ABSTRACT

This chapter reflects on the development tensions inherent in fly-in/fly-out resource operations. Gulf Minerals Canada Ltd establishes a fly-in/fly-out system between Aboriginal communities in the Athabasca/Fond du Lac River region and its Rabbit Lake uranium mine. The less regulates and structures that the nature of industry-community relationships the greater the possibilities for division and conflict. Furthermore, resource-town development decisions were increasingly shifted from the private sector context to that of the political-regulatory environment. The evolution of new material values made cash income-earning opportunities without having to move away a more attractive employment option for some Aboriginal workers. Changes in Canadian settlement policy, with respect to remote areas, have increasingly favoured fly-in/fly-out work arrangements. Labour supply issues have been exacerbated by the ageing of the current workforce and by the limited success in attracting and training new entrants to meet increased demands and to replace those retiring.