Persuasive Speech The Donkin Mine

Saying that mining is a part of Cape Bretons long, rich culture would be a bit
of an understatement. Starting in Port Morien in 1720, during the glory days of the
Fortress of Louisbourg, Cape Bretoners have been mining for almost 300 years.
Thousands of islanders have been miners, including my grandfather. How many
people have had miners as a part of their family? Go on, raise your hand! Lots of
people. So, Cape Bretons deep connections with mining is a proud part of our
heritage. So, when Cape Bretons last mine closed in 2001, Cape Breton took a
massive hit to its cultural identity.
However, we have a chance to return to our mining roots. Good afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen. My name is Avery Varnes and today I will be talking about
why Cape Breton needs the Donkin Mine.
Lets get into it. Why does Cape Breton need the Donkin Mine? To answer
that, lets talk about decline. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has gone on
record saying that Cape Breton is losing 10 percent of its population every 10 years.
According to Stats Canada, in 2001, Cape Breton had a population of 147,454. In
2013, a new census showed that this original number is down to 100,823. In 12
years Cape Bretons population has dropped by almost 50,000. 50,000! By 2030, it
has been predicted that our population will drop to 75,000. To make matters worse,
people between the ages of 20-35 count for seven percent of this 10 percent loss.
This age category could be argued to be the most important for stabilizing our
population. But the decline doesnt stop there.
As our population falls, so does our economy. Right now, one in three children
live in poverty, according to a survey done in 2014. 29.3 percent of children under
the age of 18 in Cape Breton live in below the poverty line. The Canadian national
poverty rate for the same age category is only 17.3 percent. But it gets worse. In
Cape Breton, 37.1 percent of children under the age of 6 live in poverty. This is
double the national average of 18.1 percent.
Before I continue, Id like to tell you a story. A story about my brush with
poverty in Cape Breton. This story isnt about me. I grew up well. I had a warm
house, clothes on my back, and a full stomach. No, this story is about one of my
childhood friends. We were buddies since grade one, but it wasnt until grade eight
that I realized how he and his family were struggling financially. He invited me over
for lunch one frigid winter morning. When we got there, the entire house was ice
cold, with the exception of the kitchen. They had to use their electric oven to heat
their house because they couldnt afford oil. My friends mother worked as a
crossing guard a few days a week. His father struggled to find work anywhere and
would get small bit of work here and there. They struggled because our economy
couldnt support them.
However, my story is not unique. There are thousands of others just like it.
You might be asking yourself Why is this happening?
The answer is simple. No jobs.

Our population drops, so does the economy. When the economy drops, so do
the jobs. Its a vicious circle.
However, there is good news. The Donkin Mine, which is an underground coal
mine that looks to open in the summer of 2016.
So, lets talk about the economic benefits of having the mine open and
running. The mine looks to stay operational for 30 years and will provide over 100
full time jobs. The mine also has an effect on the rest of the province. Nova Scotia is
currently importing unclean coal from South America and China. With the mine
opening here, we can ensure that the coal is clean and that the money made from
this mine can stay in Nova Scotia. The mine will provide 58 metric tonnes of
mineable coal which equates to 58,000 kilograms or 127,868 pounds. The mine will
also provide diverse training opportunities. This includes metal fab, heavy
machinery operators, welders, and electricians, just to name a few.
However, the mines opening has some opposition. The biggest opposition is
the effects it will have on the environment. However, the Donkin Mine has answers
for the five biggest arguments against its operation. Lets start round one. The first
problem with mining is that it causes sinkholes, land subsidence, erosion, and that
its dangerous to residential areas. However, the Donkin Mine is two kilometres
away from the nearest house. The second is that mining itself is dangerous, with
tunnel collapses being a big problem. To avoid any unneeded tragedies, Kameron
Collieries ULC has made extra precautions to avoid collapses, including reinforced
structure beams and dedicated safety precautions. The next concern is the amount
of greenhouse gases the mine will produce. Kameron Collieries has stated that the
mine will produce one megatonne of gases a year. Compared to Nova Scotias 18
megatonnes, the mine counts for only five percent of these gases. The fourth
concern is focused on the loss of biodiversity, which means the variety and
variability of plant and animal life in an area. However, federal policies regulate
mine locations, ensuring the mined area is returned to near original state. This will
keep the area as healthy as possible. For the final problem, people are worried
about the state of the earth while the mine is there. The contamination of soil,
groundwater, and surface water as the acid runoff from the coal processing can be a
dangerous issue. However, Kameron Collieries has invested in a mineral scrubber,
which processes the coal carefully and thoroughly, creating low ash coal. The
mineral scrubber also creates less acid runoff.
As you can see, the benefits outweigh the problems. Cape Breton needs the
Donkin Mine. We need to start moving in the right direction. Thank you for listening
to me today. I will now take your questions.