Sustainability governance
At the heart of our operations lies a commitment to responsible action. We believe that strong sustainability management goes hand in hand with pride, ingenuity, respect and transparency. The following outlines the principles that guide how we manage our operations in relation to these topics.
Gouvernance
Champion is committed to conducting business ethically, responsibly, in compliance with the legal requirements of the jurisdictions where we operate, and in accordance with the highest standards of corporate governance. We recognize that good governance is of utmost importance to our stakeholders, and central to the continuous improvement of our accountability and sustainability performance. Proper corporate governance enables us to uphold our core values of transparency and respect.
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Sustainability governance
Champion is committed to conducting business ethically, responsibly, in compliance with the legal requirements of the jurisdictions where it operates, and in accordance with the highest standards of corporate governance. We seek to create value for our shareholders while providing a safe working environment for our employees and contributing to the sustainable development of local communities.
See other topics »Business conduct and ethics
We strive to conduct our business with a high degree of transparency and integrity. Our goal is to maintain and strengthen the relationships that enable our success, and that positively impact our host communities, suppliers, clients, and stakeholders
See other topics »Whistleblower and feedback mechanism
Separately from grievances mechanisms, we recognize that individuals may wish to seek guidance on how to implement responsible business practices, or to raise concerns about the organization’s business conduct, or about conduct associated with the Company’s business relationships. In such instances, employees can contact their supervisor or human resources teams for assistance.
Anyone wishing to raise concerns can do so through our Whistleblower mechanism, as prescribed in our Whistleblower Policy available on our website. Our Whistleblower Policy establishes a procedure for the confidential and anonymous submission, receipt, retention and treatment of complaints or concerns. Whistleblower concerns are handled through a third-party reporting system provided by Deloitte. The Whistleblower Policy prohibits any retaliation against individuals who make a report of known or suspected violations in good faith.
See other topics »Value Chain Management
We recognize that as a Company, we can potentially impact human rights and the environment through our value chain. As a result, we are committed to understanding our value chain, and managing any impacts that we may be contributing to, or linked to, through our business relationships
See other topics »Responsible consumption and production
Champion is committed to contributing to a circular economy, where fewer materials are used, materials are kept in use, and waste and pollution are reduced at the source when possible. This begins with our own commitment to reduce waste generation and to decrease the energy used to dispose of our waste. We operationalize this commitment through the application of the four “Rs” principles throughout our operations. We also address this through our responsible production vision, by producing a high-purity iron ore product that enables steelmakers to use less energy in the steel making process.
| REDUCE consumption of materials at the source. | REUSE goods as much as possible, to give them a longer life. | RECYCLE waste to give it new life. | RECOVER additional uses from waste instead of destruction. |
Cybersecurity
The direct and indirect damage that can result from poor cybersecurity management include production or revenue losses, loss of confidence, confidentiality breaches, reputational damage, stock price volatility, and regulatory actions or litigation. Our cybersecurity management is rooted in the governance and oversight of our corporate information and operational technology systems. The Company has internal cybersecurity policies for all its employees, as well as an escalation process if any employee notices something suspicious worth investigating. The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of the Company’s exposure to fraud, cybersecurity, and data privacy risks, while ultimately, management oversight rests with Champion’s Chief Financial Officer.
See other topics »Closure
Effective closure planning starts before mining begins, keeping the eventual end of operations in mind to ensure that a responsible mining management approach continues throughout the full life cycle of a mine. In collaboration with our stakeholders, we are committed to rehabilitating the land to minimize the impacts of our operations.
Champion utilized the MAC TSM’s Mine Closure Framework to guide its Bloom Lake closure planning. As per Canadian and Québec laws, QIO was required to plan for closure before production commenced and to update this planning with any expansion activities. As a result of Phase II, we updated our Mine Closure Plan, which received government approval in March 2023. The next Mine Closure Update is scheduled for 2026.
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Health and Safety
Champion firmly believes that every individual has the right to a safe workplace. Guided by our Occupational Health and Safety Policy, we are committed to identifying and mitigating any possible health and safety risks from our operations. We continuously strive to maintain a work environment that is free from injuries, accidents, or occupational illnesses.
See other topics »Our People
Our people are our most valuable asset and the foundation of our success as a sustainable mining company. They shape our values and corporate culture, helping position Champion as a leading employer in the region. We are committed to fostering a collaborative work environment grounded in fairness, respect and inclusion. Through strong labour relations management, training and skills development, and our firm commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) efforts, we aim to provide equal opportunities for all employees and promote the hiring of traditionally underrepresented groups. Our DEI efforts create opportunities to attract a broader talent pool, helping our Company thrive in a competitive mining industry.
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Talent Retention and Acquisition
At Champion, our goal is to attract and retain the best talent that meets our values and culture. We monitor staff turnover and conduct exit interviews to better understand how we can support our employees and continuously improve and adapt our workplace to meet new realities, healthy management practices and employee needs. In the case of any operational changes, the minimum notice period given to unionized employees is 7 days as set out in our CBA, and we comply with the provisions set out in Québec’s Act respecting labour standards for non-unionized employees.
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Communities and Indigenous People
At Champion, we recognize that our operations can create significant positive impacts for local communities, particularly through employment, procurement, and community investment, but we are also aware of the potential for adverse and unintended impacts. We are committed to preventing and mitigating such impacts, understanding that poor management can erode trust, lead to operational disruptions, disputes and missed opportunities in creating shared value with our stakeholders.
Champion’s dedication towards developing strong, trust-based relationships with local communities and First Nations partners is anchored in three core pillars: 1) upholding human rights; 2) engaging meaningfully with communities; and 3) contributing to local economic development through local hiring, procurement, and community investment.
See other topics »Rights of First Nations, Engagement, and Protection of Cultural Heritage
The Coordinating Committee consists of three representatives from ITUM and three from QIO, and it meets in person on a quarterly basis. The Committee is responsible for providing a quarterly report to both ITUM and QIO on the progress of their respective obligations under the IBA. Additionally, the Committee oversees the operations of the four subcommittees, which convene on an as needed basis.
Champion has established a community grievance mechanism, accessible through our Company’s website, allowing members of host communities to easily submit complaints or share concerns with our team, including the option to do so anonymously. A dedicated email address is actively monitored, and a designated manager is responsible for tracking each complaint to ensure it is addressed and resolved satisfactorily.
See other topics »Water Stewardship
Water is a shared public resource, crucial for people and the environment, and it plays an essential role in our mining activities. Our water management strategy is guided by our recognition that the watersheds near our operations are central to the livelihoods of our stakeholders, including First Nations and local communities, in addition to their importance for industry and tourism. Our water-retaining structures are proactively managed to mitigate the impacts of extreme flooding or other precipitation events, maximize water recycling and use water treatment facilities for any surplus water that is responsibly discharged into the environment.
We do not operate in water-stressed regions and there is generally a positive water balance. All precipitation and snowmelt water in contact with our mining infrastructure is captured using a network of ditches over 35 km in length, located on the outskirts of the mining facilities. These ditches are connected to 37 transit basins and 12 water retention basins that can safely contain and manage a 1 in 100-year to a 1 in 1,000-year storm event or flood. Any surplus water not used at the mine site is treated at our water treatment unit prior to discharge. Water monitoring before discharge includes physicochemical characterization (namely for suspended solids) and biological testing (toxicity) to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
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Tailings Management
This strategy is intended to span the entire mining lifecycle, with our 2019 feasibility study, our yearly update of the tailings deposition 5-year planning, and yearly implementation and construction work supported by a detailed engineering process, including thorough geotechnical investigation and monitoring. Our innovative approach to tailings management involves managing and separating fine tailings and coarse tailings (sand). This separation optimizes our use of the mine site footprint and the distinct properties and behaviours of each material, thereby reducing overall risk. As fine and coarse tailings retain water and settle differently over time, they are each subject to tailored management approaches. By adapting our design according to water retention capacity, among other factors, we design, build and manage more stable and safe infrastructures.
Our tailings management facilities are constructed on the Canadian Shield, a geologically stable seismic region. We employ an impervious water retention design for storing our fine tailings, contained by a staged water dam. For coarse tailings, which represent most of our tailing’s material, we employ an improved upstream construction method that consists of using a gentle slope, pervious (free draining) rock starter dike with upstream finger drains and raises of compacted coarse tailings.
Monitoring instruments are installed in specific areas around our tailings structures to facilitate continuous and real time monitoring through a telecommunications system. This enables us to identify any situation that may require action to maintain or improve the safety of our infrastructure and prevent any incident.
See other topics »Steril rock, Waste and Hazardous Materials Management
In addition to tailings, the main sources of waste generated by our site activities include sterile rock, along with non-mineral waste, such as industrial and domestic waste. We minimize waste generation or eliminate it at source when possible, and we seek to maximize the longevity of the products we use, recycle where possible, and optimize transportation and storage processes to reduce our environmental footprint. If industrial and domestic waste cannot be recovered or recycled, we dispose of it offsite in a responsible and compliant manner, with operational controls, including controlled storage whenever necessary.
See other topics »Energy & Climate Change
Energy efficiency is central to our efforts to reduce our impact on climate change. Understanding, mitigating and adapting to the risks that climate change poses to our operations and the regions where we operate is a core part of responsible mining and fundamental to maintaining strong relationships with local communities and our First Nations partners.
See other topics »Air Quality
Mining and mineral processing activities, including fuel combustion, blasting, hauling and the handling and storage of materials can negatively impact air quality.
See other topics »Land Use and Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss and adverse ecosystem impacts pose significant risks to people and the broader environment. The Bloom Lake mine is located in the Canadian boreal forest, home to many species of plants and animals, as well as natural resources vital to local First Nations and surrounding communities. Our management approach is rooted in the precautionary principle, where we prioritize protective action whenever there is any uncertainty about the potential impacts of our activities on local ecosystems.
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