Council heard from resident Skip Martin on Hudbay plans to close the zinc plant in three years.  He says he feels Council is accepting this as a done deal instead of looking at other options to keep it operating.  He said now is the time to question Hudbay’s decision while the expertise is still here.  Among Martin’s suggestion were all zinc mined in Manitoba be refined here, another company or employees operate the plant with Lalor supplying ore, zinc concentrate be imported through the Port of Churchill and suggesting the City form a task force to look at any ideas people may have.

Mayor Cal Huntley replied they have already put together a Regional Economic Development Committee from our three communities, they have been putting pressure on the provincial government to give incentives for junior mining companies to get back to exploring, they are looking at outside businesses to come in and diversify our economy and some may come to fruition as early as next year and have been meeting with Hudbay to discuss options such as McIlvenna Bay, their new discovery near Snow Lake and purchased concentrate as to keep operating you need feed. He invited anyone with other ideas to come in and share them.