FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17th, 2014
MP for Labrador
Yvonne Jones
Yvonne Jones, Liberal critic for Northern Development, and Member of Parliament for Labrador, is concerned with the recent round of layoffs around the new contract for the North Warning System.
“There has been news this week that Nasittuq, the joint-venture firm which previously held a contract to operate Canada’s North Warning System stations, is laying off almost 250 individuals across the north, as of July 2014. During the transition from Nasittuq to the new contract holder Raytheon, I want to ensure that all affected workers are given the first opportunity to continue with the work they are doing. I also want to ensure that these jobs remain in the hands of local residents and the Inuit, so that they and their communities may benefit the most. In my own constituency of Labrador, some 25 individuals were laid-off. It is a major concern in many communities and I will continue working to ensure that these workers are employed again with the new contract holder Raytheon.”
Ms. Jones has started to take action on this issue:
“I have held a meeting recently with a representative from Raytheon Canada, and our meeting was very productive. Raytheon has committed to holding job fairs in the north to recruit the laid-off workers. These will be taking place in multiple regions of the north, including in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Raytheon has committed to ensuring that its workforce is comprised of skilled professionals who also live in the region and ensure this includes a strong Inuit workforce. The North Warning System is a vital part of our north. We need to ensure our north is adequately monitored and we will defend our Arctic sovereignty. We place our trust with the government who awarded the contract to Raytheon that this work will provide economic benefits to the Inuit and others living in the north, as well as support our northern surveillance and defence. ”
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Media contact:
Christian von Donat
613-996-4632 (T)
613-222-2735 (C)
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