Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about a mining possibility in my constituency. Mr. Speaker, the Cadillac Mine site has existed in the mountains west of Fort Simpson for quite a number of years. In the past, attempts to develop this mine site have not been successful. This mine site sits along a river called Prairie Creek which runs into the south Nahanni River. That is the world-renowned Nahanni National Park, which is an international reserve. A Vancouver-based company called San Andreas Resources Corporation is conducting a pre-feasibility study on the old mine site, Mr. Speaker. Factors of the study are zinc, lead and silver. This is about 100 kilometres north of Nahanni Butte.
Upon favourable results of this study, a full feasibility study will be undertaken and should be completed by this spring. Accordingly to company personnel, economics of the project continue to appear very positive. Representatives of San Andreas Resources met with the public in Fort Simpson and in the Deh Cho communities during the week of January 25th of this year. The purpose of the meeting was to bring everyone up to date on the developments and proposed activities of this mine site.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of San Andreas Resources as they have been working along with the local and regional economy, so that appropriate measures are ensured and their operation has little impact on the environment. Also, applaud their efforts in maintaining a link with the communities in the region.
Mr. Speaker, in the past, all too often in exploration, extraction of the products by southern firms has been done without significant benefits to local residents and in total ignorance of our environment, in some cases. When I think of those times, Mr. Speaker, I think the philosophy that southern companies are exercising now and have adopted in their dealings here in the north should be the basis or standard for any and all activity proposed by all outside firms. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
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