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Gravelle named NDP's mining critic

Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle has been tasked with the responsibilities of the NDP's mining critic, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has announced.
Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle has been tasked with the responsibilities of the NDP's mining critic, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has announced.

“I am honoured with Tom’s appointment and know it fits perfectly with my own priorities, and, more importantly, those of our northern Ontario communities,” Gravelle said in a press release.

In the last Parliament, Gravelle worked on a national mining strategy that addressed jobs, foreign takeovers, miner safety and environmental concerns.

“Since that work, we now have many new MPs and that strategy needs to be updated, especially with the anticipated mining boom across the country and right here in northern Ontario.”

Statistics Canada has just reported capital spending in the mining sector is now nearly $16 billion, not far from the $20 billion Canada invests in all of its manufacturing industries. InfoMine’s website currently lists 1,096 companies with mining or quarrying properties located in Canada.

Natural Resources Canada reported in 2010 some 308,000 people work in the mining sector, contributing 2.8 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Mulcair has asked Gravelle to work closely with Natural Resources and Energy critic Peter Julian, according to the news release.

Gravelle is a member of Parliament’s Natural Resources committee. During the party leadership race, he was interim natural resources critic. Before his election in 2008, Gravelle worked 34 years for Inco Mines as a machinist.

Posted by Arron Pickard

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