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Year: 2012

Alberta needs to earn national support for oil sands – Toronto Star Editorial (Toronto Star – March 1, 2012)

The Toronto Star, has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Ontario gets such substantial benefits from the oil sands that we should all be advocates for their speedy development. That’s Alberta Premier Alison Redford’s view of the world. Premier Dalton McGuinty’s version is that Ontarians would be better off without the high “petro dollar” that hurts our manufacturing sector.

It’s a she-said, he-said that has pundits across the nation weighing in on everything from the merits of the oil sands to the supposedly pathetic state of Ontario’s economy.

McGuinty has acknowledged that he should have “self-edited.” There was no benefit to sounding ungracious about Alberta’s success or defensive about Ontario’s economic challenges. But the premier was not wrong to make clear the Ontario perspective on Redford’s demand that everyone jump onboard the oil sands train.

The facts are irrefutable: the vast majority – an estimated 94 per cent – of economic benefits from the oil sands remain in Alberta. The booming oil and gas sector has contributed mightily to the high Canadian dollar. That has damaged Ontario’s traditional strength in manufacturing.

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Don’t ask for our love, Alberta – by Matthew Mendelsohn (Toronto Star – March 1, 2012)

The Toronto Star, has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Matthew Mendelsohn is director of the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto.

The national media have all sided with Alberta Premier Alison Redford over Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty on the impact of the oil sands on the Ontario economy.
 
The Alberta premier went down to Chicago and chastised the Ontario premier for not loving the oil sands. When McGuinty declined to profess his love, the media piled on him for being ungracious.
 
But Redford should understand that with Alberta’s new economic and political power comes responsibility. Demanding that everyone prostrate themselves at the feet of the oil patch is not the right approach.

Let’s turn to the substance of the issue. The national media objected to McGuinty stating aloud the truth: the value of the Canadian dollar is heavily impacted by the price of oil and the dollar’s appreciation has hurt many in the manufacturing sector.

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Former First Nation chief becomes face of Canadian mining [at the PDAC] – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March, 2012)

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North. Ian Ross is the editor of Northern Ontario Business ianross@nob.on.ca.

Taking the lead

When Glenn Nolan first attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) annual spring convention in 2004, there were a couple dozen Aboriginal faces in the crowd among the world’s mining heavyweights.
 
The agenda set aside for First Nations discussion was small, and was reflective of the state of the mining industry’s relations with Canada’s indigenous people.
 
“When we started doing Aboriginal sessions, it was all about conflict,” said Nolan, who serves as Noront Resources’ vice-president of Aboriginal relations. Things are decidedly different heading into this month’s show in Toronto.
 
PDAC corporate membership rolls list about 400 who are self-identified Inuit, Metis and First Nation delegates.

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Let’s get North [Ontario] growing – Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Editorial (March 1, 2012)

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

CRISIS management is hardly the best way to govern. But it does focus leadership on the narrow necessities instead of the big picture it likes to ponder. Ontario’s descent into economic purgatory has caused its government to consider the cost and effectiveness of every program inside every ministry as its grapples with a $16-billion annual budget deficit.

 Ahead of this month’s budget, there are scenarios being played out at Queen’s Park that would shock many Ontarians. There is no way around some of the revisions that are coming, so prepare to be shocked.

 Queen’s Park tends to look outward from its downtown Toronto edifice at two-thirds of the jurisdiction about which some in its employ have no idea. They’re not really sure where Thunder Bay is (let alone Terrace Bay), just that it’s far away.

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Wahgoshig First Nation/Solid Gold Conflict – CBC Radio Sudbury (Morning North Program – Markus Schwabe – February 29, 2012)

CBC Radio Sudbury – Morning North Program Mining claims and First Nations traditional territory CBC Reporter Martha Dillman looks at the mining claims system in Ontario as a case between a northern First Nation and a junior mining company continues to be discussed in provincial court. Click here to listen: http://www.cbc.ca/morningnorth/past-episodes/2012/02/29/mining-claims-and-first-nations-traditional-territory/

Wahgoshig First Nation/Solid Gold Conflict – CBC Radio Sudbury (Points North Program – Jason Turnbull – January 26, 2012)

CBC Radio Sudbury – Points North Program Northern mining company suing Ontario Gov’t Wahgoshig First Nation recently won an injunction against junior mining company Solid Gold Resources claiming it was exploring on its traditional territory. The mining company is now suing the province over claims it had on the land in question. Click here to …

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Conflict, confusion over provincial mining claims -(CBC Thunder Bay – March 1, 2012)

This article is from CBC Thunder Bay website: http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/

Ontario’s mining act being updated to address relations between exploration industry and First Nations

Last year, the exploration industry spent close to a billion dollars looking for minerals in Ontario. But some prospectors say the rules are not clear when it comes to staking claims — particularly on First Nation traditional territory.
 
That’s resulting in conflict and court cases. Mining companies or prospectors are granted exploration claims through the province.
 
But, traditional land surrounding First Nation territory is not marked on the province’s mining map — because the province can’t actually pin it down.
 
Clive Stephenson, a provincial mining recorder with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, said traditional territory is a relative term.

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Call for inquiry [Vale mining deaths] premature: Bartolucci – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 1, 2012)

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

For the full report: Run of “Wet Muck” Double Fatality Investigation Report by USW Local 6500

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci says it may be premature to call for a public inquiry into the deaths of two Sudbury miners before the Ministry of Labour completes its investigation of the fatality and a mandatory coroner’s inquest is held.

Bartolucci said he is looking forward to reading the USW report and its recommendations. “Listen, just like Vale’s recommendations, I want to read and study the Steelworkers’ recommendations.

“At the end of the day, we don’t want anybody dying” at work, said Bartolucci. “Two families lost loved ones. That’s serious. And we have to do what we have to do to ensure we take every possible precaution to ensure that that doesn’t happen again.”

Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram were killed June 8, 2011, by a run of muck at Vale’s Stobie Mine.

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Report will make mining safer: [Sudbury] union – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 1, 2012)

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

For the full report: Run of “Wet Muck” Double Fatality Investigation Report by USW Local 6500

There has been a lot of talk about Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram since they were killed on the job June 8, 2011, at Stobie Mine. Wednesday morning, Mike Bond wasn’t talking about the men. He was speaking for them and their families.

Bond, the Health, Safety and Environment chair for United Steelworkers Local 6500, local president Rick Bertrand and USW lawyer Brian Shell presented findings of the union’s investigation into the men’s deaths to reporters.

“Today’s the day we’re speaking for the Frams and the Cheniers, and miners across the province. It’s a tragic day also,” said Bond, a former Creighton miner.

“I feel that, with our recommendations, we are going to make (mining) safer.” Bond has been involved in several investigations, but never one like this. “This is a one-of-a-kind report,” he said.

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Scathing report [2011 Vale miner deaths]- by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 1, 2012)

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

For the full report: Run of “Wet Muck” Double Fatality Investigation Report by USW Local 6500

United Steelworkers is calling on the province to take “swift action” on three key recommendations in the union’s eight-month, 200page report on their investigation into the mining deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram.

Wednesday, the union released its findings — 165 recommendations in all — relating to the June 8, 2011, deaths of Chenier and Fram at Vale Ltd.’s Stobie Mine.

The union presented a scathing report to reporters at news conferences in Sudbury at the Steelworkers Hall and in Toronto at Queen’s Park.

The union is calling on the assistant deputy attorney general to take immediate steps to determine whether criminal charges should be laid against Vale and some of its employees under the Westray provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada.

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UNITED STEELWORKERS NEWS RELEASE: Double Fatality at Vale Mine Could Have Been Avoided

29 February 2012

For the full report: Run of “Wet Muck” Double Fatality Investigation Report by USW Local 6500

Double Fatality at Vale’s Mine in Sudbury Could Have Been Avoided: Steelworkers’ Investigation Report Finds

Province Should Consider Criminal Charges

Sudbury/Toronto – Based on the results of a damning investigative report into a double fatality at Stobie Mine in Sudbury, the United Steelworkers (USW) is calling on the Ontario Government to consider laying criminal charges against officials and management of Vale, the mine’s owner, and against the company itself. The Union says the government must also immediately establish a Commission of Inquiry into Mine Safety.

USW Local 6500 in Sudbury today released the results of an eight-month investigation into the deaths Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram on June 8th, 2011. The two miners died after a torrent of wet mud and ore flooded the tunnel where they were working.

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VALE STATEMENT REGARDING RELEASE OF USW LOCAL 6500 INVESTIGATION INTO 2011 FATALITIES AT STOBIE MINE

For Immediate Release

SUDBURY, February 29, 2012 – Vale today released the following statement from Kelly Strong, Vice President, Mining & Milling (North Atlantic Operations) and General Manager, Ontario Operations, regarding the United Steelworkers Local 6500 investigation report into the deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram in June 2011:

“We received the union’s investigation report this morning and are in the process of reviewing it very carefully.

The USW document contains serious allegations, and calls for the government to consider laying criminal charges against the Company and individuals. As a result of this, we are not able to discuss the specific allegations contained in the report.

While a detailed review is ongoing, our preliminary reading of the report indicates that there is no new factual information that our investigation team had not considered. There is, however, a distinct difference with how the USW has chosen to interpret and draw conclusions from those facts. 

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Got a dog in that fight [Ring of Fire Economic Potential] – by David Robinson (Northern Ontario Business – February 27, 2012)

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business  provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North.  

Dave Robinson is an economist with the Institute for Northern Ontario Research and Development at Laurentian University. drobinson@laurentian.ca 

There is a battle going on for a big chunk of Northern Ontario. On one side is the global economy, desperate for minerals, desperate to minimize costs and leave behind as little as possible. On the other side are a handful of Northern communities hoping to leapfrog from being a 19th-century fur colony to being a highly educated, highly productive, self-governing 21st century society.

It is a David and Goliath struggle over how the value of Northern resources will be shared. And we have a dog in the fight, as they say in the southern U.S. We really need the Indians to win this one.

There are two selfish reasons to support the people of the Far North as they struggle to get some control of development in the region. The first is elementary economics. The more value stays in the Far North, the more will stay in the rest of the North.

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Riches for all from Ring of Fire, says Thunder Bay mayor – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – February 27, 2012)

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

“There are enough riches in the Ring of Fire basin for
everyone here, including First Nations,” said Thunder
Bay mayor Keith Hobbs. “The riches in the Ring of Fire
are enough to make Ontario a have-province.”

Representatives from the City of Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation have joined together to call for government investment in infrastructure around the Ring of Fire.

The city and the First Nation say they are working towards making Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario a mining hub, like the Sudbury region.

“There are enough riches in the Ring of Fire basin for everyone here, including First Nations,” said Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs. “The riches in the Ring of Fire are enough to make Ontario a have-province.”

Hobbs said the city is still pushing to host Cliffs Resources processing facility, despite acknowledging that Thunder Bay is not the favourite to get the plant or the estimated 300-500 jobs it would bring.

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Lobbying pays off, mayor says – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – February 29, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Minister to alter Abitibi River Forest restrictions

A three-day lobby effort is proving worthwhile for Timmins and Northeastern Ontario.

Mayor Tom Laughren wrapped up his trip to the Ontario Good Roads Association convention in Toronto on Tuesday. He had an opportunity to meet with two more cabinet ministers and their representatives prior to returning North.

“Timmins issues have been very well received,” Laughren reported in a phone interview from the OGRA meetings.

Earlier in the week, Laughren had a session with Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Kathleen Wynne. He followed that up on Tuesday by meeting with MPP Mario Sergio (Liberal — York West), the parliamentary assistant to Wynne.

One Timmins-specific topic the mayor brought to the attention of the ministry was the city’s housing shortage.

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