Over the course of its 14-year life, the mine would certainly create jobs, but not as many as you might think. Unlike mines of the past which employed thousands, mines today are predominantly automated, and the human jobs which remain are often of a specialized nature. For comparison, the Eagle Mine in Marquette County is operated by less than 80 employees: "Mining jobs are vulnerable to the highs and lows of market fluctuations, including layoffs."
Even if the mine did create a significant amount of work, an important point remains: jobs alone have no merit. The warfare industry also creates a great many employment opportunities, but we would never make the case that "war is good because it creates jobs." Instead, we would hold a more nuanced position and examine each case individually: some wars may be necessary, but others are a very bad idea, and no amount of jobs in the world should justify a war which is immoral. Similarly, drug-trafficking provides employment for many thousands, including not just traffickers, mules, and dealers, but also for law enforcement officers, prison guards, attorneys, judges and more. Regardless, we oppose drug-trafficking on moral grounds, despite its job creation.
We are not comparing mining to these activities precisely, but the principle is the same, and there is an equally strong moral argument to made for protecting the old growth forest, a cherished national hiking trail, a prized fishing river, and a priceless freshwater sea, because there is not just money on the line here, but health, both of the biosphere and we humans who rely upon it.
Another factor which must be considered is the relation between time-frame and accountability. The boom-and-bust cycle of mine operation is appealing in the short-term but often destructive when viewed through a wider lens. It's far easier to spill the wine than clean up the stain: when the mine closes, who will pay if the tailings dam bursts or if the waterways are contaminated by heavy metals? Certainly not Highland Copper CEO Denis Miville-Deschenes — no, he'll be back in Quebec. Instead, as always, the bill for clean-up will be footed by locals, paying both in the form of taxes and physical wellbeing.
While on the topic of economics, we must also ask to what degree the mine's development will endanger an already existing and highly profitable eco-tourism industry. Given that the foundation of eco-tourism is access to pristine nature, we cannot expect that the presence of the mine will escape the notice of tourists, for reasons already mentioned. In less than a one-minute drive, visitors will pass from the North Country Trail to Porcupine Mountains State Park, with Chopperwood's entrance road crammed in between. Waterfalls may not be so beautiful if in order to reach them you must slog through mining traffic; birdsong not so sweet with the grinding of ore in the background; nor camping so enchanting with the stars faded in the night sky. It is logical to assume that the "most spectacular State Park in the country" may fall from grace in the eyes of internet reviewers, and thus lead to decreased visits overall. And so Chopperwood's meager job creation must be weighed against its damage upon the far more stable and long-lasting industry of eco-tourism.
In the end, the main jobs created by Chopperwood will be those of environmental clean-up many years later, long after the money has been made and the chief executives have fled back to Canada.