When I moved to Estevan nearly 25 years ago, it didn't take me long to recognize the value of the mining industry to this province and its economy.
The Estevan area has an abundance of coal, which is used to provide electricity to the province, among other things.
Not only did I see the coal-mining equipment at work at locations around the city, and not only did I meet some really good people from the mines early on in my time in Estevan, but I came to realize the wide-reaching impact of the mines.
I saw it during the United Way Estevan's telethon, when the members of the United Mine Workers of America Local 7606 and Luscar Ltd. came in with a big donation. I saw it in the sponsorship of baseball diamonds, sports teams and a host of other things.
Yes, we truly are fortunate to be a coal city, and coal will hopefully continue to have a big role to play in the future of Estevan and Saskatchewan. It might not be a popular thing to say outside of the Estevan and Coronach areas, but I'm a big supporter of keeping coal in the electrical and economic mix of Saskatchewan, although it has to be done in an environmentally-responsible fashion.
(Thanks to the carbon capture and storage facility at the Boundary Dam Power Station, SaskPower is showing that coal can supply clean, baseload power).
The name and the ownership of the local mines has changed multiple times
It also didn't take long for me to realize the benefits of mining for Saskatchewan as a whole, thanks to the presence of potash, uranium and other minerals. We're hearing lots of talk about the presence of bevy of critical minerals, such as lithium, in Saskatchewan, and how they can be economic catalysts for the province.
Mining is not only a source of direct employment for communities, its presence creates indirect jobs for so many more people. A lot of Saskatchewan communities would not exist without mining.
The companies sponsor sports teams, community events, venues and cultural programs. Their employees are active in our communities, volunteering with organizations and sitting on boards. The companies' names are attached to services.
Saskatchewan has commodities that the world needs to market thanks to mining. We should be proud of our status as a world leader in potash and uranium.
The royalties that the companies pay is used by the provincial government to fund health care, education, social services, highways, infrastructure, grant programs and so much more. Mining has good-paying jobs and so employees are able to spend their income to buy nice vehicles and homes, or to purchase luxury items they otherwise couldn't afford.
(And everyone who has seen big equipment, such as a dragline, has undoubtedly thought at some point "Geez, it would be really cool to operate it, or at least spend some time in there". But those are vital pieces of equipment for a business, not tourist attractions).
This week is Saskatchewan Mining Week. It's an opportunity to say thanks to the miners and the companies we have in Saskatchewan for all that we have from the industry.
But we can't limit the gratitude to a week every spring, or to when a bulletin comes out that reminds us of mining's contributions to Saskatchewan. We need to carry that gratitude throughout the year.
After all, our province's economy would take a direct hit without mining.
