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Year: 2012

Cliff’s Natural Resources holds open house in Thunder Bay – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – March 1, 2012)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Even though developing the Ring of Fire means thousands of jobs, it has to be done the right way an official with Cliff’s Natural Resources says.

The right way means protecting the environment while still maximizing the potential of Cliff’s chromite deposits in the Far North. Cliff’s senior vice-president of global ferroalloys Bill Boor said that’s why his company held an open house in Thunder Bay on Thursday.

“(We have) a real genuine desire on our part to get out and talk to people that are close in any way to the project,” Boor said on the phone Thursday. “We want to have that two way dialogue.” Cliff’s is developing its framework for an environmental assessment for its chromite project so the more feedback it gets from people the better Boor said.

Kate Layfield is a fourth-year Lakehead University student.

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Wall Street Reporter Interview with Noront CEO Wes Hanson – Wall Street Reporter (January 19, 2012)

http://www.wallstreetreporter.com/

Interview Transcripts:
 
WSR: Good day from Wall Street. This is Juan Costello Senior Analyst at the Wall Street Reporter and joining us today is Wes Hanson the CEO for Noront Resources. The company trades on the TSX venture and their ticker symbol is NOT. Thanks for joining us today Wes.
 
Wes: No problem Juan. It’s a pleasure to be here again.
 
Juan: Great now starting off give us a brief history and overview of the company for some of our listeners that need your story.
 
Wes: Noront is a junior exploration company and in 2007 the management made a discovery in the Ring of Fire District of Northern Ontario. A very explaining discovery of the high grade nickel sulphide system that was discovered and that led to a significant rush into this region and eventually led to the discovery of significant deposits of chromate. Both chromate and nickel are essential components in the manufacturing of famous steel and of course the famous steel industry has grown significantly in the last decade largely due to the growth of China and India.

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KI’s battle over mining exploration heads south – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – March 2, 2012)

This article came from Wawatay News: http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (KI) is taking the fight to stop exploration on its traditional lands to Toronto. KI plans to hold a major rally in Ontario’s capital on Mar. 6 following a talk by the community’s leaders on Mar.5.
 
“We’re going to let the public know that this is still an issue, even though we’re way up here in the North,” KI Chief Morris said before heading to Toronto. “And to see this overwhelming support that we have.”
 
The rally takes place as thousands of mining company executives and government leaders from around the world gather in Toronto for the annual Prospectors and Developers Association Conference.
 
KI’s push into Toronto comes after Morris released a Youtube video in February announcing his First Nation’s plan to mobilize against God’s Lake Resources, a gold mining company with a stake in KI’s traditional territory.

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Even amid a commodity bull market, gloom still hangs over mining industry [Don Coxe] – by Peter Koven (National Post – March 3, 2012)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Exactly a decade ago, Don Coxe walked to the podium at the annual BMO Capital Markets mining conference and told dubious investors that a massive bull market in commodities was about to begin. The reaction was predictable.
 
“Nobody would speak to me at that time, because they thought I was stark raving mad,” Mr. Coxe, BMO’s strategy advisor, says today with a laugh.
 
The skepticism was understandable at that point, as commodities were still in a 20-year bear market that annihilated portfolios. Mr. Coxe, however, saw that something significant was happening in the developing world, particularly China. He was also delighted to see that everyone disagreed with him.
 
“I did some interviews with mining people and couldn’t find anyone who believed in the business. That was a requisite. Because it meant there would be no new capital spending for a few years [leading to supply shortages],” he says.

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Sudbury promoted as ‘mining leader’ – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – March 3, 2012)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Mayor Matichuk and senior city staff will be in Toronto next week to promote the city as a world leader in mining. It’s a message they will spread during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange.

The annual convention showcases more than 1,000 exhibitors and more than 27,000 guests from 120 countries focused on the evolution of the mineral and mining industry across the world. “Our community’s mining industr y is constantly evolving with new

innovations, and we are continually moving forward with market demands as well as fostering our local businesses to compete on the global stage,” Matichuk said said in a release.

“Important international conferences and events such as PDAC promote our message; the City of Greater Sudbury is a world leader in mining and the mining supply and services sector.”

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[Ontario] Northern Committee passes vote – by Kyle Gennings (Timmins Daily Press – March 3, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

First step in giving a voice to Northern Ontario

Thursday marked the turning point in history for Northern Ontario that was promised by MPP Gilles Bisson (NDP — Timmins-James Bay) earlier this week.

The motion to create a Northern Committee was passed readily at Queen’s Park via voice vote despite concerns over snags and party politics voiced by NDP House Leader Bisson.

“We’re really happy that it passed,” he said. “There was some concern that The Conservatives would be voting against the motion. “I don’t think that anyone wanted to be seen on the record as voting against it, so they allowed it to pass through voice vote.”

The voice vote allowed MPPs to vote freely on the motion without being held to task by their respective political parities.

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B.C. mining company sues environmental advocacy group for defamation – by The Canadian Press (Canadian Business Magazine – March 01, 2012)

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-publishing business magazine in Canada.

VANCOUVER – The company behind a controversial mining proposal in British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against one of its critics, alleging an environmental group has made inaccurate and defamatory comments that threaten to mislead the public.

Taseko Mines Ltd. (TSX:TKO) filed a notice of claim in B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday targeting the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and one of its employees over statements the environmental group has made about the company’s New Prosperity gold and copper project.

The project has faced fierce opposition from environmentalists and local First Nations communities and was rejected by a federal government environmental review in 2010.

Late last year, Ottawa agreed to hear a second environmental review after Taseko promised changes designed to address environmental concerns — but those changes have done little to quiet opponents such as the Wilderness Committee.

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We can’t be economic Boy Scouts – by Jim Prentice (National Post – March 2, 2012)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

From a speech by Jim Prentice, senior executive vice-president and vice-chairman of CIBC, to the Toronto Board of Trade Thursday.

No room for ‘ideological purity’ on government
 
My objective is to knit together my views on the structural changes taking place within the Canadian economy, with a particular focus on the impact of planned energy megaprojects, the dawn of the Asian century and the accelerating erosion of Canada’s industrial and manufacturing base in Ontario.

Given these forces and their complex implications, how best can we spur economic development and create prosperity for today, tomorrow and for generations of Canadians to come?
 
The days of nation-building are not at an end. In response to domestic and external demand, you will find no other G8 country — in fact no other country in the world — that is bringing on infrastructure projects at the pace and relative scale of Canada. The investment is significant. Close to $290-billion of investments over the next 20 years. And the list of projects on the drawing board is astounding.

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The Sorcerer’s Prentice – by Peter Foster (National Post – March 2, 2012)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Former minister’s demand for state intervention revives ideas Adam Smith exploded centuries ago
 
There has been a good deal of talk recently about a national energy strategy, which, for the Harper Conservatives, means market-orientation, and less red tape and politics. For others, however, it seems to mean something a little more dirigiste, something bigger, grander and all-encompassing. Surprisingly, this group includes former Harper government minister Jim Prentice, who is now senior executive vice-president and vice-chairman of CIBC.

A speech Mr. Prentice gave to the Toronto Board of Trade on Thursday was a jaw-dropper. It was the kind of mushy mixed economics that is regurgitated with tedious regularity every decade or two by those who have forgotten, or never understood, the lessons of economic history. Mr. Prentice appears to reject market orientation as unaffordable “ideological purity.”
 
Twenty years ago, Paul Tsongas, a Democratic U.S. presidential candidate, declared that “American companies need the United States government as a full partner if they are to have any hope of competing internationally. That means an industrial policy. Take a deep breath, my Republican friends. It’s a brave new world out there. Adam Smith was a marvelous man, but he wouldn’t know a superconductor or memory chip if he tripped over one.”

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New group shows oil sands industry serious about environment – by Claudia Cattaneo (National Post – March 2, 2012)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Some will say it’s about time, others that it doesn’t stop expansion plans, still others that they want to see results before getting too excited, but Canada’s oil sands sector deserves recognition for launching the world’s biggest collaborative effort by any industry to do better by the environment.
 
In a ceremony in Calgary Thursday, the top executives of 12 major oil sands companies came together to sign a founding charter in which they committed to accelerate improvement in four major areas: tailings ponds, greenhouse gas emissions, land disturbance and water use.
 
They are doing it as part of a new group, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), representing 80% of oil sands production: BP PLC, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus Energy Inc., ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy Corp., Imperial Oil Ltd., Nexen Inc., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Statoil ASA, Suncor Energy Inc., Teck Resources Ltd. and Total S.A.

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Solid Gold, Wahgoshig Nation clash – by K. Lagowski (CIM Magazine – February, 2012)

Founded in 1898, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) is a technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries.

Junior miner takes on injunction against exploration

Toronto-based Solid Gold Resources filed a notice for leave to appeal an Ontario Supreme Court injunction that ordered them to stop drilling for 120 days on territory claimed by Wahgoshig First Nation (WFN). The company has also sued the Ontario government for $100 million in damages.

The disputed area is 200 square kilometres near Matheson, Ontario, which is adjacent to the Wahgoshig reserve. The First Nation says the site contains burial grounds and is frequented by the community for hunting, trapping, fishing, medicine gathering and ceremonial purposes.

WFN first discovered Solid Gold’s drilling crew on Treaty 9 land in the spring of 2011. According to the court decision, the crew did not say who they were working for, and the First Nation was only able to ask for consultation after research and enquiry revealed Solid Gold’s identity. After WFN tried and failed to contact the company, the provincial government wrote Solid Gold in early November to let them know about their duty to consult.

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Mediator called in for Solid Gold talks – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – March 2,2012)

Mining firm, First Nation and provincial government continue discussions

A facilitator has been brought in to help mediate discussions involving Solid Gold Resource Corporation, Wahgoshig First Nation and the provincial government.

Solid Gold is a mineral exploration company that was forced by an injunction to halt drilling on a 200 square-kilometre claim outside the boundary of the Wahgoshig reserve. Darryl Stretch, president of Solid Gold, said the discussions held in the presence of a facilitator were an

“attempt to honour the court order that says we need to do consultation” with Wahgoshig. However, it appears both sides are still far from reaching an agreement.

“In their Statement of Claim, the First Nation is asking for a declaration that no one will explore on that Crown land there unless they get written permission from that First Nation,” said Stretch.

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Vale says it will go to arbitration in case of fired strikers – by Star Staff (Sudbury star – March 2, 2012)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

A Vale official says the company will “move forward” with arbitration in the case of eight fired production and maintenance workers, as directed by the Ontario Labour Relations Board last week.

A Vale spokeswoman, Angie Robson, says the company has taken United Steelworkers’ request for a month of mediation before arbitration “under advisement.” The labour board ruled the fate of eight Steelworkers fired during the union’s yearlong strike against Vale should be decided by just cause arbitration.

Vale had insisted for two years it had the right to fire the eight for bad behaviour on picket lines and in the community. John Pollesel, chief operating officer for Vale, wrote a letter to USW Local 6500 members this week saying the company acknowledged the labour board’s decision and would agree to arbitration.

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Still no comment [from Ontario Government/Vale Sudbury deaths] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 2, 2012)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey appreciates the work United Steelworkers has done to uncover the causes of an accident at Vale’s Stobie Mine last year that took the lives of supervisor Jason Chenier, 35, and miner Jordan Fram, 26.

But she won’t be able to comment on the report’s three top recommendations — two of which pertain to her ministry — until the ministry completes its investigation into the June 8, 2011, fatality.

USW has called for the Government of Ontario to establish a public inquiry into the causes of the Stobie deaths, with special attention to water management, monitoring and enforcement issues.

Chenier and Fram died when they were overcome by a run of muck from the No. 7 ore pass while working at the 3,000-foot level of the 111- year-old mine. The union believes excess water contributed to treacherous working conditions, as well as clogged drainage holes and other factors.

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McGuinty-Redford war of words keeps simmering – by Karen Howlett, Dawn Walton and Shawn McCarthy (Globe and Mail – March 1, 2012)

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

TORONTO, CALGARY AND OTTAWA— Dalton McGuinty concedes he never should have blamed his province’s economic woes on the “petro dollar,” marking a rare climbdown for a political leader not known for speaking off the cuff. Alison Redford insists he still owes her an apology, rebuffing him once again in favour of a tried-and-true Alberta strategy of picking a fight with Ontario.

The he-said, she-said exchange between the two provincial leaders was supposed to end on Wednesday morning, when Mr. McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, blamed the perils of working in “real time” for making a comment he now regrets – that he would prefer to have a low Canadian dollar instead of a booming oil-and-gas sector in Western Canada.

Instead, Ms. Redford, the Alberta Premier, suggested Mr. McGuinty still owes her province an apology for his earlier refusal to support the oil sands.

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