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Voisey’s Bay
June 11, 2002
Our government is very pleased that Inco Limited and the province of
Newfoundland and Labrador have been successful in negotiating an agreement
for a mining lease at Voisey’s Bay. We also welcome the tentative
agreements on impacts and benefits with the Labrador Inuit Association and
the Innu Nation.
We believe that the Voisey’s Bay project will bring jobs and greater
prosperity to Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as to Northern Ontario
and Manitoba. There will also be significant employment and business
opportunities for Aboriginal people.
As with all business ventures, the federal government is poised to help in
any way that it can through existing programs.
The Voisey’s Bay project offers significant economic and skills
development opportunities, especially for Aboriginal people. It also
promises leading-edge technology that will support sustainable
development and eco-efficiency.
Through various programs involving Industry Canada, Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada, Human Resources Development Canada and the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency, the federal government could contribute up to $150
million to the Voisey’s Bay project.
The programs to which the project would be eligible could involve the
following objectives:
- support the efforts of Aboriginal people to take advantage of the
economic opportunities that this project offers, helping them come to
the table as equal partners;
- help equip Aboriginal people with the skills they need to
fully participate in this project, which is an important part of the
Government’s skills and learning agenda;
- support the research and development that help increase the
technological and innovative capabilities of Canadian industries,
including innovative hydrometallurgical processing technology; and
- increase the technology base of the region, attracting other
opportunities that will ensure a prosperous future for Atlantic Canada.
Construction of the Voisey’s Bay project is planned to begin in the
summer of 2002.
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