McArthur River uranium mine. Image courtesy of Cameco.
Thursday’s Question Period saw government and Opposition MLAs debating the impending Cameco layoffs and how the provincial government could lighten the blow for residents of the province’s north.
Discussions started when Interim Opposition Interim Leader Nicole Sarauer questioned the premier on how he plans to handle the impending loss of jobs when Cameco suspends operations at two of its sites in northern Saskatchewan in January.
“Eight-hundred and forty-five more people in northern Saskatchewan learned that they lost their job last night,” said Sarauer. “What is the government doing to help get these people back to work?”
Premier Brad Wall responded by revealing that he has been in contact with officials at Cameco, and is hopeful that the jobs will return.
“I have been in contact with the CEO of the company,” said Premier Wall. “This is very serious. It is a temporary layoff, so we’re hopeful that after the 10-month period, as Cameco has said, folks will get back to work.”
The premier also went over his party’s “unequivocal” support for the uranium companies, stating that his government will continue to support the industry.
“Our government has worked very hard for ten years to open new markets for our uranium in China and India,” said Wall. “We have made uranium a priority on our trade missions. We will continue to do that. The long-term solution here is a demand for uranium around the world.”
The exchange also saw Athabasca NDP MLA Buckley Belanger state that the layoffs would add to the already high unemployment numbers in the north.
“When we hear that 845 more people are looking for work in northern Saskatchewan are looking for work, we know that this is on top of the 2,200 people in Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan that are looking for work,” said Belanger. “The tax implications to the province of Saskatchewan are devastating.”
Ultimately, the motion to take immediate action to support the affected workers received support from every present member of the assembly.
Wall later told reporters that the province would be providing counseling to any worker who needs it, as well as response teams to help any workers who wish to transition to other work.