Jobs deal with uranium companies has worrisome strings attached, northerners say
CBC News
Posted: Nov 27, 2012 3:30 PM CST
Last Updated: Nov 27, 2012 4:00 PM CST
Some people in northern Saskatchewan are expressing concern about a potential agreement with two uranium mining companies that suggests a community should not speak out against the mining operations.
The northern village of Pinehouse is working with Cameco and Areva.
The goal is to secure jobs for locals and money for the community.
However, some people have raised questions about a clause found in draft copy that asks Pinehouse not make statements that oppose mining operations.
"It's all closed doors and politicians and political stuff between these guys," Fred Pederson, a resident of Pinehouse, told CBC News Tuesday. "The people don't hear nothing. They never have a voice for anything that ever goes on with these guys."
However, a vice-president for Cameco said people will be able to comment to news media about mining activities.
Gary Merasty said the company would prefer to learn about complaints, first hand.
"If an issue does come up, and with all due respect to the media, we don't want to have those battles in the media," Merasty said. "What can we do, with the help of leadership, to have a reasonable discussion, to discuss that issue?"
The agreement with the mining companies is still being worked on. Both sides want to sign the agreement by the end of December.
With files from CBC's David ShieldShare Tools
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