Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 28/99) - Canadian Auto Workers local president, Mark Danis, said 180 union workers have backed the idea of buying Giant.

He also said that if they are going to put together a feasible proposal, DIAND must take responsibility for cleaning up Giant mine.

"The federal government is playing with our lives. Everyone knows the feds have to clean (Giant) up because nobody else has the money to do it," Danis said.

"Why doesn't (Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development minister) Jane Stewart just come out and say they will take care of the clean up? In the end, they know they'll have to do it."

Danis said they are looking at other models where workers have bought the mine where they were employed. But he admits preparing the proposal is a daunting task.

"Basically, we're forging our own route and feeling are way along it in the dark," Danis said.

He said ultimately, the proposal's success depends on answering the question of who will take responsibility for the 260,000 tonnes of arsenic dust stored under the mine. The environmental liability that represents is more than $250 million.

"We're still in the early stages. We're in the process of gathering information to present to the employees," Danis said.

"But we're very serious. If a mining company came along that wanted to operate the mine, then that would be the best scenario. Barring that, I think we're the only game in town."

When Stewart was asked what would happen if nobody buys the bankrupt mine, (currently being run by an interim receiver), she responded by saying "I won't make that assumption."

She sees the CAW employee interest as a sign that there may still be a long-term option that will allow the mine to keep operating.

"(The CAW purchase proposal) is another option that has presented itself to the interim receiver. You can see why I'm not at this point interested at all in assuming there's not going to be the potential for

some kind of long term solution," Stewart said.

When asked if she was willing to commit money for environmental clean up in support of the idea, she said, "I can't respond to hypothetical questions."

"What we will respond to is practical representations that come through the interim receiver to us. I think that's the best approach to take to look at what the opportunities are as they present themselves and then see where we can play a role," Stewart said.