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

    VANCOUVER, July 2 /CNW/ - 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.

For further information: Ms. Keren R. Yun, Director, Investor Relations,
Tel: (416) 363-1701 ext. 233, Email: ngx@northgateminerals.com, Website:
www.northgateminerals.com