Thunder Bay·Audio

Red Lake, Ont., seeks to reload after layoffs at Rubicon Minerals

The mayor of Red Lake, Ont., says job cuts announced by Rubicon Minerals is a blow to the local economy. Phil Vinet adds those labourers were making a respectable wage that will be felt by the town of 5,000 people.

'We don't think of this as the end of the world,' northern Ontario mayor says

Phil Vinet, the mayor of Red Lake, Ont., says the loss of 330 jobs in his community will have an impact on the local economy. (Rita Celli/CBC)

The mayor of Red Lake, Ont., says job cuts put forward by Rubicon Minerals is a blow to the local economy. 

The layoffs announced Tuesday, which have been described as temporary, will leave 330 workers without a job.

Mayor Phil Vinet said those labourers were making a respectable wage that will be felt by the town of 5,000 people.

He also added anyone who's been watching the stock market over the past year can see the market is becoming less in love with gold. 

"When you boom, you boom. And when you bust, you just flat out bust," said Vinet. 

But the peaks and valleys of mining should not be new to any residents of his northern Ontario community.

"In Red Lake, we don't think of this as the end of the world, we just think it's an opportunity to reload."

The mayor said he's been in communication with officials at Rubicon, which will continue in the days ahead.