Latest news with #PamSchwann
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
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
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
What doubled U.S. steel tariffs could mean for Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan businesses share concerns about the future of the steel industry as the U.S. plans to raise tariffs to steel imports to 50 per cent. Saskatchewan is preparing for more trade uncertainty as the U.S. announces plans to raise tariffs on steel imports to 50 per cent. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would double the current rate for steel and aluminum imports – potentially increasing the costs for cars, tools, and machines. As a result, the Saskatchewan Mining Association said the future of the steel industry continues to be unclear. 'There's a certain level of uncertainty and unpredictability that has to be costed into projects,' said the association's president, Pam Schwann. With the current tariff rate sitting at 25 per cent, Schwann said companies have already felt the implications and continue to build 'potential increases in tariffs into their cost projections.' 'Everyone around the globe is facing a lot of uncertainty right now with the United States' trade practices,' she explained. 'We are looking at alternate sources as well that maybe aren't coming from the States to help improve our optionality.' Keith Willoughby, professor of management science and dean of the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, said the tariffs may very well lead to economic instability - if they're imposed for a long period of time. 'From a Saskatchewan side thus far, we've been fortunate because 45 per cent of our trade goes to countries not in the United States. We have been good in the past at diversifying our markets and exploring other situations,' he explained. 'The challenge though with steel and aluminum is it's a special case because as far as I understand it most of our trade, over 90 per cent, is going south of the border.' Willoughby said higher tariffs may also affect production costs on both sides of the border. 'Even though steel and aluminum is a fraction of our export equation, it still is a $400 million piece and because of a lot of it is going south of the border,' he said. 'I think that's where we could see some increased turbulence.' He added that a similar situation happened during Trump's first term, where steel and aluminum tariffs were 'reduced largely' after American auto manufactures raised concerns about paying higher prices for Canadian materials. With Trump's plan to impose the 50 per cent tariff rate on steel imports as soon as June 4, Willoughby recommends businesses on both of the border communicate with one another. 'It would be important for the American companies to be aware that if they don't have access to the lower price and better grade Canadian steel and aluminum, they would suffer in terms of their ability for production and fabrication of products,' he said. 'That's why it would be important for our economy, our government, and individuals to continue the conversation.'
