Sask. mining industry works to meet increasing demand
Saskatchewan mining week has kicked off in the province on Monday, and industry leaders are eager to see the industry expand.
'We punch well above our weight. We help provide the world with the food it needs through our potash production and also clean energy through uranium. So while we are a small province, we actually have a pretty significant global impact,' said Pam Schwann, president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA).
The week will feature events throughout the province that highlight the mining sector.
This year's theme is talent, technology and trade: opportunities in Saskatchewan's mining industry.
It's an important message as officials expressed that there is a steadily increasing demand for employees in all areas of the mining industry.
'It's a challenge, but I think we're working closely with Sask. Poly and other industry partners, and that really gives us the opportunity to turn a challenge into an opportunity, and have more people in Saskatchewan involved in the mining industry,' said Liam Mooney, the vice president of safety, health, environment, quality and regulatory relations for Cameco Corporation.
According to the SMA, the Saskatchewan mining industry will need 15,000 additional employees within the next ten years to meet the increasing demand.
'I really hope that we inspire young students to maybe enter into occupations in the mining sector because we are going to need so many,' Schwann said.
While the number of necessary new recruits is daunting, Mooney expressed confidence in the future of the industry.
'Our experience has been that the mining industry has resilience and is able to rise to challenges. So that should be something that we're concerned and we're focused on, but it's something that we feel like with the right tools and the right focus, we can overcome this,' Mooney said.
Pilots are one of the many positions needed within the mining sector. Since many mining operations are a significant distance from urban centres, air travel is crucial to operations.
'The numbers of flights that go in and out every day are incredible. And there's also been changes to the pilot duty time regulations, which actually shortens the amount of time that pilots can work,' Schwann said.
The SMA president says the industry is competing with the rest of the world for pilots amid a global shortage.
The SMA has partnered with Rise Air, a local Indigenous-owned airline which trains aspiring Saskatchewan pilots through their Dziret'ai pilot training program.
'This is such an innovative program because it's allowing residents in northern Saskatchewan to become pilots, to chase some dreams and pilots in northern Saskatchewan are more likely to stay in Saskatchewan and keep serving the industry,' Schwann said
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