EXHIBIT 5

                      [Letterhead of McCarthy Tetrault]

                                                              May 14, 1998
Battle Mountain Canada Ltd.
Suite 2500, Royal Trust Tower
Toronto-Dominion Centre
Toronto, Ontario
M5K IJ5

Gentlemen:

      As set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") to be filed by Battle Mountain Canada Ltd., an Ontario corporation
("Battle Mountain Canada"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the
offering by Battle Mountain Canada of a maximum aggregate of 2,500,000
exchangeable shares of Battle Mountain Canada (the "Exchangeable Shares") to
holders of options under the 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Battle Mountain
Canada ("Plan"), certain legal matters in connection with the 2,500,000
Exchangeable Shares subject to issuance pursuant to the Plan are being passed
upon for Battle Mountain Canada by us. At your request, this opinion is being
furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement.

      In our capacity as counsel to Battle Mountain Canada, we have examined
Battle Mountain Canada's articles and bylaws, each as amended to date, and have
examined the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of
corporate records of Battle Mountain Canada, statutes and other instruments and
documents as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.

      On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, upon issuance
of and the payment for the Exchangeable Shares in accordance with the terms and
provisions of the Plan, the Exchangeable Shares will be duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

      We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act.

                                          Yours truly,



                                          /s/ MCCARTHY TETRAULT