activities depend, to one degree or another, on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources and water supply are important factors, which affect capital and operating costs. Unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect Canadian Zinc’s operations, financial condition and results of operations.
The development plan for the Prairie Creek Project is based upon a Project Description Report prepared internally by the Company, with the assistance of outside consultants, in 2008. The Project Description Report is not a Feasibility Study. The Project Description Report outlined the plan for the development of the Prairie Creek Project based on the historical development and existing infrastructure at the Prairie Creek Property and on the Resource Estimation in the 2007 NI 43-101 Technical Report. The resource estimation in the Technical Report does not constitute mineable reserves. The historical development was carried out principally in 1980 to 1982 and the infrastructure, including the mill, was constructed in the same period based on a feasibility study prepared by Kilborn Engineering (Pacific) Limited in 1980. The Kilborn feasibility study is outdated and cannot be relied upon. The existing infrastructure, including the mill, buildings, camp etc. is over twenty-five years old and, although it has been held under care and maintenance, it has lain idle for more than twenty-five years and was never operated. There is significant risk attached to the proposed operation of aged equipment.
Mining operations generally involve a high degree of risk. Canadian Zinc’s mining operations will be subject to all the hazards and risks normally encountered in the development and production of minerals, including unusual and unexpected geologic formations, seismic activity, rock bursts, cave-ins, flooding and other conditions involved in the drilling and removal of material, any of which could result in damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, damage to life or property, environmental damage and possible legal liability. Mining and milling operations are subject to hazards such as equipment failure or failure of retaining dams around waste disposal areas, which may result in environmental pollution and consequent liability.
Uncertainty in the Estimation of Mineral Resources
The figures for Mineral Resources contained in this document are estimates only and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved, that the indicated level of recovery will be realized or that Mineral Resources can be mined or processed profitably. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating Mineral Resources, including many factors beyond Canadian Zinc’s control. Such estimation is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation. In addition, there can be no assurance that mineral or metal recoveries in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production.
Inferred mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty which may attach to inferred mineral resources, there is no assurance that inferred mineral resources will be upgraded to measured and indicated mineral resources as a result of continued exploration.
Fluctuation in metal prices, results of drilling, metallurgical testing and production and the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimate may require revision of any such resource or reserve estimate. The volume and grade of resources mined and processed and recovery rates may not be the same as currently anticipated. Any material reductions in estimates of Mineral Resources, or of Canadian Zinc’s ability to extract these Mineral Resources, could have a material adverse effect on Canadian Zinc’s results of operations and financial condition.
Mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates are imprecise and depend partly on statistical inferences drawn from drilling and other data which may prove to be unreliable. Future production could differ dramatically from mineral resource estimates for many reasons including the following:
• Mineralization or formations could be different from those predicted by drilling, sampling and similar examinations;
• Declines in the market price of metals may render the mining of some or all of Canadian Zinc’s mineral resources uneconomic;
• Increases in operating mining costs and processing costs could adversely affect mineral reserves or resources; and
• The grade of mineral reserves or resources may vary significantly from time to time and there can be no assurance that any particular level of metal may be recovered from the mineral reserves or resources.
Any of these factors may require Canadian Zinc to reduce its mineral reserve or mineral resources estimates.
Insurance and Uninsured Risks
Canadian Zinc’s business is subject to a number of risks and hazards generally, including adverse environmental conditions, industrial accidents, labour disputes, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground or slope failures, cave-ins, changes in the regulatory environment and natural phenomena such as inclement weather conditions, floods and earthquakes. Such occurrences could result in damage to mineral properties or production facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage to Canadian Zinc’s properties or the properties of others, delays in mining, monetary losses and possible legal liability.
Although Canadian Zinc maintains insurance to protect against certain risks in such amounts as it considers reasonable, its insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with the Company’s mining operations. Canadian Zinc may also be unable to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. Moreover, insurance against risks such as environmental pollution or other hazards as a result of exploration and production is not generally available to Canadian Zinc or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. In particular, the Company is not insured for environmental liability or earthquake damage.
Canadian Zinc might also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against, or which Canadian Zinc may elect not to insure against, because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause Canadian Zinc to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect upon its financial performance and results of operations.
Executives and Conflicts of Interest
Canadian Zinc is dependent on the services of key executives, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice President of Exploration and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and a small number of other skilled and experienced executives and personnel. Due to the relatively small size of the Company, the loss of these persons or Canadian Zinc’s inability to attract and retain additional highly skilled or experienced employees may adversely affect its business and future operations.
Certain of the directors and officers of the Company also serve as directors and/or officers of, or have significant shareholdings in, other companies involved in natural resource exploration and development and consequently there exists the possibility for such directors and officers to be in a position of conflict. Two directors of Canadian Zinc also serve as directors of Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc. Any decision made by any of such directors and officers involving Canadian Zinc will be made in accordance with their duties and obligations to deal fairly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In addition, each of the directors is required to declare and refrain from voting on any matter in which such directors may have a conflict of interest in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
Business Corporations Act
(British Columbia) and other applicable laws.
To the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which Canadian Zinc may participate, the directors of Canadian Zinc may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Company’s directors, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for the approval of such participation or such terms.
From time to time several companies may collectively participate in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties thereby allowing for their participation in larger programs, permitting involvement in a greater number of programs and reducing financial exposure in respect of any one program. It may also occur that a particular company will assign all or a portion of its interest in a particular program to another of these companies due to the financial position of the company making the assignment. Under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, the directors of the Company are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. In determining whether or not Canadian Zinc will participate in a particular program and the interest therein to be acquired by it, the directors will primarily consider the degree of risk to which the Company may be exposed and its financial position at that time.
Title Matters
Mining leases and surface leases issued to the Company by the Federal Government have been surveyed but other parties may dispute the Company’s title to its mining properties. The mining claims in which the Company has an interest have not been surveyed and, accordingly, the precise location of the boundaries of the claims and ownership of mineral rights on specific tracts of land comprising the claims may be in doubt. These claims have not been converted to lease, and are, accordingly, subject to regular compliance with assessment work requirements.
Failure to comply strictly with applicable laws, regulations and local practices relating to mineral right applications and tenure, could result in loss, reduction or expropriation of entitlements.
While the Company has investigated its title to all its mining leases, surface leases and mining claims and, to the best of its knowledge, title to all properties is in good standing, this should not be construed as a guarantee of title and title may be affected by undetected defects. The validity and ownership of mining property holdings can be uncertain and may be contested. There are currently a number of pending Aboriginal or Native title or Treaty or traditional land ownership claims relating to Northwest Territories. The Company’s properties at Prairie Creek are subject to Aboriginal or Native land claims. Title insurance generally is not available, and Canadian Zinc’s ability to ensure that it has obtained secure title to individual mineral properties or mining concessions may be severely constrained. Canadian Zinc’s mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered liens, agreements, transfers or claims, including Native land claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. No assurances can be given that there are no title defects affecting such properties.
Competition
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases. There is aggressive competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties considered to have commercial potential. Canadian Zinc faces strong competition from other mining companies in connection with the acquisition of properties, mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel. Many of these companies have greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than Canadian Zinc. As a result of this competition, Canadian Zinc may be unable to maintain or acquire attractive mining properties on terms it considers acceptable or at all. Consequently, Canadian Zinc’s operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Similar Canadian Regulations
Since 2007, the Company has documented and tested its internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”). As of December 31, 2010, SOX requires an annual assessment by management of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an attestation by the Company’s independent auditors addressing internal controls over financial reporting.
Due to its size, its limited staff resources and financial constraints, the Company is exposed to certain potential deficiencies in its internal controls over financial reporting. If the Company is unable to maintain the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting, as such standards are modified, supplemented, or amended from time to time, the Company may not be able to ensure that it can conclude on an ongoing basis that it has effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of SOX. The Company’s inability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of SOX on an ongoing, timely basis could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of its financial statements, which in turn could harm the Company’s business and negatively impact the trading price of its common shares. In addition, any inability to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could impact the Company’s operating results or cause it to be unable to meet its reporting obligations. Future acquisitions (if any) may provide the Company with challenges in implementing the required processes, procedures and controls in the acquired operations. Acquired companies may not have disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting that are as thorough or effective as those required by securities laws currently applicable to the Company.
No evaluation can provide complete assurance that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting will detect or uncover all failures of persons within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be reported. The effectiveness of the Company’s controls and procedures could also be limited by simple errors or faulty judgments. In addition, as the Company continues to develop, the challenges involved in implementing appropriate internal controls over financial reporting will increase and will require that the Company continue to enhance its internal controls over financial reporting. Although the Company will be required to devote substantial time and will incur substantial costs, as necessary, in an effort to ensure ongoing compliance, the Company cannot be certain that it will be successful in continuing to comply with Section 404 of SOX.
History of Losses and No Assurance of Profitable Operations
The Company has incurred losses since inception of $28,331,000 through December 31, 2010. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to operate profitably during future periods. If the Company is unable to operate profitably during future periods, and is not successful in obtaining additional financing, the Company could be forced to cease its exploration and development plans as a result of lacking sufficient cash resources.
Shareholder Dilution
As of December 31, 2010, there were 130,448,492 common shares outstanding. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had 7,500,000 share purchase options and 431,893 warrants outstanding allowing the holders to purchase 7,931,893 common shares. Directors and officers of the Company hold 5,550,000 of these share purchase options, contractors and employees of the Company hold 1,950,000 share purchase options and brokers hold 431,893 share purchase warrants. The exercise of all of the existing share purchase options and warrants would result in percentage ownership dilution to the existing shareholders.
Potential Future Equity Financings
The Company has used equity financing in order to meet its needs for capital and may engage in equity financings during future periods. Subsequent issuances of equity securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for equity securities would result in further percentage ownership dilution to existing shareholders and could depress the price of the Company’s shares.
Dividend Policy
No dividends have been paid by the Company to date. The Company anticipates that it will retain all future earnings and other cash resources for the future operation and development of its business and the Company does not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors after taking into account many factors, including the Company’s operating results, financial condition and current and anticipated cash needs.
The Company has not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements.
As at March 16, 2011, the Company had the following securities issued and outstanding:
Common shares
|
130,689,242
|
|
Common share purchase options
|
7,622,500
|
exercisable between $0.23 - $0.94 per share
|
Disclosure controls and procedures
The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that material items requiring disclosure by the Company are identified and reported in a timely manner.
Based on current securities legislation in Canada and the United States, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company have evaluated the design and effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2010, and have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were operating effectively at that date.
There were no significant changes to the Company’s disclosure controls process during the year ended December 31, 2010.
It should be noted that, while the Company’s CEO and CFO believe that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance and that they are effective, they do not expect that the disclosure controls and procedures can prevent all errors or mistakes. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Internal controls over financial reporting
Management is responsible for designing, establishing and maintaining a system of internal controls over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance that the financial information prepared by the Company for external purposes is reliable and has been recorded, processed and reported in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with GAAP.
The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities. The Audit Committee fulfills its role of ensuring the integrity of the reported information through its review of the interim and annual financial statements.
There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting, including the possibility that misstatements may not be prevented or detected. Accordingly, even effective internal controls over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Furthermore, the effectiveness of internal controls can change with circumstances. The Company has paid particular attention to segregation of duties matters surrounding its internal controls over financial reporting as the Company has only limited staff resources at the present time such that “ideal” segregation of duties is not feasible. This risk is dealt with by management identified compensating controls such as Board or senior management review where appropriate. At the present time, the Company does not anticipate hiring additional accounting or administrative staff as this is not considered necessary or practical and accordingly, will continue to rely on review procedures to detect potential misstatements in reporting of material to the public.
The CEO and the CFO have evaluated the design and effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting based on the framework in
Internal Control – Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, as at December 31, 2010, the Company believes that its internal controls over financial reporting were designed and operating effectively to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, believe that any internal controls over financial reporting, including those systems determined to be effective and no matter how well conceived and operated, have inherent limitations and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of the control. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, and expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Ernst & Young LLP has also expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010.
Changes in internal controls over financial reporting
The Company continues to review and assess its internal controls over financial reporting. There were no significant changes made to internal controls over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2010. Subsequent to the end of the year the Company appointed a new Chief Financial Officer to replace the previous incumbent who had resigned to take up another employment position.
-End-
Financial Statements
(A Development Stage Company)
December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
Index
Report of Independent Auditors
Balance Sheets
Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Deficit
Statements of Cash Flows
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
Notes to the Financial Statements
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT OF REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders of
Canadian Zinc Corporation
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of
Canadian Zinc Corporation
, which comprise the balance sheets as at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss) and deficit, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Management’s responsibility for the financial statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditors’ responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditors consider internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall presentation of the
financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Canadian Zinc Corporation
as at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
Other matter
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States),
Canadian Zinc Corporation’s
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in
Internal Control—Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 16, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on
Canadian Zinc Corporation’s
internal control over financial reporting.
Vancouver, Canada
|
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
|
March 16, 2011
|
Chartered Accountants
|
Independent Auditors’ Report on Internal Controls under Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
To the Shareholders of
Canadian Zinc Corporation
We have audited
Canadian Zinc Corporation’s
[the “Company”] internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission [the “COSO criteria”]. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the balance sheets as at December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss) and deficit, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 of the Company and our report dated March 16, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Vancouver, Canada
|
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
|
March 16, 2011
|
Chartered Accountants
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Balance Sheets
(Prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles)
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 4)
|
4,464
|
|
|
|
|
5,197
|
|
Short-term investments (Note 5)
|
2,900
|
|
|
|
|
2,246
|
|
Marketable securities (Note 6)
|
39,400
|
|
|
|
|
15,382
|
|
Other receivables and prepaid expenses
|
135
|
|
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Current Assets
|
46,899
|
|
|
|
|
22,877
|
|
Other long-term assets
(Note 8)
|
525
|
|
|
|
|
525
|
|
Restricted cash
(Note 9)
|
214
|
|
|
|
|
214
|
|
Resource interests
(Note 10)
|
5,053
|
|
|
|
|
5,053
|
|
Plant and equipment
(Note 12)
|
772
|
|
|
|
|
483
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
53,463
|
|
|
|
|
29,152
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
189
|
|
Accrued liabilities
|
226
|
|
|
|
|
212
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Current Liabilities
|
242
|
|
|
|
|
401
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligation
(Note 13)
|
1,300
|
|
|
|
|
1,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
1,542
|
|
|
|
|
1,639
|
|
Commitments
(Notes 10 and 21)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital
(Note 14)
|
70,591
|
|
|
|
|
65,583
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed surplus
(Note 15)
|
9,661
|
|
|
|
|
8,668
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deficit
|
(28,331
|
)
|
|
|
|
(46,738
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Shareholders’ Equity
|
51,921
|
|
|
|
|
27,513
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
|
53,463
|
|
|
|
|
29,152
|
|
Subsequent events
(Note 22)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approved by the Board of Directors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“John F. Kearney”
|
|
“Brian A. Atkins, CA”
|
|
Director
|
|
Director
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Deficit
(Prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles)
(
in thousands of Canadian dollars except share and per share amounts)
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
$
|
2010
|
|
$
|
2009
|
|
$
|
2008
|
|
Income
Investment Income
|
|
48
|
|
|
242
|
|
|
899
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineral exploration and development costs
(Note 11)
|
|
4,181
|
|
|
2,260
|
|
|
3,426
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
23
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
21
|
|
Listing and regulatory fees
|
|
57
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
48
|
|
Management and directors fees
|
|
660
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
566
|
|
Office and general
|
|
407
|
|
|
359
|
|
|
360
|
|
Professional fees
|
|
271
|
|
|
380
|
|
|
220
|
|
Project evaluation
|
|
46
|
|
|
120
|
|
|
21
|
|
Shareholder and investor communications
|
|
278
|
|
|
177
|
|
|
230
|
|
Stock based compensation (Note 15)
|
|
1,015
|
|
|
288
|
|
|
205
|
|
|
|
2,757
|
|
|
2,039
|
|
|
1,671
|
|
Other income (expenses)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
|
|
(44
|
)
|
|
(260
|
)
|
|
8
|
|
American Eagle Option (Note 7)
|
|
-
|
|
|
(2,396
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Gain (loss) on marketable securities (Note 6)
|
|
25,341
|
|
|
6,102
|
|
|
(38
|
)
|
|
|
25,297
|
|
|
3,446
|
|
|
(30
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) for the year
|
|
18,407
|
|
|
(611
|
)
|
|
(4,228
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
18,407
|
|
|
(611
|
)
|
|
(4,228
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit,
beginning of year
|
|
(46,738
|
)
|
|
(46,127
|
)
|
|
(41,899
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
18,407
|
|
|
(611
|
)
|
|
(4,228
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit,
end of year
|
|
(28,331
|
)
|
|
(46,738
|
)
|
|
(46,127
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) per share
- basic and diluted
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
(0.005
|
)
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
122,561,368
|
|
|
118,915,812
|
|
|
120,440,062
|
|
Dilutive effect of stock options and warrants
|
|
2,162,940
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Diluted
|
|
124,724,308
|
|
|
118,915,812
|
|
|
120,440,062
|
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Statements of Cash Flows
(Prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles)
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
$
|
2010
|
|
$
|
2009
|
|
$
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) for the year
|
|
18,407
|
|
|
(611
|
)
|
|
(4,228
|
)
|
Reclamation expenditures
|
|
(19)
|
|
|
(93
|
)
|
|
(286
|
)
|
Adjustment for items not involving cash:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Accretion and depreciation
|
|
235
|
|
|
276
|
|
|
281
|
|
- Future income taxes
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
- (Gain) loss on marketable securities (Note 6)
|
|
(25,341)
|
|
|
(6,102
|
)
|
|
38
|
|
- Unrealized foreign exchange
|
|
44
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
-
|
|
- American Eagle Option
|
|
-
|
|
|
1,811
|
|
|
-
|
|
- Stock based compensation
|
|
1,015
|
|
|
288
|
|
|
205
|
|
Change in non-cash working capital items:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- other receivables and prepaid expenses
|
|
(83)
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
76
|
|
- accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
(197)
|
|
|
(17
|
)
|
|
(836
|
)
|
|
|
(5,939
|
|
|
(4,340
|
)
|
|
(4,750
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital stock issued and subscribed
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Issuance costs
|
|
(465
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital stock issued on exercise of stock options
|
|
277
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Capital stock issued on exercise of warrants
|
|
212
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
340
|
|
Capital stock repurchased
|
|
-
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
(378
|
)
|
|
|
5,024
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
(38
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
(654)
|
|
|
9,477
|
|
|
9,772
|
|
Marketable securities sold
|
|
1,323
|
|
|
6,100
|
|
|
-
|
|
Marketable securities purchased
|
|
-
|
|
|
(13,356
|
)
|
|
(1,962
|
)
|
American Eagle Option
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1,811
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Restricted cash
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(214
|
)
|
Other long-term assets
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(100
|
)
|
Plant and equipment
|
|
(443)
|
|
|
(22
|
)
|
|
(402
|
)
|
|
|
226
|
|
|
388
|
|
|
7,094
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(44)
|
|
|
(64
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(733)
|
|
|
(4,028
|
)
|
|
2,306
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of year
|
|
5,197
|
|
|
9,225
|
|
|
6,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
, end of year
|
|
4,464
|
|
|
5,197
|
|
|
9,225
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Income taxes paid
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles)
(in thousands of Canadian dollars except for share amounts)
|
Common shares
|
|
Contributed
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
|
Surplus
|
|
Deficit
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
107,590,212
|
$
|
59,365
|
$
|
6,479
|
$
|
(32,416)
|
$
|
33,428
|
Exercise of options at $0.23 per share
|
450,000
|
|
131
|
|
(27)
|
|
-
|
|
104
|
Future income tax effect of flow-through shares
|
-
|
|
(2,487)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(2,487)
|
Exercise of options at $0.89 per share
|
100,000
|
|
153
|
|
(64)
|
|
-
|
|
89
|
Exercise of warrants between $0.72 and $0.93 per share
|
302,738
|
|
394
|
|
(174)
|
|
-
|
|
220
|
Issue of shares at $0.85 per unit
|
11,765,000
|
|
9,766
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
9,766
|
Share purchase warrants
|
-
|
|
(1,366)
|
|
1,366
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Exercise of warrants at $0.72 per share
|
6,012
|
|
8
|
|
(3)
|
|
-
|
|
5
|
Stock-based compensation
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
267
|
|
-
|
|
267
|
Net loss for the year
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(9,483)
|
|
(9,483)
|
Balance,
December 31, 2007
|
120,213,962
|
$
|
65,964
|
$
|
7,844
|
$
|
(41,899)
|
$
|
31,909
|
Exercise of warrants at $0.72 per share
|
471,101
|
|
613
|
|
(273)
|
|
-
|
|
340
|
Shares cancelled under normal course issuer bid
|
(1,716,000)
|
|
(956)
|
|
578
|
|
-
|
|
(378)
|
Stock-based compensation
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
205
|
|
-
|
|
205
|
Net loss for the year
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(4,228)
|
|
(4,228)
|
Balance,
December 31, 2008
|
118,969,063
|
$
|
65,621
|
$
|
8,354
|
$
|
(46,127)
|
$
|
27,848
|
Shares cancelled under normal course issuer bid
|
(68,500)
|
|
(38)
|
|
26
|
|
-
|
|
(12)
|
Stock-based compensation
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
288
|
|
-
|
|
288
|
Net loss for the year
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(611)
|
|
(611)
|
Balance,
December 31, 2009
|
118,900,563
|
$
|
65,583
|
$
|
8,668
|
$
|
(46,738)
|
$
|
27,513
|
Issue of shares between $0.40 and $0.70 per share
|
9,821,429
|
|
4,497
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
4,497
|
Share purchase warrants
|
-
|
|
(195)
|
|
195
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Exercise of options between $0.23 and $0.45 per share
|
1,196,250
|
|
397
|
5
|
(120)
|
|
-
|
|
277
|
Exercise of warrants at $0.40 per share
|
530,250
|
|
309
|
|
(97)
|
|
-
|
|
212
|
Stock-based compensation
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
1,015
|
|
-
|
|
1,015
|
Net income for the year
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
18,407
|
|
18,407
|
Balance,
December 31, 2010
|
130,448,492
|
$
|
70,591
|
$
|
9,661
|
$
|
(28,331)
|
|
51,921
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
1. Nature of Operations
The Company is primarily engaged in the exploration, development and permitting of its Prairie Creek property. The Company is considered to be in the exploration and development stage given that its Prairie Creek property is not yet in production and, to date, has not earned any significant revenues. The recoverability of amounts shown for resource interests is dependent on the existence of economically recoverable reserves, obtaining the necessary permits to operate a mine, obtaining the financing to complete development and future profitable production (see Note 10).
These financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles applicable to a going concern which assumes that the Company will realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. Management has carried out an assessment of the going concern assumption and has concluded that the Company has sufficient cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and marketable securities (as well as no debt obligations outside of normal course accounts payable and accrued liabilities) to continue operating at current levels for the ensuing twelve months. Accordingly, these financial statements do not reflect the adjustments to the carrying value of assets and liabilities, or the impact on the statement of operations and balance sheet classifications that would be necessary were the going concern assumption not appropriate.
However, at such time that the Company receives its operating permits for the Prairie Creek Mine (which is not a certain event), it will require significant additional financing to place the mine into operation. There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to obtain such financing to complete the development of the Prairie Creek Mine.
2.
|
Significant Accounting Policies
|
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. These accounting principles conform in all material respects to U.S. GAAP, except as disclosed in Note 20.
(a)
|
Measurement Uncertainty
|
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant accounts that require estimates as the basis for determining the stated amounts include resource interests, plant and equipment, asset retirement obligation, future income taxes and stock-based compensation.
Depreciation and depletion of resource interests and plant and equipment assets are dependent upon estimates of useful lives and resource estimates, both of which are determined with the exercise of judgment. The assessment of any impairment of resource interests or plant and equipment is dependent upon estimates of fair value that take into account factors such as resources, economic and market conditions and the useful lives of assets. Asset retirement obligations are recognized in the period in which they arise and are stated at the fair value of estimated future costs. These estimates require extensive judgment about the nature, cost and timing of the work to be completed, and may change with future changes to costs, environmental laws and regulations and remediation practices. Stock-based compensation expense is calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model which requires significant judgment as to considerations such as stock option lives and stock volatility.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
2.
|
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
|
(b)
|
Financial Instruments
|
Financial assets and liabilities are recognized on the balance sheet when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Fair values are determined directly by reference to published price quotations in an active market. The Company’s accounting policy for each category of financial instrument is summarized below:
Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are initially recognized at fair value including direct and incremental transaction costs and are subsequently measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest method. The Company has classified its other receivables as loans and receivables.
Held for trading
Financial assets and liabilities that are purchased and incurred with the intention of generating income in the near term are classified as held for trading. Financial instruments included in this category are initially recognized at fair value and transaction costs are taken directly to net income (loss) along with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value. Regular-way purchases and sales of financial assets are accounted for on the trade date.
The Company has designated its cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, marketable securities and restricted cash as held for trading.
Held-to-maturity
Held-to-maturity investments are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that the Company has the intention and ability to hold to maturity. These are initially recognized at fair value including direct and incremental transaction costs and are subsequently valued at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. The Company has no financial assets classified as held-to-maturity.
Available-for-sale
Available-for-sale assets are financial assets that are designated as available-for-sale and are not categorized into any other categories as described above. These assets are initially recognized at fair value including direct and incremental transaction costs and are subsequently held at fair value with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value included in other comprehensive income until ultimate sale when the cumulative gain or loss is transferred to net income. The Company had no financial assets designated as available-for-sale.
Other liabilities
If not classified as held for trading, financial liabilities are classified as other liabilities. After initial measurement at fair value, other liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Gains or losses are recognized in net income (loss) in the period when the liability is derecognized. The Company has classified its accounts payable and accrued liabilities as other liabilities.
(c)
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and liquid investments which are readily convertible into cash with maturities of three months or less when purchased.
(d)
|
Short-term Investments
|
Short-term investments, which consist primarily of investments in Bankers Acceptances and Guaranteed Investment Contracts (“GIC’s”) are investments with maturities of more than three months and less than one year when purchased.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
2.
|
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
|
(e)
|
Marketable Securities
|
Marketable securities are recorded at their fair market value on the date of acquisition and are classified as held for trading. The carrying value of the securities is adjusted at each subsequent balance sheet date to the then fair value (based upon the market price and the Bank of Canada quoted exchange rate if applicable) with the resulting unrealized gains or losses included in earnings for the period. Transaction costs relating to the purchase of marketable securities are expensed directly to net income (loss).
(f)
|
Foreign Currency Transactions
|
Foreign currency transactions are translated at the rate in effect when the transactions occur. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency (if any) are translated at the rate in effect at the balance sheet date.
Plant and equipment is recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on a declining-balance basis at the following annual rates:
Mining equipment and pilot plant
|
30%
|
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
|
20%
|
Leasehold improvements are recorded at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization on leasehold improvements is provided on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease.
Resource interests include acquired mineral use rights for mineral property held by the Company. The amount of consideration paid (in cash or share value) for resource interests is capitalized, along with the cost of any site infrastructure (such as the plant and mill) acquired. The amounts shown for resource interests represent costs of acquisition incurred to date, less recoveries, and do not necessarily reflect present or future values. These costs will be amortized against revenue from future production or written off if the resource interest is abandoned or sold. The cost of resource interests also includes the cost of estimated asset retirement obligations (less accumulated amortization)
Depletion of costs capitalized on projects put into commercial production will be recorded using the unit-of-production method based upon estimated proven and probable reserves.
The carrying values of resource interests are reviewed by management at least annually to determine if they have become impaired. If impairment is determined to exist, the resource interest will be written down to its net recoverable value.
Ownership in resource interests involves certain inherent risks, including geological, metal prices, operating costs, and permitting risks. Many of these risks are outside the Company’s control.
The ultimate recoverability of the amounts capitalized for the resource interests is dependent upon the delineation of economically recoverable ore reserves, obtaining the necessary financing to complete their development, obtaining the necessary permits to operate a mine, and realizing profitable production or proceeds from the disposition thereof. Management’s estimates of recoverability of the Company’s investment in its Prairie Creek resource interests have been based on current and expected conditions. However, it is possible that changes could occur which could adversely affect management’s estimates and may result in future write downs of resource interest carrying values.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
2.
|
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
|
(i)
|
Exploration and Development Costs
|
Mineral exploration and development costs are expensed as incurred until such time as either mineral reserves are proven or permits to operate the mineral resource property are received and financing to complete development has been obtained. Following confirmation of mineral reserves or receipt of permits to commence mining operations and obtaining necessary financing, development expenditures are capitalized as deferred development expenditures included within resource interests.
(j)
|
Property Option Agreements
|
Property Option payments are recorded as resource interest costs or recoveries when the payments are made or received, respectively.
(k)
|
Asset Retirement Obligations
|
Future obligations to retire an asset, including dismantling, remediation and ongoing treatment and monitoring of the site, are recognized and recorded as a liability at fair value at the time at which they are incurred or the event occurs giving rise to such an obligation. The liability is increased (accreted) over time through periodic charges to net income (loss). The corresponding asset retirement cost is capitalized as part of the asset’s carrying value, and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. The amount of the liability will be subject to reassessment at each reporting period.
The Company, where possible, has estimated asset retirement obligations based on current best practice. These estimates, made by management of the Company, are subject to change as a result of changes in regulations, the extent of environmental remediation required, the means of reclamation, or cost estimates. Changes in estimates are accounted for prospectively during the period the estimate is revised.
(l)
|
Long-lived Asset Impairment
|
Long-lived assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment is considered to exist if total estimated future cash flows or probability-weighted cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the assets, including resource interests and plant and equipment. An impairment loss, if any, is generally measured and recorded based on a discounted estimated future cash flows analysis.
(m)
|
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
|
Earnings (loss) per share calculations are based on the net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders for the period divided by the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding during the year.
Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, plus the effects of dilutive common share equivalents. This method requires that the dilutive effect of outstanding options and warrants issued should be calculated using the treasury stock method. This method assumes that all common share equivalents have been exercised at the beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later), and that the funds obtained thereby were used to purchase common shares of the Company at the average trading price of common shares during the year.
As the Company incurred net losses in fiscal 2009 and 2008, the stock options and share purchase warrants as disclosed in Note 15 were not included in the computation of loss per share as such inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
2.
|
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
|
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Future income tax assets and liabilities are recognized in the period for temporary differences between the tax and accounting bases of assets and liabilities as well as for the potential benefit of income tax losses and other deductions carried forward to future years.
Future income tax assets and liabilities are measured using substantively enacted tax rates and laws expected to apply in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on future income tax assets and liabilities is recognized in operations in the period that includes the substantive enactment date. The value of future income tax assets is reviewed annually and adjusted, if necessary, by use of a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated realizable amount.
Canadian tax legislation permits a company to issue flow-through shares whereby the tax benefits arising from qualified resource expenditures can be renounced by the company and are claimed by the investors in such shares. To recognize the foregone tax benefits to the Company, on the date that the renouncement is filed with the tax authorities, the carrying values of the shares issued is reduced by the tax effect of the tax benefits renounced. In accordance with EIC-146, “Flow-through shares,” the Company records the future income tax assets that result from the renouncement of tax benefits as a recovery of future income tax expense.
(p)
|
Stock-based Compensation
|
The Company follows the fair value method of accounting for the stock option awards granted to employees, directors and consultants. The fair value of stock options is determined by the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model with assumptions for risk-free interest rates, dividend yields, volatility of the expected market price of the Company’s common shares and an expected life of the options. The fair value of direct awards of stock is determined by the quoted market price of the Company’s stock. Stock-based compensation is amortized to earnings over the vesting period of the related option.
The Company uses graded or accelerated amortization which specifies that each vesting tranche must be accounted for as a separate arrangement with a unique fair value measurement. Each vesting tranche is subsequently amortized separately and in parallel from the grant date.
Option-pricing models require the use of highly subjective estimates and assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Changes in the underlying assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates and, therefore, existing models do not necessarily provide reliable measurement of the fair value of the Company’s stock options.
Investment income on cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments is recognized as it is earned.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
3. Accounting Changes
(a)
|
Section 1582, “Business Combinations”, Section 1601, “Consolidations” and Section 1602, “Non-controlling Interests”
|
On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the recommendations included in Sections 1582, “Business Combinations,” 1601, “Consolidations” and 1602, “Non-controlling Interests” of the CICA Handbook. These Sections replace Section 1581, “Business Combinations” and Section 1600, “Consolidated Financial Statements.” Section 1582 applies to a transaction in which the acquirer obtains control of one or more businesses (as defined in the Section). Most assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including contingent liabilities that are considered to be improbable, will be measured at fair value. A bargain purchase will result in the recognition of a gain. Acquisition costs will be expensed. Any non-controlling interest will be recognized as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and net income will be allocated between the controlling and non-controlling interests. These new standards apply to fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011 with early adoption permitted from the beginning of a fiscal year. The Company elected to early adopt these new Sections with effect from January 1, 2010 to align its accounting policies with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) in effect at that date. The adoption of this Section has had no impact on the Company’s financial statements.
4. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and liquid investments which are readily convertible into cash with maturities of three months or less when purchased. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2010 consisted of cash of $2,126,000 and cash equivalents of $2,338,000 (2009 – cash of $5,174,000 and cash equivalents of $23,000).
5. Short-term Investments
Short-term investments, which consist primarily of investments in Bankers Acceptances and Guaranteed Investment Certificates, are investments with maturities of more than three months and less than one year when purchased. At December 31, 2010, short-term investments were valued at $2,900,000, earning investment income at a rate of 1.3% (2009 - $2,246,000, earning income at a rate of 0.5%). The Company has designated its short-term investments as held for trading assets. Investment income and changes in market value on short-term investments are recorded in investment income in the Statement of Operations, Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Deficit. The market value of these assets is based upon quoted market values and the recorded amounts at December 31, 2010 equal the fair value for these investments.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
6. Marketable Securities
The Company holds a portfolio of marketable securities which have been designated as held for trading assets. Changes in fair value, based on quoted market values and exchange rates, of the marketable securities are recorded in the Statement of Operations, Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Deficit.
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
Held for Trading
|
# of Shares
|
Original
Cost
$
|
Fair
Value
$
|
|
# of Shares
|
Original
Cost
$
|
Fair
Value
$
|
Vatukoula Gold Mines plc
|
12,573,380
|
10,142
|
39,400
|
|
12,573,380
|
10,142
|
14,039
|
Zazu Metals Corporation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
3,400,000
|
646
|
1,003
|
Rio Tinto plc
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6,000
|
213
|
340
|
|
|
10,142
|
39,400
|
|
|
11,001
|
15,382
|
Marketable securities transactions occurring during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are summarized as follows:
(a)
|
The Company acquired shares in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc (“VGM”), a UK company listed on AIM (part of the London Stock Exchange), which owns and operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine located in Fiji.
|
i.
|
On November 8, 2010, VGM completed a 50 for 1 share consolidation (prior year number of shares have been restated).
|
(b)
|
Zazu Metals Corporation (“Zazu”) is listed on the TSX and its principal asset is the Lik zinc-lead-silver deposit in northwest Alaska, 22 kilometres from Teck’s Red Dog Mine.
|
i.
|
On December 23, 2009, the Company acquired 3,400,000 shares of Zazu at a price of $0.19 per share for total consideration of $646,000.
|
ii.
|
On December 15, 2010, the Company sold 3,400,000 shares of Zazu at a price of $0.30 per share for total proceeds of $1,020,000 and realized a gain of $374,000.
|
(c)
|
Rio Tinto plc is a part of the international mining group called the Rio Tinto Group and is a London listed public company headquartered in the UK.
|
i.
|
On April 15, 2009, the Company sold 2,000 shares of Rio Tinto plc at a price of $280.25 per share for total proceeds of $560,000 and realized a gain of $277,000.
|
ii.
|
On April 30, 2010, Rio Tinto plc completed a 4 for 1 stock split (prior year number of shares have been restated).
|
iii.
|
On June 23, 2010, the Company sold 3,000 shares of Rio Tinto plc at a price of $50.87 per share for total proceeds of $153,000 and realized a gain of $43,000.
|
iv.
|
On July 2, 2010, the Company sold 3,000 shares of Rio Tinto plc at a price of $49.72 per share for total proceeds of $149,000 and realized a gain of $36,000.
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
7. American Eagle Option / Warrants
In April 2009, the Company entered into an Option Agreement on the Tuvatu Gold Project (“Tuvatu”) in Fiji. Tuvatu is owned by American Eagle Resources Inc. (“American Eagle”). Under the Option Agreement, the Company had the option, until October 30, 2009, to carry out further evaluation and exploration of Tuvatu. The Company made an option payment of $1,811,000 to the majority shareholder of American Eagle, which obligated the majority shareholder of American Eagle, upon exercise of the option by the Company, to support an amalgamation of American Eagle with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian Zinc under which 16,250,000 shares of Canadian Zinc were to be issued to the shareholders of American Eagle in exchange for the issued shares of American Eagle. During the option period, Canadian Zinc agreed to maintain the Tuvatu property in good standing, incurring expenditures of $585,000.
In September 2009, the Company agreed to early cancellation of the Option Agreement and received non-transferable warrants to purchase up to 1,250,000 common shares of American Eagle. Each warrant is exercisable into one common share of American Eagle at the lesser of $2 or 25% above the price per share of the initial public offering of American Eagle. The warrants were exercisable until October 31, 2010.
At December 31, 2009, the Company evaluated the carrying value of the warrants and determined that it was appropriate to record a full write down in value of $1,811,000 which has been recorded in the Statement of Operations.
8. Other Long-term Assets
Other long-term assets of $525,000 (2009 - $525,000) consist of reclamation security deposits that the Company has lodged with government agencies as security in support of certain reclamation obligations.
9. Restricted Cash
The Company has $214,000 (2009 - $214,000) of cash equivalents on hand, which are restricted as security for a letter of guarantee issued by a financial institution, to secure performance by the Company of certain obligations pursuant to an authorization to carry out road repairs adjacent to the Prairie Creek Mine Property granted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (“DFO”) (see Notes 10 and 21).
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
10. Resource Interests
The Company’s resource interests comprise the Prairie Creek Mine Property (“Prairie Creek”).
|
|
December 31,
2010
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
Acquisition costs:
|
|
|
|
|
- Prairie Creek mining lands
|
$
|
3,158
|
$
|
3,158
|
- Prairie Creek plant and mill
|
|
500
|
|
500
|
|
|
3,658
|
|
3,658
|
Asset retirement obligation
|
|
1,395
|
|
1,395
|
|
$
|
5,053
|
$
|
5,053
|
Prairie Creek Mine
The Company holds a 100% interest in the Prairie Creek Mine property located in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Company holds various licences and permits required in order to maintain and perform current activities at the Prairie Creek Mine site. A summary of permits and licences granted to the Company subsequent to December 31, 2007 is noted below.
On March 20, 2008, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board issued a Type B Water Licence (MV2007L8-0026) to permit remediation of a portion of the winter road. The Water Licence is valid for five years to March 20, 2013.
In June 2008, the Company entered into a letter of guarantee in the amount of $214,000 in favour of DFO to secure performance by the Company of certain obligations pursuant to an authorization from DFO dated July 15, 2008, to perform certain road repairs in proximity to the Prairie Creek Mine site.
In September 2008, the Water Board granted a two year extension to the Company’s Land Use Permit (MV2001C0023) to September 9, 2010 and a five year renewal of the Company’s Water Licence (MV2001L2-0003) to September 9, 2013. (see Note 22 (c))
The asset retirement obligation balance (which relates entirely to Prairie Creek) included within resource interests represents the “asset” portion of amounts initially recorded to correspond with the asset retirement obligation liability (see Note 13). This asset amount will be amortized over the useful life of the asset to which it relates. To date, no amortization has been recorded on the asset retirement obligation asset.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
11. Mineral Exploration and Development Costs
The Company’s mineral exploration and development costs incurred on the Prairie Creek property in 2010, 2009, and 2008 are detailed below:
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
Assaying and metallurgical studies
|
$
|
23
|
|
$
|
46
|
|
$
|
154
|
|
Camp operation and project development
|
|
669
|
|
|
763
|
|
|
2,464
|
|
Drilling and underground exploration
|
|
2,001
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
170
|
|
Insurance, lease rental
|
|
56
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
80
|
|
Permitting and environmental
|
|
1,163
|
|
|
1,052
|
|
|
862
|
|
Transportation and travel
|
|
57
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
390
|
|
|
|
3,969
|
|
|
2,008
|
|
|
4,120
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drilling and underground development cost recovery
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(942
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation – mining plant and equipment
|
|
131
|
|
|
176
|
|
|
168
|
|
Asset retirement accretion
|
|
81
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
212
|
|
|
252
|
|
|
248
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total mineral exploration and development costs
for the year
|
|
4,181
|
|
|
2,260
|
|
|
3,426
|
|
Mineral exploration and development costs
, beginning of year
|
|
38,253
|
|
|
35,993
|
|
|
32,567
|
|
Mineral exploration and development costs
, end of year
|
$
|
42,434
|
|
$
|
38,253
|
|
$
|
35,993
|
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
12. Plant and Equipment
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
Cost
$
|
Accumulated
Amortization
$
|
Net Book
Value
$
|
|
Cost
$
|
Accumulated Amortization
$
|
Net Book Value
$
|
Mining equipment
|
1,515
|
808
|
707
|
|
1,084
|
680
|
404
|
Pilot plant
|
108
|
99
|
9
|
|
108
|
95
|
13
|
Furniture, fixtures & equipment
|
151
|
113
|
38
|
|
138
|
102
|
36
|
Leasehold improvements
|
60
|
42
|
18
|
|
60
|
30
|
30
|
|
1,834
|
1,062
|
772
|
|
1,390
|
907
|
483
|
13. Asset Retirement Obligation
Although the ultimate amount of the asset retirement obligation is uncertain, the fair value estimate of these obligations, including the Company’s obligations to undertake site reclamation and remediation in connection with its Prairie Creek Mine Site infrastructure and development and applicable regulations, is based on information currently available.
The total undiscounted amount of the estimated cash flows required to settle the Company’s reclamation and remediation obligations, as at December 31, 2010, is estimated to be $2,350,000 (2009 - $2,383,000). While it is anticipated that some expenditures will be incurred during the life of the operation to which they relate (should mining activity commence), a significant component of this expenditure will only be incurred at the end of the mine life.
The fair value of the estimated cash flows has been estimated at $1,300,000 as at December 31, 2010 (2009 - $1,238,000). In determining the fair value of the asset retirement obligation, the Company has assumed a long-term inflation rate of 2% (2009 – 2%), a credit-adjusted risk-free discount rate of 6.5% (2009 – 6.5%) and a weighted average useful life of production facilities and equipment of at least twelve years. Elements of uncertainty in estimating this amount include changes in the projected mine life, reclamation expenditures incurred during ongoing operations and reclamation and remediation requirements and alternatives.
A summary of the Company’s provision for asset retirement obligation and reclamation is presented below:
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
Balance – beginning of year
|
$
|
1,238
|
$
|
1,162
|
Reclamation activity
|
|
(19)
|
|
-
|
Accretion
|
|
81
|
|
76
|
Change in estimates
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Balance – end of year
|
$
|
1,300
|
$
|
1,238
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
Authorized: Unlimited common shares with no par value (2009 – unlimited).
Issued and outstanding: 130,448,492 common shares (2009 – 118,900,563).
(a)
|
During the year ended December 31, 2010:
|
i.
|
Effective June 1, 2010, the Company renewed its normal course issuer bid (the “Bid”) pursuant to which the Company may purchase up to a maximum of 5,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company. The Bid may be carried out from June 1, 2010 for a period of up to one year. Pursuant to TSX policies, daily purchases made by the Company under the Bid may not exceed 33,038 common shares, subject to certain prescribed exceptions. All common shares purchased pursuant to the Bid will be cancelled and returned to treasury. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company did not purchase any common shares pursuant to the Bid.
|
ii.
|
On June 30, 2010, the Company issued by way of private placement 6,250,000 flow-through shares on a brokered basis at $0.40 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000. The agent to the private placement was paid a commission of 7% of the gross proceeds from the offering and received broker’s warrants to acquire 625,000 non-flow-through shares at anytime until June 30, 2012 at a price of $0.40 per share. Net proceeds from the issuance were $2,130,000 after issuance costs comprised of the agent’s commission of $175,000, the fair value of the broker’s warrants granted of $114,000 and other issuance costs of $81,000.
|
iii.
|
On December 23, 2010, the Company issued by way of private placement 3,371,429 flow-through shares on a brokered basis and 200,000 flow-through shares on a non-brokered basis at $0.70 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000. The agent to the private placement was paid a commission of 7% of the gross proceeds from the offering and received broker’s warrants to acquire 337,143 non-flow-through shares at anytime until December 23, 2012 at a price of $0.70 per share. Net proceeds from the issuance were $2,173,000 after issuance costs comprised of the agent’s commission of $165,000, the fair value of the broker’s warrants granted of $81,000 and other issuance costs of $81,000.
|
(b)
|
During the year ended December 31, 2009:
|
i.
|
68,500 common shares were purchased for cancellation pursuant to the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid for a total expenditure of $12,000 or approximately $0.18 per share. The difference of $26,000 between the cost of the shares re-acquired and the average stated value of the shares based upon the Company’s share capital account was allocated to the contributed surplus account.
|
(c)
|
During the year ended December 31, 2008:
|
i.
|
471,101 warrants were exercised at a price of $0.72 per common share for proceeds of $340,000.
|
ii.
|
1,716,000 common shares were purchased for cancellation pursuant to the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid for a total expenditure of $378,000 or $0.22 per share. The difference of $578,000 between the cost of the shares re-acquired and the average stated value of the shares based upon the Company’s share capital account was allocated to the contributed surplus account.
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
15. Stock Options and Warrants
(a)
Stock Options
At December 31, 2010 there were 7,500,000 incentive stock options outstanding all of which were granted under the 2004 Rolling Stock Option Plan (the “2004 Plan”). At the Annual General Meeting held on June 16, 2010, shareholders approved the adoption of a new incentive stock option plan (the “2010 Plan“). The 2010 Plan is a fixed share stock option plan pursuant to which options on up to 6,000,000 common shares may be issued to directors, officers, employees and service providers of the Company. No new stock options will be granted under the 2004 Plan, which is a 10% rolling stock option plan, but the 7,500,000 stock options currently outstanding under the 2004 Plan will remain outstanding and subject to that plan. Stock options will only be granted under the 2010 Stock Option Plan to the extent that the aggregate number of options outstanding under the 2010 Plan and the 2004 Plan does not exceed 6,000,000. As the Company currently has 7,500,000 options outstanding, the Company will not grant options under the 2010 Plan until such time as this number of options outstanding falls below 6,000,000. (see Note 22 (b))
Under the 2010 Plan, each option granted shall be for a term not exceeding five years from the date of grant and the vesting period is determined at the discretion of the Board. The option exercise price is set at the date of grant and cannot be less than the closing market price of the Company’s common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the day of grant.
Each stock option is exercisable for one ordinary share of the Company. No amounts are paid or payable by the recipient on receipt of the option. The options carry neither rights to dividends nor voting rights. Options may be exercised at any time from the date of vesting to the date of their expiry.
A summary of the Company’s options at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and the changes for the years then ended is presented below:
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
Number of Options
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Number of Options
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Number of Options
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Outstanding, beginning of year
|
6,650,000
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
4,205,000
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
4,865,000
|
$
|
0.73
|
|
Granted
|
4,930,000
|
|
0.45
|
|
2,905,000
|
|
0.23
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
(1,196,250)
|
|
0.23
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
(2,840,000)
|
|
0.65
|
|
(430,000)
|
|
0.90
|
|
(660,000)
|
|
0.72
|
|
Forfeited
|
(43,750)
|
|
0.45
|
|
(30,000)
|
|
0.23
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
Outstanding, end of year
|
7,500,000
|
$
|
0.46
|
|
6,650,000
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
4,205,000
|
$
|
0.73
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
15. Stock Options and Warrants (continued)
(a)
Stock Options (continued)
As at December 31, 2010, the Company has outstanding and exercisable stock options, with a weighted average remaining contractual life of 3.69 years, to purchase an aggregate 7,500,000 common shares, of which 5,685,000 were exercisable as at that date, as follows:
Options Outstanding
|
|
Options Exercisable
|
Number
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
Expiry Date
|
|
Number
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
70,000
|
|
0.89
|
June 27, 2011
|
|
70,000
|
0.89
|
800,000
|
|
0.90
|
December 13, 2011
|
|
800,000
|
0.90
|
75,000
|
|
0.94
|
October 15, 2012
|
|
75,000
|
0.94
|
1,675,000
|
|
0.23
|
March 27, 2014
|
|
1,675,000
|
0.23
|
4,880,000
|
|
0.45
|
May 12, 2015
|
|
3,065,000
|
0.45
|
7,500,000
|
$
|
0.46
|
|
|
5,685,000
|
0.46
|
During the year ended December 31, 2010, 2,840,000 stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $0.65 per share expired, 43,750 stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $0.45 were forfeited and 4,930,000 stock options, exercisable at $0.45 per share, were granted of which 2,460,000 options vested immediately and 2,470,000 options will vest as to one eighth quarterly over the following two years from grant date of May 12, 2010.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, using the fair value method for stock-based compensation, the Company recorded charges of $1,015,000, for stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and service providers.
2,905,000 stock options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2009, with a weighted average grant date fair value of $0.10 per stock option. For the year ended December 31, 2009, using the fair value method for stock-based compensation, the Company recorded a charge of $288,000 for vested stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and service providers.
No stock options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2008, using the fair value method for stock-based compensation, the Company recorded a charge of $205,000 upon the vesting of stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and contractors in the year ended December 31, 2007.
The stock-based compensation charges in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, based on the following terms and assumptions:
Year of Grant
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
Dividend Yield
|
0%
|
0%
|
n/a
|
Risk free interest rate
|
1.54% to 2.38%
|
1.90%
|
n/a
|
Expected life
|
2.5 to 3.5 years
|
4 years
|
n/a
|
Expected volatility
|
79.5% to 87.0%
|
83%
|
n/a
|
Weighted average grant date fair value
|
0.21
|
0.10
|
n/a
|
The cumulative expense recognized for the options granted is charged on a graded method over the vesting period and reflects (i) the extent to which the vesting period has expired and (ii) the Company’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
15. Stock Options and Warrants (continued)
(b)
Warrants
A summary of the Company’s warrants issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and the changes for the years then ended is presented below:
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
Number of Warrants
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Number of Warrants
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Number of Warrants
|
|
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
|
Outstanding, beginning of year
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
5,882,500
|
$
|
1.20
|
|
17,569,243
|
$
|
1.02
|
Issued
|
962,143
|
|
0.51
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Exercised
|
(530,250)
|
|
0.40
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(471,101)
|
|
0.72
|
Expired
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(5,882,500)
|
|
1.20
|
|
(11,215,642)
|
|
1.04
|
Outstanding,
end of year
|
431,893
|
$
|
0.63
|
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|
5,882,500
|
$
|
1.20
|
On June 30, 2010, the Company issued 625,000 warrants exercisable at a price of $0.40 per share for a period of two years. The warrants were issued in connection with the private placement (Note 14) and had a fair value at the date of issue of $114,000. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as a share issuance cost. The Company determined the fair value of the warrants based upon a Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions: expected life of 23 months, expected volatility 89.12%, risk free interest rate 1.50% and no expected dividends.
On December 23, 2010, the Company issued 337,143 warrants exercisable at a price of $0.70 per share for a period of two years. The warrants were issued in connection with the private placement (Note 14) and had a fair value at the date of issue of $81,000. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as a share issuance cost. The Company determined the fair value of the warrants based upon a Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions: expected life of 23 months, expected volatility 74.35%, risk free interest rate 1.69% and no expected dividends.
The Company did not issue warrants during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
As at December 31, 2010, the Company has outstanding exercisable warrants, with a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.88 years, to purchase an aggregate 431,893 common shares, as follows:
Warrants Outstanding and Exercisable
|
Number
|
|
Exercise Price
|
Expiry Date
|
94,750
|
|
0.40
|
June 30, 2012
|
337,143
|
|
0.70
|
December 23, 2012
|
431,893
|
$
|
0.63
|
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
15. Stock Options and Warrants (continued)
(c)
Contributed Surplus
A summary of the contributed surplus account is presented below:
|
Options
$
|
Warrants
$
|
Unexercised Options and Warrants
$
|
Normal Course Issuer Bid
$
|
Total
$
|
Balance, December 31, 2006
|
2,004
|
4,361
|
114
|
-
|
6,479
|
Stock options issued
|
267
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
267
|
Stock options exercised
|
(91)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(91)
|
Stock options cancelled
|
(38)
|
-
|
38
|
-
|
-
|
Warrants issued
|
-
|
1,366
|
-
|
-
|
1,366
|
Warrants exercised
|
-
|
(177)
|
-
|
-
|
(177)
|
Balance, December 31, 2007
|
2,142
|
5,550
|
152
|
-
|
7,844
|
Stock-based compensation
|
205
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
205
|
Stock options cancelled
|
(311)
|
-
|
311
|
-
|
-
|
Warrants expired
|
-
|
(1,262)
|
1,262
|
-
|
-
|
Broker warrants exercised
|
-
|
(273)
|
-
|
-
|
(273)
|
Shares cancelled under normal course issuer bid
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
578
|
578
|
Balance, December 31, 2008
|
2,036
|
4,015
|
1,725
|
578
|
8,354
|
Stock-based compensation
|
288
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
288
|
Stock options forfeited
|
(286)
|
-
|
286
|
-
|
-
|
Warrants expired
|
-
|
(4,015)
|
4,015
|
-
|
-
|
Shares cancelled under normal course issuer bid
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
26
|
26
|
Balance, December 31, 2009
|
2,038
|
-
|
6,026
|
604
|
8,668
|
Stock-based compensation
|
1,015
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,015
|
Stock options exercised
|
(120)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(120)
|
Stock options expired
|
(1,144)
|
-
|
1,144
|
-
|
-
|
Stock options forfeited
|
(12)
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
Broker warrants issued
|
-
|
195
|
-
|
-
|
195
|
Broker warrants exercised
|
-
|
(97)
|
-
|
-
|
(97)
|
Balance, December 31, 2010
|
1,891
|
98
|
7,068
|
604
|
9,661
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
16. Capital Management
The Company manages its cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, marketable securities, common shares, stock options and share purchase warrants as capital. As the Company is in the exploration and development stage, its principal source of funds for its operations is from the issuance of common shares. The issuance of common shares requires approval of the Board of Directors. It is the Company’s objective to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to explore and develop its Prairie Creek project for the benefit of its stakeholders. The Company uses stock options primarily to retain and provide future incentives to key employees and members of the management team. The granting of stock options is primarily determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
In 2008, the Company reviewed its current investment portfolio and strategy. During this review, it was noted that the rates of return for Bankers’ Acceptances and Guaranteed Investment Certificates had declined significantly during the latter half of 2008. The Company determined that it was appropriate to allocate a portion of its investments to equities in order to seek a better return on its capital resources.
In 2009, the Company acquired shares in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc and Zazu Metals Corporation as part of its strategic investments to increase shareholder value (see Note 6).
In 2010, the Company continued to hold shares in Vatukoula Gold Mines plc. All other investments in equities had been liquidated as at December 31, 2010.
17. Related Party Transactions
The Company incurred rent expense with a corporation with a common director of the Company in the amount of $24,000 (2009 - $24,000; 2008 - $19,000). These transactions were within the normal course of business and have been recorded at amounts agreed to by the transacting parties. At December 31, 2010, $2,000 relating to amounts owing to related parties was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (2009 - $nil; 2008 - $10,000).
18. Income Taxes
The Company’s future income tax income for the year ended December 31, 2010, is $nil (2009 - $nil; 2008 - $nil). A reconciliation of the statutory tax rate to the effective rate for the Company is as follows:
|
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
Statutory tax rate
|
|
29.10%
|
|
30.70%
|
|
31.00%
|
Income taxes/(recovery) computed at statutory rates
|
$
|
5,357
|
$
|
(187)
|
$
|
(1,311)
|
Permanent differences
|
|
301
|
|
(256)
|
|
64
|
Expired losses
|
|
301
|
|
183
|
|
192
|
Other
|
|
(130)
|
|
(7)
|
|
118
|
Investment income subject to capital gains tax rate
|
|
(3,620)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Income tax rate changes
|
|
(194)
|
|
(75)
|
|
403
|
Change in valuation allowance
|
|
(2,015)
|
|
342
|
|
534
|
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
18. Income Taxes (continued)
The approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference that gives rise to the Company’s future income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
Future income tax assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-capital loss carry forwards
|
$
|
3,815
|
|
$
|
3,392
|
|
$
|
2,964
|
|
Plant and equipment
|
|
321
|
|
|
281
|
|
|
139
|
|
Resource interests
|
|
4,607
|
|
|
3,681
|
|
|
3,234
|
|
Other
|
|
456
|
|
|
450
|
|
|
584
|
|
|
|
9,199
|
|
|
7,804
|
|
|
6,921
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
(5,248
|
)
|
|
(7,263
|
)
|
|
(6,921
|
)
|
Net future income tax assets
|
|
3,951
|
|
|
541
|
|
|
-
|
|
Future income tax liability on marketable securities
|
|
(3,951
|
)
|
|
(541
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Future income tax asset (liability) net
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, 2010, the Company has approximately $14,506,000 (2009 - $12,897,000) of non-capital losses for tax purposes available to be carried forward at various dates until 2030 and applied against future income for tax purposes and approximately $22,569,000 (2009 - $19,050,000) of unused cumulative Canadian exploration and development expenses for tax purposes available to be carried forward indefinitely and applied against future income for tax purposes. The non-capital losses expire as follows:
Year
|
|
|
2014
|
$
|
926
|
2015
|
|
936
|
2026
|
|
1,046
|
2027
|
|
2,755
|
2028
|
|
3,746
|
2029
|
|
2,455
|
2030
|
|
2,642
|
|
$
|
14,506
|
Future income tax benefits which may arise as a result of these losses have been recognized in these financial statements to the extent necessary to reduce future income tax liabilities arising on unrealized capital gains on marketable securities.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
19. Financial Instruments
(a)
|
Categories of financial assets and financial liabilities
|
Under Canadian GAAP financial instruments are classified into one of the following five categories: held for trading, held-to-maturity investments, loans and receivables, available-for-sale financial assets and other financial liabilities. The carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments, which are the same as their fair values, are classified into the following categories:
|
Category
|
|
December 31,
2010
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
Designated held for trading
|
$
|
4,464
|
$
|
5,197
|
Short-term investments
|
Designated held for trading
|
|
2,900
|
|
2,246
|
Marketable securities
|
Designated held for trading
|
|
39,400
|
|
15,382
|
Other receivables and prepaid expenses
|
Loans and receivables
|
|
135
|
|
52
|
Restricted cash
|
Designated held for trading
|
|
214
|
|
214
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
Other liabilities
|
$
|
(242)
|
$
|
(401)
|
The recorded amounts for cash and cash equivalents, other receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to their short-term nature. The Company has designated its cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, marketable securities and restricted cash as held for trading assets.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recorded a gain on its marketable securities (designated as held for trading) of $25,341,000 (2009 – loss of $6,102,000).
Investment income consists of interest earned on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $45,000 (2009 - $214,000) and dividend income from marketable securities of $3,000 (2009 - $28,000).
(b)
|
Fair Value Measurements
|
The following table summarizes the classification of the Company’s financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy as at December 31, 2010 and 2009:
December 31, 2010
|
|
Level 1
|
|
Level 2
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Total
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
4.464
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
4.464
|
Short-term investments
|
|
2,900
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
2,900
|
Marketable securities
|
|
39,400
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
39,400
|
Restricted cash
|
$
|
214
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
214
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
Level 1
|
|
Level 2
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Total
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
5,197
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
5,197
|
Short-term investments
|
|
2,246
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
2,240
|
Marketable securities
|
|
15,382
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
15,382
|
Restricted cash
|
$
|
214
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
214
|
The Company holds certain marketable securities that will fluctuate in value as a result of trading on global financial markets. Furthermore, as the Company’s marketable securities are also in mining companies, market values will fluctuate as commodity prices change. Based upon the Company’s portfolio at December 31, 2010, a 10% increase or decrease in the market price of the securities held, ignoring any foreign currency risk which is described below, would have resulted in an increase (or decrease) to net loss of approximately $3,940,000 (2009 - $1,538,000).
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
19. Financial Instruments (continued)
Included in the loss for the year ended December 31, 2010 is investment income on the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. If interest rates had been 100 basis points (1%) lower (higher) then net loss would have been approximately $43,000 (2009 - $148,000) higher (lower). The Company does not have any debt obligations which expose it to interest rate risk.
(e)
|
Foreign currency risk
|
The Company holds certain marketable securities and cash from sale of marketable securities that are denominated in U.S. dollars and which, as held for trading assets, impact the Company’s net loss as a result of being marked to market at each reporting period. The Company estimates that, based upon the cash and marketable securities held at December 31, 2010, and assuming no changes in number of shares or stock price, for every $0.01 fluctuation in exchange rate between the Canadian and U.S. dollar, the Company’s net income would be $8,000 (2009 - $8,000) higher (or lower). The Company also holds marketable securities denominated in U.K. pounds sterling. Based upon the marketable securities held at December 31, 2010, and assuming no changes in number of shares or stock price, for every $0.01 fluctuation in exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.K. pound sterling, the Company’s net income would be $254,000 (2009 - $83,000) higher (or lower).
The Company considers that the following financial assets are exposed to credit risk: cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, marketable securities and restricted cash. The total value of these items at December 31, 2010 is $46,978,000 (2009 - $23,039,000). Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation and cause the other party to incur a financial loss. The Company does not currently generate any revenues from sales to customers nor does it hold derivative type instruments that would require a counterparty to fulfil a contractual obligation resulting in a credit risk. The Company has never held any asset-backed paper instruments. The Company seeks to place its cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash with reputable financial institutions. Accordingly, the Company believes that it is exposed to minimal credit risks at the current time, although the concerns surrounding financial institutions globally have increased the risk of a credit default by a major bank impacting the Company. At December 31, 2010, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash were invested in five financial institutions.
Liquidity risk encompasses the risk that the Company cannot meet its financial obligations as they fall due. As at December 31, 2010, the Company had positive working capital of $46,657,000 (2009 - $22,476,000). Accordingly, the Company is able to meet its current obligations and has minimal liquidity risk. However, the Company will require significant additional funding in the future in order to complete the development of the Prairie Creek Mine site and bring the mine into production. Accordingly, there is a risk that the Company may not be able to secure adequate funding on reasonable terms, or at all, at that future date.
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
20. Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In June 2009, the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting standards related to its accounting standards codification of the hierarchy of generally accepted accounting principles. The standard is the sole source of authoritative generally accepted accounting principles of the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. The Codification superseded non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All accounting literature that is not in the Codification, not issued by the SEC and not otherwise grandfathered is non-authoritative.
For the purposes of U.S. GAAP the Company is considered to be an Exploration Stage Enterprise. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP which differs in certain material respects from U.S. GAAP. The material differences between Canadian and U.S. GAAP, in respect of these financial statements, are summarized as follows:
Balance Sheet
s
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents (Canadian GAAP)
|
|
4,464
|
|
|
5,197
|
|
Unexpended flow-through funds (b)
|
|
(2,500
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents (U.S. GAAP)
|
|
1,964
|
|
|
5,197
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash (Canadian GAAP)
|
|
214
|
|
|
214
|
|
Unexpended flow-through funds (b)
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
-
|
|
Restricted cash (U.S. GAAP)
|
|
2,714
|
|
|
214
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities (Canadian GAAP)
|
|
1,542
|
|
|
1,639
|
|
Premium on flow-through shares (b)
|
|
239
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total Liabilities (U.S. GAAP)
|
|
1,781
|
|
|
1,639
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital (Canadian GAAP)
|
$
|
70,591
|
|
$
|
65,583
|
|
Future income tax recovery on renouncement of flow-through shares (b)
|
|
4,250
|
|
|
4,250
|
|
Flow-through share premium paid in excess of market value (b)
|
|
(1,770
|
)
|
|
(1,531
|
)
|
Share capital (U.S. GAAP)
|
$
|
73,071
|
|
$
|
68,302
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit (Canadian GAAP)
|
$
|
(28,331
|
)
|
$
|
(46,738
|
)
|
Future income tax recovery on renouncement of flow-through shares (b)
|
|
(4,250
|
)
|
|
(4,250
|
)
|
Flow through share premium paid in excess of market value (b)
|
|
1,531
|
|
|
1,531
|
|
Deficit (U.S. GAAP)
|
$
|
(31,050
|
)
|
$
|
(49,457
|
)
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
20.
|
Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (continued)
|
Statements of Operations
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)
(Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
$
|
18,407
|
|
$
|
(611
|
)
|
$
|
(4,228
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) per share
- basic and diluted (Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
$
|
(0.005
|
)
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
- basic (Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
|
122,561,368
|
|
|
118,915,812
|
|
|
120,440,062
|
|
- diluted (Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
|
124,724,308
|
|
|
118,915,812
|
|
|
120,440,062
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statements of Cash Flows
|
2010
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash used in operating activities (Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
$
|
(5,939
|
)
|
|
(4,340
|
)
|
|
(4,750
|
)
|
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
|
5,024
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
(38
|
)
|
Cash provided by investing activities (Canadian GAAP)
|
|
226
|
|
|
388
|
|
|
7,094
|
|
Restricted cash (b)
|
|
(2,500
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (U.S. GAAP)
|
|
(2,274
|
)
|
|
388
|
|
|
7,094
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impact of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
|
(44
|
)
|
|
(64
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(Canadian GAAP)
|
|
(733
|
)
|
|
(4,028
|
)
|
|
2,306
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(U.S. GAAP)
|
|
(3,233
|
)
|
|
(4,028
|
)
|
|
2,306
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
(Canadian and U.S. GAAP)
|
|
5,197
|
|
|
9,225
|
|
|
6,919
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year (Canadian GAAP)
|
|
4,464
|
|
|
5,197
|
|
|
9,225
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year (U.S. GAAP)
|
|
1,964
|
|
|
5,197
|
|
|
9,225
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
20.
|
Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (continued)
|
Under Canadian GAAP, future income taxes are calculated based on enacted or substantively enacted tax rates applicable to future years. Under U.S. GAAP, only enacted rates are used in the calculation of future income taxes. This difference in GAAP did not result in a difference in the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company for the years presented.
(b)
Flow-through Shares
During the year, the Company issued 9,821,429 flow-through shares for cash totalling $5 million with quoted market price of approximately $4.723 million. For U.S. GAAP reporting purposes, the Company recorded a liability for premium on flow-through shares amounting to approximately $277,000. In connection with the issuance of flow-through shares, the Company incurred costs amounting to approximately $697,000. Under U.S. GAAP, these share issue costs are allocated in proportion to the values assigned to the liability and equity components arising from the issuance of flow-through shares. Total share issue costs allocated against the liability amounted to approximately $38,000.
Under Canadian GAAP, no liabilities are recorded on flow-through shares until expenditures have been renounced. Under U.S. GAAP, a liability on flow-through shares is required at the time such shares are issued for the excess of the shares over quoted market value. This liability is reversed and a deferred tax liability is recognized for U.S. GAAP when the expenditures are renounced. No flow-through shares were renounced in 2010.
Under U.S. GAAP, unexpended flow-through funds as at the balance sheet date are separately classified as restricted cash. At December 31, 2010, there were $2.5 million in unexpended flow-through funds (2009 - $nil).
(c)
Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In June 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 105, “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“ASC 105”). ASC 105 makes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification the single source of authoritative U.S. accounting and reporting standards, but it does not change accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. ASC 105 was effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. Adoption of ASC 105 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Fair Value Accounting
In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”), which is now included in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” FAS 157 defined fair value, established a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of FAS 157 were adopted January 1, 2008.
In February 2008, the FASB staff issued Staff Position No. 157-2 “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP FAS 157-2”). FSP FAS 157-2 delayed the effective date of FAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The provisions of FSP FAS 157-2 were adopted by the Company on January 1, 2009 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 157-4, "Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly" (“FSP 157-4”). FSP 157-4 provides additional guidance for estimating fair value in
accordance with FAS 157 when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. FSP 157-4 also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. FSP 157-4 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after
CANADIAN ZINC CORPORATION
(a development stage company)
Notes to the Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Tabular amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars, except for shares, price per share and per share amounts)
20.
|
Reconciliation of Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (continued)
|
(c)
Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements (continued)
Fair Value Accounting (continued)
June 15, 2009. The adoption of FSP 157-4 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Subsequent Events
In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC Topic 855, “Subsequent Events” (“ASC 855”). ASC 855 establishes principles and requirements for events that occur after the balance sheet date, but before the issuance of the financial statements. ASC 855 requires disclosure of the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated and disclosure of certain non-recognized subsequent events. ASC 855 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. Adoption of ASC 855 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
21. Commitments
|
(a)
|
The Company has entered into certain operating lease agreements for office space and equipment. These agreements require the Company to make the following lease payments:
|
Year ending December 31,
|
|
Office Leases
|
2011
|
$
|
169
|
2012
|
|
87
|
2013
|
|
5
|
2014
|
|
Nil
|
|
$
|
261
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
The Company has a letter of guarantee outstanding in the amount of $214,000 as security for the Company fulfilling certain obligations pursuant to an Authorization granted by DFO relating to road repairs in proximity to the Prairie Creek Mine Site (see Notes 9 and 10).
|
22. Subsequent events
Subsequent to December 31, 2010:
(a)
|
On January 21, 2011, the Company signed an Impact Benefit Agreement with the Nahanni Butte Dene Band with respect to the development and operation of the Company’s Prairie Creek Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
|
(b)
|
On January 27, 2011, the Company issued 300,000 stock options, vesting over two years, exercisable at $0.71 per share for five years in conjunction with an Employment Agreement.
|
(c)
|
On January 31, 2011 the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board granted a two year extension, to May 10, 2013, to Canadian Zinc’s Land Use Permit for mineral exploration on the Prairie Creek Property in the Northwest Territories.
|
(d)
|
On February 28, 2011, the Company commissioned a Feasibility Study of the Prairie Creek Mine and engaged SNC-Lavalin Inc. to complete by the end of 2011.
|
(e)
|
20,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.23 per common share, 157,500 stock options at an exercise price of $0.45 per common share and 63,250 warrants at an exercise price of $0.40 per common share were exercised.
|