Manpower mining shortage looming.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: MINING

The mining industry can expect massive labour shortages and ongoing project delays if steps are not taken to curb the shortfall of nearly 100,000 professionals in Canada within the next decade, according to a senior manager with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM).

"It's a serious problem, and it's going to be difficult to address," John Mason, senior manager, Ontario Geological Survey (OGS), says.

"Many companies are starting to feel the crunch already. Even we're starting to feel it here at the OGS as we have a tough time staffing key positions as people are lured away to industry by the promise of more money, which is pretty symptomatic of the kind of company-hopping you're seeing across the entire sector."

According to the Mining Labour Market Transition Project: Summary Report, a study published this summer by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council, the tremendous growth of the mining industry and an impending wave of retirees will require a massive infusion of new blood.

In fact, the Canadian mining industry will require an additional 790 trades workers and equipment operators and 230 new workers in natural and applied sciences every year for 10 years, even without factoring in the need to replace workers lost to retirement or turnover.

While the specific needs of Ontario in this quandry cannot be specifically identified, they are likely to be a significant portion of the presumed 100,000 total, says Marc Leroux, manager of marketing and information services with the OGS. Pointing to projects such as the 2008 opening of the De Beers Victor project, which will require the hire of nearly 300 employees, he says the province is rife with mining projects that will only continue to siphon manpower.

"It's unprecedented, even at the early stage of exploration. I know a lot of companies that have access to diamond drills, and have no problems getting access to equipment, but can't get diamond drillers. So even at the pre-mining, early stage of development, we're seeing the crunch."

As the president and CEO of Ursa Major Minerals Incorporated and the chairman of Patricia Mining Corp., Richard Sutcliffe is all too aware of the labour challenges facing mining juniors in Ontario.

With both companies involved in imminent production or potential production decisions, Sutcliffe says the shortage of mining talent has had a definite impact on business. "Where we're particularly feeling the pinch is with skilled technical workers...