Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Chair and honourable members of the committee, we at Goldcorp are pleased to have been given the opportunity to testify at the hearings of this committee on the very important subject of opportunities for aboriginal Canadians in the workforce.
Mr. Chair, as you and other honourable members will know, Goldcorp, a Vancouver-based and proudly Canadian company, is one of the largest gold mining companies in the world, with operations and development projects here in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and other Central and South American countries. As our name suggests, our operations are almost exclusively in the mining of gold rather than other precious metals.
At the core of our business strategy are responsible mining practices that are reflected in all our activities. We have a robust corporate social responsibility regime and human rights policies and we adhere to the vision of “Together, creating sustainable value” everywhere we mine.
Insofar as our domestic operations are concerned, we currently have four Canadian mines, three in Ontario and one in Quebec. Two of our Ontario mines are located in the communities of Red Lake and Timmins; our Musselwhite mine is a fly-in remote mine located approximately 480 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. We are also developing our Éléonore mine in the James Bay area of northern Quebec, scheduled to enter commercial production later this year.
Goldcorp has some 16,000 employees and long-term contractors across its worldwide operations. In addition, we also have many short-term construction-related contractors providing various supporting functions to us.
Approximately 40% of our annual production in 2013 was from our operations here in Canada, and roughly the same proportion applies to our employees.
No matter the geographic location, all of our Canadian mines are currently engaged directly with local aboriginal communities on industry-related employment and business opportunities. Mr. Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some insights into our ongoing partnership with the Cree at our Éléonore mine in Quebec.
Since 2011 we have had in place a collaboration agreement with the Cree Nation of Wemindji, the Grand Council of the Crees, and the Cree Regional Authority. Under the provisions of this agreement, a large number of Cree-owned and -operated businesses are providing us with a wide range of construction-related and site support services, including large civil works, road construction, and camp services. Furthermore, currently we have 475 Cree from the territory working at the site, 226 of whom are employed in the operations and 269 in construction.
I certainly do not want to speak on behalf of the Cree nation. However, I would submit that, thanks in some measure to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975 and to subsequent investments in the area, the Cree now enjoy a large pool of business and a critical mass of skilled labour in many areas compatible with the needs of our operations.
This is the kind of model we would like to replicate at some of our Ontario mines. However, even though a large number of aboriginal people living in the local neighbouring communities are eager to find good employment and to provide a better future for themselves and their families, neither sustainable strategic training opportunities nor infrastructure is sufficiently available.
As one example within the area of infrastructure, we at Goldcorp have entered into an agreement with 18 first nations communities in northwestern Ontario to develop a company called Wataynikaneyap Power, which when developed will bring additional and reliable grid power initially to Pickle Lake and then further north for the connection of remote first nations communities and possible future industrial developments.
Currently we are a partner in the project, with provisions whereby Goldcorp will surrender its interests and become a client of this new power company, which would then be led by the first nations.
Remote communities not presently connected to the electrical grid would enjoy plentiful and reliable electricity in the manner that most of us take for granted. Currently, some of these communities are connected to unreliable power lines, while others are reliant on expensive and equally unreliable local diesel-generated power for their needs. This is hardly the kind of standard we would expect in an energy-producing country such as Canada.
In the area of training opportunities, we recognize our role in the skills development of our existing employees. We strongly believe in the continued technical and professional growth of our people in order for them not only to become integral to Goldcorp's success but also to become major contributors to the development and ongoing success of their respective communities. However, in certain development forums—as one example, within the area of entry-level skills—we must recognize our shortcomings, in that we are foremost miners and not educators.
Mr. Chair, given the challenges ahead for our industry and the enormous opportunity that Canada's aboriginal communities present, we are here today to provide the following for consideration: that together with the provincial authorities, the government should consider a long-term strategy designed to increase job readiness training, technical and business skills, and other such opportunities, enabling a greater number of aboriginal people to participate in the economic opportunities across the entire mineral development spectrum; second, that the ongoing support of government infrastructure be provided to ensure that training needs are met and to ensure that training continues long after our needs for labour have been satisfied.
Here at Goldcorp, we would welcome opportunities to work more closely with governments on both initiatives.
Mr. Chairman, Goldcorp is proud of its relationship with aboriginal people both in Canada and abroad, and we're continuing to strive to do even better. As a member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, near Maniwaki, Quebec, I for one am proud of our company's efforts to date, but I also see the significant opportunities that lie ahead for industry to engage aboriginal people. We are pleased with the initiative of this committee, and we are looking forward to your report and recommendations you will make to the government.
In conclusion, Mr. Chair, I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to testify. I am looking forward to your questions and those of the honourable members.