Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 03/01) - It looks like 175 jobs being created by re-opening an abandoned tungsten mine will be going to the Yukon.

North American Tungsten Corporation, which hopes to open the mine this year on the NWT side of the Yukon border, recently signed an agreement with the Yukon government giving Yukon preference over jobs, training and contract opportunities.

Political leaders in Fort Simpson had been pushing for economic benefits from the mine to spill over to the Deh Cho region. But the site, in mountains near Nahanni Park, is reached by a road in the Yukon.

The preference comes at a cost to Yukon taxpayers. The government will spend $730,000 this year in addition to $450,000 every year the mine is open, to upgrade and maintain the first 46 kilometres of the 116-kilometre road.

In a press release, Yukon's Economic Development Minister, Scott Kent, said the agreement "encourages employment opportunities for Yukon residents and local businesses. At the same time, it meets North American Tungsten's request for necessary improvements and maintenance."

The government has also agreed to spend an additional $155,000 to strengthen a bridge for heavy equipment to cross.

The government release doesn't say when the agreement was signed, but notes that $217,000 worth of brush and weed contracts are already well underway.

"The agreement acknowledges North American Tungsten's interest in the NWT and allows the company to enter into additional agreements that would be of mutual benefit," the release says.

North American Tungsten will open a temporary information office and job centre at Yukon's Watson Lake, 300 kilometres west of Fort Liard.