Here's my idea for alleviating the manpower shortage at San Gold and for training new miners, of which there is an ongoing chronic shortage in Manitoba and the rest of Canada.

1. Encourage the Gov. of Manitoba to set up a low-security prison in Bissett for 100 carefully selected, no-risk, young offenders currently serving time in Winnipeg.

2. Give all young inmates who qualify and are interested, a 3 month study and instruction course in all aspects of underground mining in the Winnipeg jail.

3. Place 100 of these fellows (at a time) in a three year miner's apprenticeship program with San Gold, working 8 hour shifts in the mine, with different rates of pay for each year.

1st. year - $5 per hour

2nd. year - $7 per hour

3rd. year - $10 per hour

And then encourage those who complete their apprenticeship to become full-time journeyman miners with San Gold (or maybe HudBay) when they finish serving their time.

This program would have three immediate benefits:

1. It would help San Gold overcome their manpower problem

2. It would help ease the shortage of journeymen miners in Manitoba.

3. It would provide these young offenders with a golden opportunity to learn a trade and give them an open door to a whole new way of life with a well paid career in mining on the day they finish their sentences.

Fred25