PART THREE The Importance of Mining to the Economy of a Community
Teacher Activity Outline 1 of 1
VIDEO/DVD TOPIC: PART THREE
LENGTH OF VIDEO/DVD
DURATION OF ACTIVITY
• Mining: Why Do We Need It?
• 4 minutes
• 45 minutes
Part Three of the video/DVD describes the use of rocks and minerals in our everyday life, technological innovations developed and used by the modern mining industry and the importance of mining to the Canadian economy. Aboriginal-owned businesses that supply goods and services to the mining industry are also highlighted in this section of the video/DVD. These include: airline services; janitorial services; housekeeping; catering; and the operation of various retail stores. It is difficult to think about what life would be like without rocks, minerals and metals. Minerals make up so much of what’s around us and what we use everyday. Minerals allow us to: live in a house or apartment; turn on lights; brush our teeth; listen to music; watch television; use a computer; cook meals; ride in a vehicle; and much more. There are approximately 17,700 direct jobs created by Ontario’s mining industry. An additional 73,000 spin-off jobs are also created. Mineral products are sold to companies that use them to make everything from electric clocks to detergent. It is important to recognize that mining has the potential to impact living standards, traditional Aboriginal lifestyles, social infrastructure, the environment and the economy of a community. However, this particular brainstorming activity focuses mainly on the impact of a mine opening on the economy of a local community. Imagine that you have just learned that an open pit diamond mine will open and create 375 new jobs in your small northern Ontario community. Use the fictional town profile and mine information provided on the following page to facilitate a discussion that deals with the potential effects the mine opening will have on: jobs in the town; the school system in the town; medical and dental care in the town; current businesses, business travelers and tourism; and the Aboriginal and remote community.
3.0
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Mining New Opportunities
Video/DVD Study
A summary of possible answers is also provided on the following page to assist with facilitating this discussion.
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