NWT Mining Industry Challenges Yellowknife City Election Candidates

NEWS RELEASE NWT Mining Industry Challenges Yellowknife Election Candidates
Yellowknife, NT (September 25, 2012) – The NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines is issuing a challenge to candidates running for election in the October 15 Yellowknife election.
The challenge? Tell voters what you will do to grow and strengthen Yellowknife's economy by working with the minerals industry. Tell voters what your plans are:
•    To keep Yellowknife the Diamond Capital of North America;
•    To keep Yellowknife the exploration and mining capital of the North;
•    To sustain and even grow Yellowknife businesses that service the mining industry; and
•    To work with the minerals industry to bring new wealth to the City.
Initiatives to create wealth are important activities for Yellowknife candidates to think about. Leadership at City Hall can bring wealth not only to Yellowknife, but also to the NWT economy. New wealth that Yellowknife attracts could be reinvested to make Yellowknife a more attractive and economically strong community. New wealth can help keep our taxes attractive.
These are good times to think about our future. There are many projects and opportunities around which Yellowknife politicians and leaders can build a plan:
•    There are currently 6 NWT mining projects that are in, or have cleared, the environmental approvals processes. If they all become operating mines, they would spend about $2 billion in construction, over $500 million in annual spending to operate the mines, and provide over 1,000 new jobs. What can Yellowknife do to actively support and pursue these opportunities?
•    Just north of Yellowknife in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut are 5 projects that represent over $3 billion in construction investment, over $500 million in annual operations spending, and would provide 2,000 new jobs. Since Yellowknife's economy is intertwined with the Kitikmeot's, can Yellowknife partner with the Kitikmeot communities in supporting project success for mutual benefits?
•    In the face of these opportunities, we also know our world class diamond mines won't last forever. Should the City take actions to help sustain those operations?
•    The NWT Government has committed to creating a NWT Mineral Development Strategy to help build a vision for the future. Should Yellowknife have its own plan, or will the benefits just naturally flow to Yellowknife? Could Yellowknife leaders proactively support projects for mutual success?
We are asking all candidates to tell voters they think the health of our mining industry is important to the City. Tell voters your ideas on how you will work with the minerals industry to attract new wealth to the City. Your vision will be important to Yellowknife's economy and business success.
For more information on the NWT and Nunavut mining industries, please visit the website at http://www.miningnorth.com or contact Tom Hoefer, Executive Director at Tel: 867‐873‐5281 or email: executivedirector@miningnorth.com.
Box 2818, Yellowknife, NT Canada X1A 2R1    Phone: (867) 873‐5281    Fax: (780) 669‐5681 Email: info@miningnorth.com    Website: www.miningnorth.com