LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (May 25, 1992)

It is with regret that I learn that the Ontario government under Bob Rae’s leadership will not support the mining industry, and in fact will ignore the industry completely as you editorialized in “Rae’s support evaporates” (T.N.M., April 13/92).

You also write: “What’s more, his government’s firmest commitments, such as its promise to proceed with the Ontario Labour Relations Act, are the very efforts that will further undermine mining’s competitive position.” Is there a conflict of interest with our leaders in government? Bob Mackenzie, minister of labour, was employed by the United Steelworkers of America as organizer for 12 years before being elected to the Legislature. It would appear the Rae government is bent on changing the labor laws. Why? We know that Rae does not support the industry as demonstrated by the absence of any reference to the mining industry in the most recent speech from the throne.

As a father of three, I am disenchanted about the legacy we will be leaving our children. Where will our children obtain gainful employment in this province?

One of my children who is studying to become a mining engineer stated that he would be taking a course in Russian because he believes that the mining industry in this province and country is “going down the tube.” I reminded and encouraged him to also take a course in Spanish. Lyall Chapman

Timmins, Ont.