Matachewan First Nation Signs Impact and Benefits Agreement with Northgate Minerals Corporation

VANCOUVER, July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Northgate Minerals Corporation (TSX: NGX, NYSE Amex: NXG) and the Matachewan First Nation are pleased to announce that the parties have signed an Impact and Benefits Agreement ("IBA") for the Young-Davidson project located in Matachewan, Ontario. The IBA establishes a framework for the permitting and development of a mine on the Young-Davidson property and sets out a variety of co-operative initiatives between the Matachewan First Nation and Northgate relating to employment, training and other business opportunities in connection with the project. The IBA follows on the Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed in March 2008.

A formal signing ceremony on the Matachewan First Nation Reserve will take place later this month to commemorate the continuation of the historic relationship between Northgate and the Matachewan First Nation that is based upon trust and mutual respect.

The Young-Davidson property is located in the Abitibi greenstone belt of northern Ontario, 60 kilometres west of Kirkland Lake. The property has hosted two past producing mines, both with track records of successful mining during the mid-20th century. Since its acquisition of the property in late 2005, Northgate has invested $55 million in surface diamond drilling and underground development, which has increased the total measured and indicated gold resources on the property to 3.3 million ounces as at December 31, 2008. Pre-feasibility work, which began earlier this year, is now largely complete and Northgate will announce the results of this work later this month followed by a revised NI 43-101 Technical Report filed on SEDAR in August.

Northgate Minerals Corporation is a gold and copper producer with mining operations, development projects and exploration properties in Canada and Australia. The company is forecasting record gold production of over 390,000 ounces in 2009 and is targeting growth through further acquisition opportunities in stable mining jurisdictions around the world. Northgate is listed on the TSX under the symbol NGX and on the NYSE Amex under the symbol NXG.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This Northgate press release contains "forward-looking information", as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning Northgate's future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "believes", "anticipates", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "plans" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would" or "might" "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Northgate operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Northgate cautions that forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Northgate's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information, including, but not limited to gold and copper price volatility; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates; the impact of any hedging activities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; costs of production; capital expenditure requirements; the costs and timing of construction and development of new deposits; and the success of exploration and permitting activities. In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Northgate's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008 or under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Northgate's 2008 Annual Report, both of which are available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this press release. Although Northgate has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and Northgate disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Northgate Minerals Corporation