Mining deal could bring up to 600 jobs

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Northern Saskatchewan residents could soon be benefiting from a deal between federal, provincial and Aboriginal agencies.

The Multi-Party Training Plan Agreement was officially signed Oct. 5, 1994 in Prince Albert, Sask. Under the agreement, which is in effect until 1998, $10.5 million will be spent to train northerners for new mining jobs.

Between 500 and 600 jobs will be created in northern Saskatchewan mines in the five-year period.

Training costs under the agreement will be shared by federal, provincial and Aboriginal agencies and northern mining industry.

In the current college year, students will have the opportunity to train for jobs as carpenters and heavy duty mechanics' apprentices, truck drives, underground miners, surveyors, equipment operators, camp cooks and supervisory personnel. Next year a course will be available to train northerners as chemical laboratory technicians.

Currently there are approximately 1,320 mine and contract workers working at mine sites in northern Saskatchewan, 40 per cent of them are Aboriginal people.

Figures from Saskatchewan Training and Employment show there could be up to 2,170 people working at nine mine sites in northern Saskatchewan by 2003.