Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 15/00) - A worker laid off from the bankrupt Giant mine in October is in danger of losing his truck and trailer.

Dan Noel, who worked at the mine for 13 years, currently owes about $4,200 on a personal loan. Noel used the trailer, which was completely paid for, as collateral on a combined loan he took out on the truck and the land his trailer sits on.

Noel is owed about $80,000-$100,000 in severance and pension from the mine. The 250 workers laid off in October have yet to receive severance pay. As well, the hourly pension plan is underfunded and pension benefits are to be cut 25 per cent starting April 1.

"I would not be in this bind if I had my severance package," Noel said. Noel, who is originally from New Brunswick, said, "I can't even afford to move. If I lose my truck, how am I to move?"

When he received his foreclosure notice, Noel was behind about $3,100 in payments. His account was frozen so that he could only make deposits.

"All my wife's cheques are automatically placed in that account. We lost that," Noel said. "The letter I got here states they want $95,000 within 10 days or else."

Noel said after numerous phone calls he learned he only needs to pay his arrears to save his truck and trailer.

"If I could get that payment out of my way, I could live, put it that way," he said. "I told them I plan on paying it, that's not a problem, but all I need is a little more time."

Until last week, Noel had not worked since October. Late last week he began driving trucks.

Noel arranged the loan through a Royal Bank branch in Vancouver. He said that on Wednesday, when his truck was to be taken away, he contacted the Yellowknife branch of the Royal Bank for the first time.

Shortly thereafter, Noel received word that the local bank had arranged to put everything on hold until last Friday so his case could be reviewed. (Noel had not heard of any change regarding his case as of Tuesday evening.)

Both branches of the Royal Bank refused to comment on the case, citing confidentiality reasons.

Noel said he was initially reluctant to go to the media with his story.

"I'm not doing this for people to take pity on me or nothing. I just want people to realize what's going on."

Noel said he's received a lot of support from fellow miners, and that a lot of them are leaving town.

"They're forcing us out of the North. We're losing everything," Noel said.

"My kids were born up here. They don't want to leave," he said of his two children.

"That's what they're doing by not paying severance or pensions, they're tearing apart families."