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Star Performer Message from President and CEO Gender Equity Lwww.NMLiron.com Employment, Contracting Opportunities and Training Issue No.6 May 2013 NML News Editor: Élisabeth Benoît Contributors: Dean Journeaux, Paul F. Wilkinson, William Zinn Dean Journeaux From left to right: John André and James Uniam James Uniam was born in the Schefferville area and is one of New Millennium’s most knowledgeable and hardworking local employees. James is also the A-Team leader, one of NML’s busiest and most versatile working groups. He is passionate about his community and knowledgeable about exploration and its many processes. He is an excellent teacher, and the combination of his Native background, patience and strong work ethic gives him a unique ability to get the job done to the satisfaction of everyone. He is also a gifted painter. In this photo, James, and a colleague are ready to install another road sign that must be visible and stable throughout the year. So as to ensure that the benefits and opportunities generated by their projects are equally available to all Quebecers and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, NML/TSMC believe that the implementation of effective measures regarding gender equity is essential. They strive to make sure that women, including Aboriginal women, have fair and equal access to those beneficial opportunities. Women continue to be under- represented in trades, technology, science and engineering-related occupations. For this reason, NML/TSMC commit to developing, implementing and supporting throughout the life of their projects long-term initiatives aimed at increasing the number of women employed in non-traditional occupations. For its DSO Project, TSMC prepared a Women’s Employment Plan (“WEP”), as recommended by the Women's Policy Office of Newfoundland and Labrador. The WEP is designed to prevent, reduce or eliminate employment inequities potentially or actually experienced by women. As part of the feasibility study of its Taconite Project, NML has begun to meet with groups and organizations active in the field of employment equity and gender issues to assist in preparing an integrated policy on gender equity. In pursuing these goals, NML recognizes that active and focused collaboration with governments, educational institutions, organized labour, community organizations, industry associations, contractors and sub-contractors as well as with other interest groups will be essential. Tata Steel Minerals Canada (“TSMC”), the joint venture between NML and Tata Steel, is in charge of the DSOP. NML/TSMC recognize the importance of their projects to the people of Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador. They are committed to ensuring that the residents of both provinces, including the Aboriginal communities, benefit directly from the associated employment and business opportunities. For the DSOP, a Benefits Plan (“BP”) was prepared to meet the requirements of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The BP sets out employment, contracting and training targets. If the Taconite Project goes ahead, a similar plan will be developed. NML will also develop a process for monitoring employment that includes gender and age and will implement strategies if the targets are not being attained. Previous editions of NML News focused on the Direct-Shipping Ore Project (“DSOP”), which is at an advanced stage of construction by our partner, Tata Steel Minerals Canada, and on the Taconite Project, which is the subject of a detailed feasibility study. Neither of those projects could exist without the exploration programmes that identified, measured and evaluated the iron ore bodies. Exploration remains crucial to NML’s long-term growth. A modest programme of diamond drilling totalling 500 m at five sites in Labrador and 1,700 m at 12 sites in Québec is planned to start in June 2013. NML obtains the required permits from the concerned provincial governements, conducts pre- and post-drilling inspections, provides oversight during the drilling and ensures a full clean-up. NML also consults the concerned First Nations, conducts surveys for archaeological and heritage materials, takes Elders on periodic overflights to check for the presence of caribou and stops drilling in the presence of caribou. In these ways, NML tries to avoid environmental damage and to limit impacts for the First Nations users of the land. As NML’s presence in the Schefferville-Menihek area increases and its involvement in the communities expands, NML wants to make sure that it implements policies and measures to improve its practices in both the environment and social realms. This issue of NML News focuses on some of those initiatives.
