MORE NORTHERNERS WORKING IN NORTHERN MINING

Northern and aboriginal workers continue to increase their participation in northern mining employment.

Year-end statistics for 2004 show that northerners held 53 per cent or 1,370 of 2,586 jobs directly related to northern mining.

Of the total, 1,829 were long-term jobs at northern Saskatchewan mine site locations including 953 northern employees – a 52 per cent representation, up from 46 per cent in 1994. Eighty-five percent of northern mining employees were of aboriginal ancestry.

The total also includes 280 residents of Creighton and Denare Beach who are employed at Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting's operations in the Flin Flon area, as well as 137 northern employees working with construction and transportation companies that service northern mines.

"Not only have northerners increased their representation in the mining workforce, they have also increased their participation in higher skill job categories," Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger said. "Saskatchewan continues to be a national leader in ensuring northern mining provides opportunities for northern people."

Belanger commended the northern mining companies and their contractors for continuing to facilitate a variety of training initiatives to help northerners qualify for employment in the mineral sector.

"As an example, Cameco Corporation currently has 22 trades apprenticeship positions at their northern mine sites. Twenty-one of these positions are held by northerners, 19 of the apprentices are of aboriginal ancestry," Belanger said.

Northern mining operations include uranium mines operated by Cameco at McArthur River and Rabbit Lake and a milling facility at Key Lake. Cogema Resources has a uranium mine and mill at McClean Lake. Cogema and its contractors are also continuing with decommissioning work at the former Cluff Lake mine site. Claude Resources operates a gold mine northeast of Stanley Mission and Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting has a small copper mine near Creighton.

The number of northern Saskatchewan mining jobs is expected to increase over the next few years. Cameco is developing a new uranium mine at Cigar Lake. Approximately 200 workers are currently employed at the site with construction jobs expected to peak at 350 before the mine is completed in late 2007. When operational, at least 250 people will be employed at the Cigar Lake mine. Cogema Resources will be increasing its workforce by at least 70 positions this coming summer with the resumption of open pit mining at McClean Lake.

The provincial government and mining companies negotiate agreements to create employment and business opportunities for northern residents and include provisions for monitoring results. Northern residents are defined as persons having lived at least ten years or half their lifetime within Saskatchewan's Northern Administration District.

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For More Information, Contact:

Brian Cousins Northern Affairs Regina Phone: (306)787-5061

Terri Franks Learning La Ronge Phone: (306)425-4395