Northern Economic Summit Hears From Former MP

Northern Economic Summit Hears From Former MP

Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 14:52

 

 

A prominent northerner says the clock is ticking on industry to find enough skilled labour for northern Saskatchewan.

 

Cameco spokesman Gary Merasty spoke yesterday at the second day of proceedings at “The North: Unleashed” economic conference taking place in Prince Albert.

 

Merasty says the Canadian mining sector faces a potential gap of 40,000 to 71,000 skilled tradespeople over the next decade.

 

He also says a recent study has found that 585 jobs must be created per year to make sure that half of Prince Albert Grand Council young people have a job.

 

Merasty adds the numbers are even larger when one considers the number of Metis youth who could be working.

 

He says some possible solutions to the training crunch include linking careers to school programs, increased opportunities in learning over the Internet, and communication between communities.

 

The merits of nuclear waste storage were also touted at the conference yesterday.

 

Geoff Gay of the Athabasca Economic Development and Training Corporation says storing waste could add up to $24 billion for the North.

 

Gay notes the idea was first pitched a few years ago though when the economy was struggling.

 

However, he’s not sure how it will fly now that Saskatchewan is a “have” province.

 

Gay adds the Nuclear Waste Commission has travelled to the province to talk about the issue, so that indicates that group is interested in possibly seeing a facility established in Saskatchewan.