Industry analyst and community organizer Joan Kuyek aims to "put mining in its place."

At an Alternatives North talk at Northern United Place Jan. 14, Kuyek discussed her book Unearthing Justice, which she said covers the environmental and community-based impacts of the mining industry. Previously, she has worked as the national coordinator of Mining Watch Canada and taught university classes on the industry.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not anti-mining because I know we need metals. But we sure shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be doing it the way weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing it,SA国际影视传媒� Kuyek said.

For her, those concerns centre around limited job growth, environmental impacts and stability of resource extraction.

SA国际影视传媒淭hen these studies show the work theySA国际影视传媒檝e done up to date hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 created many local jobs, isnSA国际影视传媒檛 going to create many local jobs,SA国际影视传媒� she said, noting mining directly employs. Though, this doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily account for spin-off activity generated in other sectors such as transportation and construction.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll these hopes, all these dreams, all this silver bullet thinking and thereSA国际影视传媒檒l be nothing in the end,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

This outlook isnSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily widely shared in leadership. In November, Premier Caroline Cochrane said those looking to develop SA国际影视传媒渞esponsible and ethical mineral development in the NWT have an ally in my office."

At the time, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Katrina Nokleby said NWT needed a strong resource sector.

SA国际影视传媒淚n order to realize (the full potential of the NWT economy) we need a solid foundation of resource development with geoscience research at its core,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

These comments followed concern that slowing exploration, coupled with maturing mines, will lead to sluggish growth and an economic slump in NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淭o some extent, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a politics of despair. This is the only alternative weSA国际影视传媒檝e got. If we miss this boat, weSA国际影视传媒檙e screwed,SA国际影视传媒� Kuyek said.

According to her, large investments to support resource development, such as electricity generation and transportation infrastructure, will only support a mine for 15 to 20 years, which could lead to employment instability once those jobs dry up.

She said much of this public investment flowing into mining and related projects could be directed elsewhere to diversify the economy.

Kuyek, nonetheless, praised elements of the NWT regulatory regime, including Indigenous participation on regulatory boards, in addition to the existence of monitoring organizations for individual projects like Giant Mine. Similarly, she said a growing tourism industry is a plus.

To limit potential risks, she emphasized the importance of environmental and social impact and feasibility studies, in addition to paid-out financial assurances ahead of granting mining licenses.

SA国际影视传媒淟etSA国际影视传媒檚 take care of the mines we got. To the extent we can, get everything we can out of them, and invest it in something else thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to help,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou could be building your own housing. You could be growing your own food. You could doing innovative forms of transportation for the North. You could be doing all sorts of exciting things. You could get a polytechnic university.SA国际影视传媒�