Sask. Premier Brad Wall responds to Cameco uranium mine layoffs
CBC News | Posted: April 22, 2016 6:44 PM | Last Updated: April 22, 2016
Premier hopeful Rabbit Lake uranium mine will re-open once global market improves
Premier Brad Wall is calling the loss of 500 jobs at the Rabbit Lake uranium mine a "terrible day for northern Saskatchewan."
On Thursday, Cameco released a statement outlining its plans to suspend operations at its Rabbit Lake mine, located approximately 850 kilometres north of Saskatoon, as well as scaling back production at Cameco Resources' U.S. operations.
According to Wall, the rapid response unit part of the Ministry of the Economy are now helping those laid-off workers.
"What they're asked to do on behalf of government is to work with those who have been laid off to identify perhaps other job opportunities that might exist to fit their skills," said Wall to reporters Friday morning in Regina.
"[The unit helps] identify retraining opportunities for those who want to pursue a different career, and sometime just to help renew job hunting skills."
Wall added that he is hopeful the Rabbit Lake mine will re-open once the global market for uranium improves.
But that time, he said, is not expected any time soon.
"Our efforts to continue to diversify, our efforts to attract new investment and [to] see new jobs created in the months ahead, has always been the prime objective – the priority for the government – even more so now, obviously."
The matter of when the 500 workers will lose their jobs depends on their position.
Employment depends on skill set
Robert Gereghty, Cameco's manager of media relations, said the company's focus now is preparing the mine and mill for a care and maintenance state by the end of August.
He said employment would depend on a worker's skill set.
"Some people may drop off and then there will be about 150 that will remain once it gets to that point," Gereghty added.
Those remaining workers will ensure the overall upkeep of the mine and mill.