On behalf of the residents of the District of Fort St. James, I wanted to offer our sincerest congratulations to Thompson Creek Metals on the commissioning of the Mount Milligan (Shas Nadloh) Mine. Our entire municipal council and staff, Tom Greenaway, Area C director for the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and District of Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen offer further congratulations to Thompson Creek and the men and women who helped build this critical economic driver in our region.
The mine, located in the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako mid-way between the communities of Fort St. James and Mackenzie, has created 400 permanent full-time jobs that will continue to benefit our communities and the region as a whole for years to come. The mine employs some 80 people from our community alone. Those jobs are high-paying careers that support families and breathe new life and vitality into our local economies.
During the construction phase of the mine, Mount Milligan also provided many opportunities for local contractors that helped support business diversification and growth in our local economy. Thompson Creek has also invested in our community with the construction of three fourplexes, the purchase of 13.5 hectares of municipal land for secured parking lot and subdivision, the purchase of two residential homes, and utilization of the local CNC campus for much of the mine's training needs. The company has also leased local office space.
Although we were disappointed that the company constructed an apartment-style camp at the mine site during construction instead of housing workers in our community, we as a council will continue to support and liaise with Thompson Creek with the hope that we can form partnerships that will see further investment in our community and region.
The commissioning of the Mount Milligan copper-gold mine is a momentous occasion for our historic community, which has stood proudly on the shores of Stuart Lake for more than two hundred years. This project, along with many other exciting local economic development initiatives, will ensure that our community will continue to thrive for years to come.
Rob MacDougall
Fort St. James Mayor
