Québec City, December 7, 2020 – According to the Québec Mining Association (QMA), northern development depends on a strong, competitive mining industry, and the Québec government must take this into account in the implementation of its new Northern Action Plan.
The QMA supports the government’s plan to inhabit the North more widely, in particular by creating robust transportation and communications infrastructures. These will be essential if the mining industry is to continue its contribution to the region’s socio-economic vitality through high-quality jobs, some of the best conditions of employment in Québec, and constructive partnerships with local communities.
Workforce needs in the mining sector make it necessary to use a FIFO (fly in / fly out) approach. However, mining companies have a long-established focus on local hiring, and if the Northern Action Plan makes it possible to attract and train more qualified workers in the North then it is clear that the mining industry will take them into account.
« Mines in northern Québec currently offer almost 7,500 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $104,000. With iron and gold prices remaining high, new mine expansion projects and a growing focus on critical and strategic minerals (CSMs), the area covered by the Northern Action Plan will continue to prosper thanks to the mining industry. »
« The QMA is pleased to see the actions taken to equip the North with reliable modern infrastructures. The objective of connecting the North will increase the pace of mine automation. This is good news, since it will also make mines more competitive. The same applies to transportation infrastructures, which are essential to mining operations. The government has set the right targets, and we will help it make the plan a success. »
– Josée Méthot, QMA president and CEO
About the Québec Mining Association
The Québec Mining Association (QMA) was founded in 1936 and speaks proactively for mining companies involved in exploration, extraction and processing, mining contractors and junior mining companies, along with suppliers, institutions, non-profit organizations and other mining sector partners. It is proud of the 48,006 jobs and total expenditure of $9.9 billion generated by Québec’s mining industry in 2018, based on the most recent data. The QMA’s mission is to promote, support and proactively develop a responsible, committed and innovative mining industry in Québec.