Ground has broken on a gold project in northern Manitoba, with Premier Wab Kinew among the officials at a ceremony marking the start of construction on the mine near Lynn Lake, a town more than 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg, The Canadian Press is reporting Wednesday.

Kinew says it's the first new mine to open in Manitoba in 15 years. Officials say the mine will be run by Toronto-based Alamos Gold (AGI.TO) and will have a lifespan of 27 years.

Wednesday's report said the project will involve two mine sites, which the Manitoba government says will create over 600 jobs while it's being built and sustain about 450 jobs during its operation.

The province says Alamos signed an agreement with the Marcel Colomb First Nation in 2023 to share revenue, as well as provide jobs and training under a policy to prioritize hiring local.

Marcel Colomb First Nation Chief Delhia Hart called the groundbreaking event "historic." "After years of living in the outskirts of a mining town in our own traditional lands, it's the first time our nation has been involved in a mining project since industry came into our traditional lands," Hart said in a statement.

"The new mining partners will help with the economic growth and prosperity for our nation well into the future for our grandchildren and future generations to come."

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