Mine/Refine Ontario ore in province: NDP – by Staff (Sudbury Star – April 11, 2013)

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

MPPs will debate a private member’s bill in the Legislature on Thursday that would require all ore and minerals mined in Ontario to be refined here.

The bill was introduced by Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha, who spoke in Question Period on Wednesday, urging the Liberal government of Premier Kathleen Wynne to maximize the economic potential of northern mining developments.

“The Ring of Fire presents endless opportunities for Northern Ontario and the province,” said Mantha, who is the New Democrats’ Northern Development and Mines critic.

“However, instead of seeing development and job creation, the past years of Liberal government have been marked by job losses in the North,” said Mantha.

“Look no further than Xstrata and Timmins to see that we are losing good, value-added jobs and crippling our workforce for years to come.” The Ontario Mining Act requires companies to get an exemption to ship resources out of the country, but Mantha said Ontario’s competition comes from Manitoba and Quebec, where the price of electricity is half of what it is in Ontario.

“If this government is serious about stimulating the economy and creating new jobs, will they commit to supporting the refining of minerals and ores in Ontario?” asked Mantha.

For original version, click here: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/04/10/mine-ontario-ore-in-province-ndp