2012 – Page 47 – Republic of Mining

B.C. teachers’ union defends anti-pipeline teaching materials – by Kathryn Blaze Carlson (National Post – October 4, 2012)

October 4, 2012

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

Calling itself a “social justice union,” the B.C. Teachers’ Federation defended its promotion of anti-pipeline teaching resources on Wednesday, fueling a national debate about whether teachers should tout their own views in the classroom.

The poster features wildlife — a soaring eagle, a bear, seals and killer whales — enjoying a pristine ocean scene, but the bottom-right corner shows a wide-eyed fish lying dead amid black oily sludge along with the faint image of a skull and crossbones. The headline for the poster, published on the federation’s website as part of its “social justice” resources for teachers, is this: “What we stand to lose with pipelines and oil tankers.”

As the controversy percolated on Twitter, Canada’s Natural Resources minister, Joe Oliver, told reporters Wednesday he is concerned that B.C. youth are being subjected to just one side of a critical public issue. “My understanding is [the education resource is] somewhat unbalanced and I think that’s regrettable,” he said.

Vancouver School Board trustee Ken Denicke likened the poster, which comes amid debate over the Northern Gateway Pipeline, to propaganda; he called it “very much one-sided” and deemed it “totally inappropriate to present to young kids.”

Redford demands tougher conditions for Nexen-CNOOC approval: Source – by Theophilos Argitis and Andrew Mayeda (Toronto Star – October 4, 2012)

October 4, 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.

Bloomberg News – Alberta Premier Alison Redford asked the federal government to impose tougher management and employment conditions on CNOOC Ltd.’s $15.1 billion takeover offer of Nexen Inc. before approving the transaction, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Redford wants guarantees that at least 50 percent of Nexen’s board and management positions will be held by Canadians, the person said on condition they not be identified because the discussions are confidential. The request came in a recommendation provided to Industry Minister Christian Paradis and the government’s investment review division.

Alberta’s conditions may impose additional costs and risks for CNOOC at a time when oil-sands producers face a rising supply of North American crude and a lack of pipeline infrastructure threatens to stall sales. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is reviewing the bid under the nation’s foreign takeover law, which specifies transactions need to have a “net benefit” to the country in order to win approval.

Other recommendations made by Redford’s government are for CNOOC to maintain workforce levels for at least five years, to strengthen commitments to keep planned capital spending and to clarify plans for research and development, the person said, adding Alberta’s government has indicated it would not object to the transaction if the conditions were met.

Fresh start needed after Redford and Clark dig in heels over pipeline – Claudia Cattaneo (National Post – October 3, 2012)

October 4, 2012

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

A few years from now, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark’s “frosty” meeting with her Alberta counterpart, Alison Redford, to discuss how to share the benefits of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline could rank right up there in the nation’s lore, alongside late Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed’s threat to turn off Alberta’s oil taps and Calgary mayor Ralph Klein’s infamous line: “Let the Eastern bastards freeze in the dark.”

This time, though, it’s a B.C. politician who’s dishing it out from Alberta. “I want her to know that if this project has any chance of succeeding, someone, probably her, needs to stand up and be the advocate for it,” a bold Premier Clark told the media on the front steps of McDougall Centre in Calgary on Monday afternoon, following a meeting with Ms. Redford that lasted barely longer than a bathroom break.

“The Enbridge pipeline, I know is very is important to Alberta and important to the country, but frankly in the context of British Columbia, given the risks and benefits, we are not there.”

Then Ms. Clark, looking sharp in her high heels and tailored jacket, launched into a rant about how B.C. has “bigger fish to fry” with its “trillion dollar” natural gas industry, which will rival Alberta’s oil sands in daily output —

Ontario’s McGuinty government modernises Mining Act – by Henry Lazenby (MiningWeekly.com – October 3, 2012)

October 4, 2012

http://www.miningweekly.com/page/americas-home

TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Ontario’s provincial government, under the leadership of Premier Dalton McGuinty, on Wednesday said new rules aimed at modernising the provincial Mining Act would come into effect in November.

The Ontario government announced new rules that would impose exploration plans and permits on anyone planning to undertake certain early exploration activities, requiring them to immediately inform private landowners or Aboriginal communities of the expected activity.

Exploration plans and permits would be voluntary from November 1, and become mandatory from April 1, 2013.

“We’ve brought a 100-year-old piece of legislation into the twenty-first century. Through these regulations, as well as our ongoing work with industry and Aboriginal communities, we can all ensure Ontario continues to be a leading jurisdiction for mineral exploration investment for decades to come,” Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci said.

An exploration permit would now also be required to take bulk samples of Crown minerals for testing purposes.

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT NEWS RELEASE: More Progress in Mining Act Modernization

October 4, 2012

McGuinty Government Promoting Sustainable Mineral Exploration and Development

October 3, 2012 2:47 PM

Ontario is modernizing the way companies stake and explore their claims to be more respectful of Aboriginal communities and private landowners.

New rules under the province’s Mining Act include:

New requirements for notifying private landowners and consulting with Aboriginal communities potentially affected by proposed exploration activities.
New tools to help protect sites of Aboriginal cultural significance.
An awareness program for prospectors about the Mining Act changes.
More ways to keep mining claims in good standing.
New early exploration requirements to help minimize the impact on the environment.

The rules were developed in close partnership with industry stakeholders and Aboriginal representatives and take effect on Nov. 1, 2012. These changes will help ensure that mineral exploration and development in Ontario continues to occur in a balanced, socially and environmentally responsible manner.

Connecting First Nations with billion-dollar transmission line – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – October 3, 2012)

October 3, 2012

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

Planning for a northern transmission line that will connect remote First Nations of northwestern Ontario to the southern electricity grid took a big step forward last week, as the steering committee of Wataynikaneyap Power met with the Ontario government and released its Environmental Assessment notice.

The meeting between Wataynikaneyap and three provincial ministers marked a milestone in the estimated $1.1 billion project, as Phase 1 – upgrading the existing transmission line to Pickle Lake and running a line to the Musselwhite mine – gets closer to reality.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, there are lots of logistics and regulatory requirements, but this (transmission line) has been a priority determined by the communities that want their energy issues addressed,” said steering committee member Margaret Kenequenash.

Wataynikaneyap plans to be a 100 percent First Nations owned and operated company, with revenue from the transmission line going back to the communities that are part owners of the company. So far 13 First Nations have joined the company.

Duluth has big plans for Minnesota mining – by John Chadwick (Mineweb.com – October 3, 2012)

June 19, 2013October 3, 2012

www.mineweb.com

According to the miner, truly magnificent orebodies are being revealed in an area that has already played a very important role in the US mining industry.

LONDON (INTERNATIONAL MINING) – Ore riches that built America have much more to offer. Minnesota’s Iron Ranges to the west of Lake Superior – Vermilion, Mesabi and Cuyuna from the northeast of Duluth down to the south-southwest – have been the most important ore deposits in US history, and continue to be so, providing well over 90% of the iron ore the country needs. Just a few of the great historical landmarks include the establishment, in 1901, of the world’s first multi-billion dollar corporation, US Steel.

Before that, in May 1890, Edmund Longyear (founder of one of the companies that was to become, much later, Boart Longyear) brought the diamond drill to the Iron Ranges. This exploration tool was to be a key to unlocking the riches of the region.
William Boeing made profits from the Mesabi Range and just a few other great names with Iron Ranges associations include Henry Bessemer, Frederick Weyerhaeuser, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Kelsey D. Chase, and J.P. Morgan.

Of the known US mineral resources, Minnesota accounts for 99% of the nickel, 90% of the iron, 88% of the cobalt, 51% of the platinum and 48% of the palladium, 40% of the manganese and 34% of the copper. America’s third largest mining state may be poised to take the lead. In work pioneered by Duluth Metals, its Senior Vice President, Exploration, Dean M. Peterson and his innovative team, truly magnificent orebodies are being revealed in an area that has already played such an important role in the US mining industry.

In gold, iron ore they trust – by Marilyn Scales (Canadian Mining Journal – October 2, 2012)

May 4, 2015October 3, 2012

Marilyn Scales is a field editor for the Canadian Mining Journal, Canada’s first mining publication. She is one of Canada’s most senior mining commentators.

Mining companies appear to be having an easier time attracting investors recently – particularly if they have a gold or iron ore project. Both commodities have been hot, hot, hot the past year, and developers are prospering.

Labrador Iron Mines Holdings of Toronto has arranged at $30-million bought deal public equity financing. The company calls itself “Canada’s newest iron ore producer” having begun production at its James direct shipping ore iron mine earlier this year. Now LIM will issue 30 million common share at a price of $1.00 each. The deal is underwritten by Canaccord Genuity that is also entitled to an overallotment of 4.5 million shares. The net proceeds are to used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Premier Gold Mines of Thunder Bay, ON, has arranged a $58.5 million deal consisting of a bought deal public offering and flow-through shares. The company has a number of active exploration projects in Ontario and Nevada. A syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets has agreed to purchase 6.58 million common shares at $6.08 each plus 2.61 million flow-through shares at $7.08 each. The underwriters have been granted an overallotment option of 15%. Premier will use the net proceeds of the flow-through shares on its Canadian projects; the balance could be spent in the United States.

Mining inquiry gains momentum – by Heidi Ulrichsen (Sudbury Northern Life – October 2, 2012)

October 3, 2012

This article came from Northern Life, Sudbury’s biweekly newspaper.

150 pack Steelworkers Hall for forum

Wendy Fram said she was overwhelmed by the turnout at a forum examining the need for a mining inquiry at the Steelworkers Hall Oct. 1. About 150 people, many of them friends of her late son, Jordan Fram, packed the hall, and stood at the back when the chairs ran out. Jordan, along with his co-worker Jason Chenier, died in a mining accident at Vale’s Stobie Mine last year.

“I find that there’s already support to help us deal with this inquiry,” Wendy said. “Hopefully this is going to work for us. I’m going to try to stay as positive as I can and work hard and get this going.”

During the event, Wendy was elected chair of a new group called Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone’s Support (MINES), which will push for a mining inquiry. Her daughter, Briana Fram, was elected the group’s secretary. Miner Jodi Blasutti along with Cheryl Dufoe, whose son, Lyle Dufoe, died in a mining accident in Timmins in 2007, will act as co-vice-chairs.

Those at the event were invited to sign up as members of the group. “It’s my first time ever being a chair of a committee,” Fram said. “I’ll do my best. I have my daughter for support, which is a great support. My husband works at Vale, so he has a lot of great input as well.”

Ambitious plans for oil sands would create lakes from waste – by Nathan Vanderklippe (Globe and Mail – October 3, 2012)

October 3, 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

CALGARY — It could one day be Alberta’s very own Lake District, a recreational haven complete with campgrounds, boating, fishing – even swimming. Or it could turn into a landscape of ponds sullied by toxins and oil, a malingering presence left by an industrial experiment gone wrong.

It may take a century to find out what is left around Fort McMurray. Because the lakes, 30 of them, will be built by Canada’s oil sands industry. When the companies mining heavy crude from northeastern Alberta finish their work, they intend to pump water into old mine pits, some with toxic effluent at their bottoms, before leaving the area to biological processes to restore it to health.

If those plans go according to form, oil sands miners will leave behind broad stretches of new shore perched beside waters clean enough for fish and people. Success on this front would vindicate industry pledges to limit the mark it leaves on an area now home to sprawling open-pit mines.

But the coming lake district also highlights the scale of the ecological gamble under way in the province. The 30 bodies of water will be what are known as end pit lakes, left behind because it’s less costly to fill a mine with water than dirt.

[Ontario] Northlander makes its final run – by Liz Cowan (Northern Ontario Business – October 2012)

October 3, 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.

Sad farewell

“When we laid our rail in 1902

In a land so bright and new

It brought prosperity to people near and far . . .

Something to sing about

This line of ours.”

— Something to Sing About, a song about the ONR written by R. Gervais, circa 1965.

The rail tracks screech and groan as the Northlander leaves the Cochrane train station Sept. 28, shortly after 8 a.m., as it has done many times before. But this day is different. It’s the last time the engine will pull out. There’s a group of photographers set up beyond the train to capture the departure for posterity and people remaining on the platform wave to the passengers.

Despite a previous rally inside the station and on the platform, led by impassioned Cochrane Mayor Peter Politis, there’s an underlying air of melancholy and loss.

The Ontario government announced the divestment of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) in March. Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci said while the business is good, the business model is not.

ESSAY:Staring down my ghosts in Northern Ontario [Sudbury mining] – by Sandra Chmara (Globe and Mail – October 3, 2012)

October 3, 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

Little is left of the old nickel town of Victoria Mines: a few metres of crushed slag that once formed a road; sunken foundations, bits of wood. Now a ghost town in Ontario’s Sudbury Basin, it is where my family’s Canadian story began, around the turn of the last century.

Since my father’s death, my heart has been balled into a fist. I thought that coming to look at this place might ease the grip. As we exit the car, we spread out and take measure. Granite tumours bulge: unwelcoming, treacherous for my elderly mother and aunt and uncle. My husband and I keep our little boy close.

Occupying this ground demands an almost sepulchral reverence. It is a haunted space, even if its ghosts exist only in my awareness that life once burgeoned here and then was gone.

Scattered in the scrub are morsels of ore and the occasional verdigris shock of copper-cobalt. Evidence of the living – broken jars, a wooden cross, shards of metal – lie hidden within a hissing ocean of weeds and grass.

Time to give the [Ontario] Far North its own federal voice – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – October 3, 2012)

October 3, 2012

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

The landscape of federal politics is about to change, but the Boundary Commission is missing the boat when it comes to making real change to bring better representation to all Canadians.

Ontario is to get 15 new federal seats, as part of the once-a-decade adjustments made based on census data. Quebec will get three more seats, while Alberta and B.C. add six each. It’s not the numbers that are troublesome but the way they are distributed.

The growth of Ontario’s population, from 11,410,046 in 2001 to 12,856,821 in 2011 means the province’s number of ridings will increase to 121 from the 106 seats. That accounts for half the total expansion of the House, which is to go to 338 from 308.

Most new seats will go to the urban centres in southern Ontario, while in the North, the proposed new riding of Timmins-Cochrane-James Bay will grow even larger in area and population.

This means NDP MP Charlie Angus, will have an even larger territory to manage. As Angus said, the riding of Timmins-James Bay is already larger than Great Britain.