2012 – Page 37 – Republic of Mining

South Africa miners’ strike: Labour hero Cyril Ramaphosa urged crackdown, emails show – by Pascal Fletcher and Jon Herskovitz (Reuters/Toronto Star – October 25, 2012)

October 25, 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.

JOHANNESBURG—South African millionaire businessman and one-time anti-apartheid hero Cyril Ramaphosa urged ministers to crack down on a violent platinum miners’ strike the day before 34 miners were killed by police, according to emails revealed this week.

The emails cited on Tuesday by a lawyer for miners arrested over the Aug. 16 “Marikana Massacre” are the latest evidence of a reversal of historical roles for the 59-year-old, who himself led a historic miners’ pay strike under apartheid in 1987.

As a respected and influential member of the National Executive Committee of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa has long been touted as a possible presidential contender.

Hailed with Nelson Mandela as a champion of anti-apartheid struggle, the man who was once called “South Africa’s Lech Walesa” now finds himself pilloried as a cold-hearted capitalist in his role of shareholder and board member of Lonmin, the company at the heart of the Marikana dispute.

Sudbury nickel mine stops operations at year’s end due to falling prices – by Andrew Livingstone (Toronto Star – October 20, 2012)

October 25, 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.

Operations at the Sudbury mine site where 40 per cent of the nickel used to make allied artillery during the First World War came from will be suspended at the end of the year.

The Frood site, which has been in operation for over a century, will be closed because of recent decline in the price of nickel and market volatility.

Since 2011, the price of nickel has dropped 30 per cent, 17 per cent this year alone. The closure will not lead to any job losses, said McPhee. 85 workers are currently employed at the site and when it closes, will be reassigned to other jobs within the Sudbury operation.

The Frood site has been mined for more than 100 years, but the ore now has low value and the company had been mining at a loss.

Yikes! Mitt might win. Get ready to roll out the oil barrel – by Thomas Walkom (Toronto Star – October 25, 2012)

October 25, 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.

President Mitt Romney? Get used to the idea. A few weeks ago, it seemed almost inconceivable that the gaffe-prone Republican challenger could snatch America’s presidency away from smooth, cool Barack Obama.

Canadians in particular are partial to Obama. A recent BBC poll estimated that roughly 65 per cent of people in this country prefer him to Romney, making Canada the fifth-most pro-Obama nation in the world (after France, Australia, Kenya and Nigeria).

And Romney? To casual observers, he’s the guy who drove to Grand Bend with his dog strapped to the roof of his car, the plutocrat who dismissed almost half of his own country as layabouts, the crass opportunist who swung hard right to secure the Republican nomination and is now tacking hard-centre to win the general election.

Romney may be all of that. But if U.S. polling is correct, he’s also riding a high from the televised presidential debates and — failing a last-minute Obama surge — could well end up winning on Nov. 6.

[Ring of Fire] Selling out our kids’ kids – by Dave Dale (North Bay Nugget – October 24, 2012)

October 25, 2012

http://www.nugget.ca/

Desperation will make people do ill-conceived things. Some will even trade their own family members for a penny and promises when the wolves are at the door.

And during hard times, elected officials are quick to sell the farm — lock, stock and your mother thrown in — for short-term economic and political gain.

There’s no shortage of examples in Ontario, many recent and several ongoing. More about the recent pitch by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission unions to become a federal port authority later.

First and foremost, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Tory crew are at this very moment prostituting your children’s children on a long-shot global wager.

The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, which becomes binding next week, allows China to crawl into our economic bed for a minimum of 31 years.

Neskantaga wants mediation on Ring of Fire environmental assessment – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – October 24, 2012)

October 25, 2012

Northern Ontario’s First Nations Voice: http://wawataynews.ca/

Neskantaga First Nation is requesting mediation to resolve differences between the environmental assessment it wishes to see for Cliffs’ Ring of Fire mine, and the assessment process the company has proposed.

In a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Environment Jim Bradley dated Sept. 27, Neskantaga called on Bradley to refer Cliffs’ terms of reference to mediation.

“Our constitutionally protected aboriginal rights and title and treaty rights are not appropriately addressed in the terms of reference,” Neskantaga wrote. “Therefore, numerous fundamental issues of concern arise on the terms of reference as submitted. It is our strong view that these should be addressed in a mediation between Neskantaga and…Cliffs.”

Neskantaga’s legal council Greg McDade of Ratcliff and Co. LLP told Wawatay News that as of Oct. 19, the minister had not yet responded to the request. Under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act, the minister has the ability to refer a terms of reference to a mediator if requested.

[Sudbury Wahnapitae] Natives work with Cliffs – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – October 25, 2012)

October 25, 2012

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

Members of Wahnapitae First Nation regard plans by Cliffs Natural Resources to build a chromite smelter just 20 kilo-metres from their border as an opportunity.

But the president of the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, a Wahnapitae First Nation member, says they also view the plant as a threat. That’s why the First Nation, and the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, are working with Cliffs on a baseline environmental review of the project, getting involved on the ground floor.

Hans Matthews has been a member of his First Nation’s Mining Industry Working Group for a decade and president since the beginning of the association, which will mark its 20th anniversary with a conference in Toronto next month.

Headquartered in Wahnapitae First Nation, Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association drew a handful of guests to its first annual convention. Eight hundred delegates are expected to attend this year’s event, cochaired by Matthews and Bill Boor, Cliffs’ senior vice-president of global ferroalloys.

Opposition on uranium mines won’t change: Cree – by Michelle Lalonde (Montreal Gazette – October 23, 2012)

October 24, 2012

http://www.montrealgazette.com/index.html

MONTREAL — The next step in the proposed uranium mine project near Mistissini in northern Quebec got a green light from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission last week, but even the commission acknowledges that the Cree Nation is waving a big red stop sign.

Chief Robert Shecapio flew down to Montreal from his community of Mistissini, north of Chibaugamau, this month to draw attention to his community’s intense opposition to uranium mining. That position is held widely across the nine Cree nations of northern Quebec, not to mention hundreds of municipalities all over the province that have passed resolutions against it.

“We are not opposed to any other kind of development foreseen in our territory … (but as for uranium), our opposition will not change.” Shecapio told The Gazette last week.

The Matoush Project is the most advanced of about 20 proposed uranium mining projects for northern Quebec, and was part of the defeated Liberal government’s much-vaunted Plan Nord. While the Parti Québécois called for a moratorium on uranium mining in 2009, the party was less clear on the issue during the recent election campaign.

Environment Minister Daniel Breton and his aide Danielle Rioux have refused repeated requests for an interview with The Gazette on the issue over the last two weeks.

Vale profits to drop 61%: Analysts – by Jeb Blount and Sabrina Lorenzi (Reuters/Sudbury Star – October 23, 2012)

October 24, 2012

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

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Vale SA (VALE5.SA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) the world’s No. 2 mining company, is expected to report that third-quarter profit tumbled 61 percent from a year earlier as output slipped and the price of iron ore and other metals dropped to three-year lows.

Profit is also likely to be hurt by the company’s decision to set aside about $540 million for the possible payment of back royalties in a dispute with Brazil’s government.

Net income likely fell to $1.92 billion in the three months ending September 30 from $4.93 billion the year before, according to the average estimate of 19 analysts in a Reuters poll.

If results expected late on Wednesday confirm the estimate, it will mark the company’s worst quarterly profit in 33 months. Falling prices and weak demand in China, Vale’s largest market, have led the Rio de Janeiro-based company to delay spending, close operations and consider cuts to investments and dividends.

“Third quarter results are likely to suffer from a steep drop in prices,” BTG Pactual Group analysts Edmo Chagas, Antonio Heluany and Gregory Goldfinger wrote in a Monday report.

NEWS RELEASE: Mining Association of Canada launches new scholarship for mining finance students

October 24, 2012

Shortage of young professionals needed in fields of mining and mineral economics

OTTAWA, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ – The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has announced the launch of a new scholarship available to Canadian university students interested in pursuing a career in mineral economics.

MAC and its members established the Paul Stothart Memorial Scholarship following the passing of its valued colleague, Paul Stothart. A graduate of Queen’s University (MBA Finance, Bachelor in Civil Engineering), Paul was an accomplished professional who was passionate about advancing the Canadian mining industry in his role as MAC’s Vice President of Economic Affairs, which he held from 2006 to 2012. The scholarship is valued at $3,500 and will be awarded annually to one student studying either a Bachelor or Master of Economics, or Master of Business Administration. Candidates must also demonstrate an interest in mineral economics through current or future course work.

As of today, students are able to submit their applications until April 15, 2013. The inaugural scholarship will be awarded to the selected candidate for the 2013-2014 school year.

A 2011 report from the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) estimates that the mining industry in Canada must hire 100,000 new workers over the next decade to replace retiring workers and to fill new positions.

Rejecting Asia – by Joseph Caron (National Post – October 24, 2012)

October 24, 2012

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

Joseph Caron is former ambassador to China, Japan and high commissioner to India, and a distinguished fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. He is also Special Advisor, Asia Pacific with Heenan Blaikie LLP.

Petronas, CNOOC will have big impact on how Canada is seen

The Canadian government’s interim determination, announced last Friday, that the proposed Petronas takeover of Progress Energy does not provide an as-yet-undefined “net benefit” to the country, has elicited more interest in Canada and internationally than would normally be the case for any other mid-sized and otherwise run-of-the mill foreign-investment transaction. Petronas is not well known in Canada beyond the oil patch.

(True, it is a state-owned enterprise, but who’s afraid of Malaysia?) Its failure — so far, that is, as the determination remains subject to appeal — has ramifications beyond whatever shadow it projects on the upcoming decision regarding CNOOC’s Nexen takeover proposal. The Petronas-Progress and CNOOC-Nexen issues demonstrate the dominant role that resource and energy continue to play in the perception, more than the reality, of the Canadian economy. Statistics Canada has called this “the return of the old economy.”

Conservatives work to clarify foreign takeover policy – by Steven Chase and Shawn McCarthy (Globe and Mail – October 24, 2012)

October 24, 2012

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.

OTTAWA — The Harper government is sharpening its policy on takeovers by foreign corporations to single out firms controlled by other governments and set more detailed conditions they must meet before Ottawa would approve a deal, sources say.

Under rising pressure to clarify Canada’s rules on foreign takeovers, the Conservatives are trying to strike a balance between attracting foreign investment to develop Canada’s natural resources and concerns about the objectives of powerful state-backed firms from China, Russia and elsewhere that have deep pockets and big appetites for resources.

Senior government sources offered the most detailed sense yet of what the Conservatives are considering.

At its heart would be a more sharply delineated, two-track system for judging whether a foreign takeover provides a “net benefit” – one track for transactions with typical corporations and another track for firms under the influence of foreign governments.

Treaty settlement the only way to end pipeline deadlock – by Daniel Veniez (Globe and Mail – October 17, 2012)

October 24, 2012

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.

The broken treaty process is a conspicuous illustration of a major impediment to the expansion of British Columbia’s economy. The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline debacle is its latest casualty.

In 1992, the federal and provincial governments created the BC Treaty Commission (BCTC) to facilitate the negotiation and settlement of treaties in British Columbia. Twenty years and an estimated $900-million later, a grand total of three treaties have been signed. Sophie Pierre, the Chief Commissioner, told me that the commission could be around for another 20 years.

Unsettled land claims are a quagmire, and the perpetual uncertainty over ownership and control of the land has stopped resource development. This should be a wake-up call to policy makers.

Aboriginal rights and title are protected by the Constitution, and confirmed as a concept in common law. The courts have repeatedly encouraged governments to deal with these claims. Politically at least, Ottawa and Victoria have not shown an interest in resolving these issues. Governments don’t appear to appreciate the economic damage their procrastination has inflicted. Some politicians are skeptical of treaties and prefer to pretend there’s no need for them.

Northern Iron wants Domtar as railroading partner – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – October 2012)

October 24, 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.

Northern Iron Corp. is knocking on Domtar’s door to gain access to a railroad right-of-way to advance a proposed open-pit iron ore operation in northwestern Ontario.

The Vancouver junior miner has a series of iron deposits spread out over 14,600 hectares, east of Ear Falls and south of the Red Lake gold mining district, that includes the former Griffith open pit, once operated by Stelco. The project contains an historic estimate of more than 500,000 million tonnes that the company is trying to prove up.

The company wants to build an on-site processing plant that converts iron ore into premium hot briquetted iron (HBI) for the North American and global steel industry. They’ve secured two advance orders of 960,000 tonnes of HBI from two Chinese state-owned companies if the mine goes ahead with production in 2016 as planned.

But to move product out, the company wants to gain access to a railway right-of-way that runs 120 kilometres south from the Griffith site to Amesdale, a spot on the Canadian National Railway’s (CN) main east-west line.

Ontera sell-off worries Northern [Ontario] leaders – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – October 23, 2012)

October 24, 2012

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

IROQUOIS FALLS – Even though Northlander passenger service has already been derailed, leaders from across Northeastern Ontario are still fighting for the ONTC.

Since the provincial government announced plans to divest itself of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, members of the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA) have been lobbying to save the services provided by the ONTC.

With passenger rail service now gone for the Hwy. 11 corridor, NEOMA is turning the bulk of its attention to preserving freight rail and infrastructure to the information highway.

Members of NEOMA, at its quarterly meeting in Iroquois Falls on Friday, discussed the future of ONTC. Northern leaders expressed frustration of the fact that the provincial government has not been sharing a lot of information about the divestiture.

“We’ve met with the government several times about the freight rail,” said Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren, chairman of NEOMA. “We haven’t been getting a lot of traction.