A resurgent Labrador is about to bounce back, says MHA

There's a growing consensus that the economic funk that has tainted life in Labrador West these past few years is finally in the past, and no one is happier than Labrador West MHA Graham Letto.

"I do believe that we have turned a corner," Letto said following a very upbeat speech Friday night in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Letto is the parliamentary assistant to Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady, and he was in his element as he addressedmembers of the Combined Councils of Labrador, who were gathered for their annual meeting.

A long list of potential

Unlike these past three or four years, Lettohad plenty of positive things to say, listing the great potential in oil and gas off Labrador's coast, an expansion at the Voisey's Bay mine, the search forrare earth minerals, and even the prospect of gold discoveries.

But iron ore has been the backbone of Labrador for 60 years, and Letto says it will be for a long time to come.

There's growing evidence to suggest he is right.

Rio Tinto's Iron Ore Company of Canada operation in Labrador Cityis expanding, and is expected to start mining from its new Wabush3 deposit later this year. It's an $80-million investment that's expected to prolong the life of the mining operation until about 2079.

Tacara Resources is making plans to reopen neighbouring WabushMines, which was closed by the previous owner during the low point of a market meltdown in 2014, casting a dark cloud over the entire region.

Lettosays he doesn't expect job numbers to match previous employment figures of roughly 400, but he's expecting about half or more of that number.

He said it's a welcome development as the Muskrat Falls construction site in Central Labrador begins to wind down, noting that many workers displaced by the closure of WabushMines have found employment at the hydroelectric project.

The fact that they're back in the picture and they see an opportunity there, it's all positive.- Graham Letto

And third, Lettosaid Alderon Iron Ore Corp.is once again in talks with government to develop its highly touted Kamimine project in Labrador West.

Letto said it's not a done deal, and the company is still trying the raise the capital needed to move forward.

"[But] the fact that they're back in the picture and they see an opportunity there, it's all positive."

Letto said the future is very bright for Labrador.

"We've only tapped the surface."