Sask. Premier Brad Wall responds to Cameco uranium mine layoffs

Premier Brad Wall is calling the loss of 500 jobs at the Rabbit Lake uranium mine a "terribleday for northern Saskatchewan."

On Thursday, Cameco released a statement outlining its plans to suspend operations at its Rabbit Lake mine, located approximately 850 kilometres north of Saskatoon,as well as scaling back production at Cameco Resources' U.S. operations.

• Cameco cutting 500 jobs at Rabbit Lake uranium mine

According to Wall, the rapid response unitpart of the Ministry of the Economyare now helping those laid-off workers.

"What they're asked to do on behalf of government is to work with those who have been laid off to identify perhaps other job opportunities that might exist to fit their skills," said Wall to reporters Friday morning in Regina.

"[The unit helps]identifyretraining opportunities for those who want to pursue a different career, and sometime just to help renew job hunting skills."

Wall added that he is hopeful the Rabbit Lake mine will re-open once the global market for uranium improves.

But that time, he said, is not expected any time soon.

"Our efforts to continue to diversify, our efforts to attract new investment and [to] see new jobs created in the months ahead, has always been the prime objective the priority for the government even moreso now, obviously."

The matter of when the 500 workers will lose their jobs depends on their position.

Employment depends on skill set

Robert Gereghty,Cameco'smanager of media relations, said the company's focusnow is preparing the mine and mill for a care and maintenance stateby the end of August.

He said employment would depend ona worker's skillset.

"Some people maydrop off and then there will be about 150 that will remain once it gets to that point,"Gereghty added.

Those remainingworkers willensure the overall upkeep of the mine and mill.