Yellowknife (Oct 08/03) - Con Mine workers should be involved in mine reclamation efforts, argues labour leader Steve Peterson, a regional vice -president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour.

Peterson said the miners should be trained for reclamation at the Giant Mine roaster complex, the Gerry Murphy Arena, at Colomac and Anderson Thompson mine.

"We have these folks in town and they have inherent knowledge of working with toxic substances. After training, I believe they are the logical choice for the demolition of some of these buildings," said Peterson.

"With the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline coming on line along with Snap Lake, we need to retain these residents here," he said.

Miramar senior vice-president Brain Labadie said reclamation work isn't typically done by miners, but by engineering firms.

"It's really up to them," he said.

Emery Paquin, director of environmental protection with the territorial government said that when Giant closed "it was the government's intention to ensure as many of the laid off employees had jobs to go to."

"I can't see any difference in government's position this time," he said.

Paquin said his department reviews the abandonment and reclamation plans and advises the Mackenzie Land and Water Board on reclamation measures, but does not have any say on who does the work.

Having Con workers on reclamation efforts at Giant is not on, said Bill Mitchell, manager of the Giant Mine reclamation project.

It's not that Mitchell doesn't want them, it's just that the timeline is not going to work.

Reclamation at Giant is running parallel with Snap Lake, both of which are expected to come on line some time in 2006.

Reclamation efforts at Giant are being governed by a series of regulatory bodies.

"It's extremely complicated," said Mitchell. "There's a lot in terms of hoops we need to go through."