Canvassing Northern business
Goal is to find job or training opportunities for Giant miners

Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 27/99) - The Northern Manufacturers' Association will canvass its members to help Yellowknife Giant Mine workers find new employment or new training, the association's executive director said Thursday.

"We will determine what capacity might be there to absorb people from the mine, either for employment or training," Bob Doherty said.

The manufacturing association currently has 39 NWT-based members. The goal is to attract members from across the North.

"Initially we're focusing on existing capacity," Doherty, a former deputy transportation minister, said.

"We'll be asking members if money was available for training, what training and employment could be offered within existing infrastructure," he said.

There may be federal training dollars already out their that Giant mine workers can use, he said.

Under the Miramar Mining Corp. plan to buy Giant, only as many as 50 of the mine's 280 workers could be hired back. Miramar's plan is to shut down the Giant Mine mill and process Giant ore at Con mine.

Identifying any existing jobs or training that might be available now could be a benefit to the North's manufacturing sector in future he said. If more goods are manufactured and marketed in the North, it will boost the economy, he said.

David Connelly, who runs consulting firm Ile Royale, said the association's move may also serve as bridge for Giant mine workers. Ultimately, some of these workers may get jobs at the proposed Diavik diamond mine, he said.

Connelly was hired by CAW Local 2304 to find ways to mitigate job losses at Giant.

The manufacturing association is hoping to get the groups -- CAW, federal and territorial government and Ile Royale -- to meet this week.