Uranium's long-term benefits

Aurora Energy Resources Inc. continues its effort to demonstrate the benefits that a proposed uranium mine would hold for Nunatsiavut and the province.

The exploration company recently wrapped up a round of community consultations where they presented the results of an independent economic assessment of the Michelin uranium project.

The company wants to develop a proven uranium deposit at Michelin, which is located in northern Labrador, just south of Postville.

The assessment outlined the economic benefits that would be gained should a uranium mine on the north coast of Labrador be given the green light.

"The economic impact assessment clearly shows that this is a project that would create substantial, long-term benefits to both the region and Canada as a whole," Bruce Dumville, Aurora president and CEO, said in a prepared release.

The benefits outlined in the study include employment for people in the region, and the taxes and revenue that would be gained by the various levels of government.

Andrea Marshall, manager of public affairs and government relations for Aurora Energy Resources, said the assessment details show the Nunatsiavut Government would stand to gain $10 million a year for the life of the project, for a total revenue of $220 million.

Marshall said that there was a great turnout in the communities that the company had visited, and there were many questions raised by the residents.

One person at the forefront of the Makkovik community consultation, one of the most outspoken communities on the topic of uranium mining, was Jae Lightfoot.

Lightfoot has been invited to join the Makkovik Uranium Committee when it is reactivated in the near future. She believes the economic benefits of a uranium mine are outweighed by the possible negative impact on the region's environment.

"What (community members) see and what these companies are telling them is that this will create jobs," Lightfoot said, "That's how (the companies) rope people into this idea that this is a good thing."

The jobs that will be created include about 700 people for the three-year construction phase of the project and 400 people for the 18-year operation phase, said Marshall.

Lightfoot believes that the process that is used does not guarantee the safety of the land, a belief that she said is cemented by moratoriums on uranium mining passed in British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

"Those provinces establishing those moratoriums sends the message that there are way more negative repercussions than any benefits."

Lightfoot said that the topic of uranium mining is one that has the community divided.

"I've been told that Makkovik is split right down the middle," said Lightfoot, an observation she said was very apparent during the community consultation.

Lightfoot said the companies use promises of good jobs and other methods, such as funded community events, to gain support for the projects.

"It's upsetting and it's disturbing to me knowing that this is a tactic that is used commonly with other big corporations who clearly have a capitalistic interest rather than an environmental one," she said.

Lightfoot said there are members of the community who attempt to spread the arguments opposing uranium mining, but they just do not have the same momentum and resources as these large companies.

"Because it is an individual effort, it is outweighed by big companies who are paid to do the things that other individuals are volunteering to do," said Lightfoot.

Marshall said the practices the companies will use to extract the mineral are environmentally conscious. This has been stressed by Aurora Energy resources through community presentations and consultations.

"We have used this time wisely; we've tried to get the information about the project out to the community members and helped them understand (the mining process) and feel more comfortable about the concept of a mine being open," said Marshall.

The final decision as to whether uranium mining will be permitted within the Labrador Inuit Lands will be made when the ban on uranium mining is lifted in April 2011.