Mr. Speaker, Vale's announcement last week that it was reviewing the operation of the Birchtree Mine and delaying a decision on the 1-D project in Thompson, Manitoba, my hometown, means more instability and uncertainty.
Only two years ago, when Vale announced that it was closing the smelter and refinery in Thompson, it indicated that it would be investing in the 1-D project and that Birchtree was planned to continue operation until 2020 at least. It is ironic that this occurred the same week as the federal government rejected the foreign takeover of Progress Energy Resources because it did not provide sufficient net benefit to Canada. Where is the net benefit for Thompson and northern Manitoba from the Vale takeover that it approved in 2006?
The federal government has to be part of any and all discussions related to Vale. Not only did it approve the takeover of Vale, it provided a $1 billion low interest loan to move the jobs out of Thompson.
It is clear that Canada does not have a strategy for resource development that is working for resourced-based communities. Resource-based communities deserve better. Canadians deserve better.