NLIS 5
July 12, 2002
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)
 

McLean urges Donner Minerals to follow adjacency principle

Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ernie McLean has written Donner Minerals Ltd., urging the company to ensure qualified Labrador residents and businesses have access to employment and contracting opportunities associated with the South Voisey�s Bay exploration project in northern Labrador.

I am pleased that Donner Minerals Ltd. has opened its South Voisey�s Bay Project camp and mobilized line cutters, geophysics crews and drillers," the minister wrote in a letter to company president Harvey Keats. "Labradorians are excited and optimistic about employment opportunities in mining related industries. The Voisey�s Bay Nickel Company (VBNC) has wisely committed to applying its �adjacency principle� which gives employment priority to residents located in the communities adjacent to its mine/mill and smelter refinery operations.

"It�s my hope and expectation that your company understands and appreciates the importance of the adjacency principle for qualified residents and businesses in this region; likewise, the potential benefits for Donner/Falconbridge."

The minister recently met with residents of Labrador who expressed great concern and disappointment that many jobs and contracts associated with mobilizing the South Voisey�s Bay Project were not advertised locally.

"Clearly, it is my expectation that companies working in Labrador will recognize the importance of this issue and take steps to ensure that opportunities are well advertised and that qualified residents and firms have access to employment and contracting opportunities in keeping with the essential tenets of the adjacency principle."

The letter was also sent to Paul Severin, vice-president of exploration with Falconbridge Ltd. Donner has entered into an option earn-in agreement with Falconbridge Limited, whereby Falconbridge can earn a 50 per cent interest in the entire South Voisey�s Bay Project by spending $23 million on exploration.

Media contact: Bert Pomeroy, Communications, (709) 896-8668

2002 07 12                            2:55 p.m.


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