Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today to advise my colleagues of the actions being taken by the Government of the Northwest Territories to assist the workers affected by the Miramar Con Mine closure.
Mr. Speaker, with the Premier and my Cabinet colleagues, we have coordinated efforts to respond in an effective and timely manner to support our residents by identifying options available to assist those whose lives are being affected.
The people who are going to feel the most impact are the families involved. Within these families, we have our friends, our neighbours, volunteers in all our sectors, our sports coaches, people who have added so much to the fabric of the community.
As well as the changes for the workers' lives, Mr. Speaker, there will be an economic impact. We are speaking of the loss of many direct and indirect jobs from the Yellowknife economy. Mr. Speaker, as a government, we are doing our utmost to support those affected by the closure of this mine.
Through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment we are working in conjunction with Human Resources Development Canada to provide direct support for the employees of Miramar Con Mine. ECE is ensuring that workers are receiving informational sessions on a regular basis. These sessions highlight the options available to people for retraining, upgrading, work search skills, student financial assistance, self-employment option, apprenticeship training and training on the job.
ECE will also be working closely with David Milne, a consultant hired by Miramar Con Mine to assist workers with their transition planning to ensure their needs are being met.
Mr. Speaker, another GNWT department that has been active on this issue is the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. While Miramar and the city of Yellowknife are the key partners to initiate the potential land transfer process, MACA continues to participate on a number of committees established to review environmental and process-related issues regarding the potential surrender and transfer of the trailer court lands.
MACA has been represented on the Con/Rycon Land Acquisition Subcommittee since its inception in 2001 and has provided technical information and land transfer procedural advice to the committee. MACA is also a member of the GNWT's task team established to develop options and strategies for dealing with environmental and risk mitigation issues associated with the potential transfer of the trailer court lands and to provide advice on an as-and-when needed basis.
The final piece of this transition plan comes, Mr. Speaker, through the closing of the facility itself. Historically, abandoned mines have been associated with a legacy of environmental degradation in the NWT. With the announced closure, the need for an effective abandonment and reclamation plan of the Miramar Con Mine has taken on a renewed importance. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Municipal and Community Affairs and Health and Social services are working with the federal government, municipal governments, aboriginal organizations and the mining industry to review Miramar's proposed plan. Mr. Speaker, through this broad-based approach, we will ensure that this mine's legacy does not include long-term environmental degradation.
Since taking over the operation of the Con Mine in 1993, Miramar Mining Limited has contributed positively to the overall prosperity of the Northwest Territories. We anticipated that the company will continue to act as a good corporate citizen as the mine now prepares for closure.
Through this broad-based approach, Mr. Speaker, we intend to help the employees, the community and the territory during this period of transition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause