<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT 4

                                 CERTIFICATION
           PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Brian J. Kennedy, certify that:

     1)   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of Meridian Gold Inc.;

     2)   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
          statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
          necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
          under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
          the period covered by this annual report;

     3)   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
          information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
          material respects the financial condition, results of operations and
          cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
          this annual report;

     4)   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
          establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
          defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant
          and have:

          a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
             material information relating to the registrant, including its
             consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
             those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual
             report is being prepared;

          b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
             controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
             filing date of the annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

          c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
             effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
             our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

     5)   The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based
          on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the
          audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
          performing the equivalent function):

          a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
             internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
             ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and
             have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weakness
             in internal controls; and

          b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
             other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
             internal controls; and

     6)   The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in
          this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal
          controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
          controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation,
          including any corrective actions with regard to significant
          deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Dated: April 10, 2003

/s/ Brian J. Kennedy
------------------------------------
Name:  Brian J. Kennedy
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>
                                CERTIFICATION
           PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


I, Peter C. Dougherty, certify that:

     1)  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of Meridian Gold Inc.;

     2)  Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
         to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
         such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
         covered by this annual report;

     3)  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
         information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
         material respects the financial condition, results of operations and
         cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
         this annual report;

     4)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
         establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
         defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and
         have:

         a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
             material information relating to the registrant, including its
             consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
             those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual
             report is being prepared;

         b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
             and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date
             of the annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

         c)  presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
             effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on
             our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

     5)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based
         on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the
         audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
         performing the equivalent function):

         a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
             controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
             record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
             identified for the registrant's auditors any material weakness in
             internal controls; and

         b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
             other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
             internal controls; and

     6)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this
         annual report whether there were significant changes in internal
         controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
         controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation,
         including any corrective actions with regard to significant
         deficiencies and material weaknesses.



Date: April 10, 2003




/s/ Peter C. Dougherty
---------------------------------------
Name:  Peter C. Dougherty
Title: Vice President, Finance and
       Chief Financial Officer