LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — Government shouldn’t hinder mining

A recent issue of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix newspaper carried two articles, one titled “Recognition of city as mining centre overdue” and the other “Panel report death knell for uranium industry?”.

The first item bragged that there are more mines and head offices in and around Saskatoon, Sask., than in other mining regions. The second dealt with the recently issued “Report of the Joint Federal-Provincial Panel on Uranium Mining Developments in Northern Saskatchewan.”

Foremost among its numerous findings and recommendations are the conclusions that one of the three proposed mines examined by the panel be developed, one be delayed for five years, and the other not be allowed to proceed (T.N.M., Nov. 8/93). These recommendations must still be acted upon by the various governments, but Saskatchewan has already stated it would abide by the panel’s findings.

If the negative recommendations of the panel report on the proposed development of these mines in Saskatchewan are accepted and implemented by government, it is a virtual certainty that all mining of metals within the province will eventually cease.

In the short term, the recommendations appear to affect adversely only two potential uranium mines. The longer-term implications, however, will also put an immediate stop to exploration for future mines as well because, if a company cannot reasonably expect to mine, why would it continue to explore? This affects not only uranium but all minerals. Typically, the uranium mining and exploration companies operating in Saskatchewan also look for other minerals and commodities, including gold, base metals and diamonds. Uranium is the one metallic mineral which Saskatchewan has the world’s best potential for producing competitively, and it is the engine which drives all other metals exploration in the province. If regulations prohibit the development of uranium mines, then exploration for, and mining of, all other minerals in this province by these same companies would stop just as quickly as it could for uranium.

It is a given that environmental concerns must and can be met by the mining industry. The uranium mines which operate in Saskatchewan are proof of this. I do not advocate for one moment that there be no regulation of mining, but if society — that is us, the citizens of Saskatchewan and Canada — expects to continue to prosper, we must tell the government that, in order for the mining industry to be able to compete and survive, the rules must, from the outset, allow the companies to expect to produce.

If there are problems with how an industry operates or how society benefits from resource production, it is government’s role to fix the problem, not kill the industry.

Rodney Orr

Saskatoon, Sask.