Mining Conflict and Opposition – Page 81

KI ‘wins’ in mining’s loss – Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Editorial (March 7, 2012)

March 8, 2012

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

THERE is frustration bordering on resentment in today’s letter from geologist John Scott concerning the Ontario government’s withdrawal of 23,000 square kilometres of northern land from mining. Curiously, there is not a concurrent level of joy in the response of Donny Morris, chief of the area’s Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, who has been leading prolonged opposition to mining exploration anywhere near KI except on its terms, which remain elusive. Instead, Morris claims he was caught off-guard by Sunday’s announcement by Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci, though his office says it tried several times to make contact. Morris challenged the minister to visit the reserve to discuss the boundaries of the land.

By Morris’ own count, his band and the province have been discussing the future of this land mass since 2001. There is a time for talking and a time for doing and it appears that Bartolucci has called Morris’ bluff. Unable to settle with KI on how to proceed, and facing mounting pressure from the mining industry for certainty on where it can look for minerals, Bartolucci withdrew this giant chunk of land “to give clarity to the province’s mining exploration industry and avoid future disagreements over the land in question.”

[Ontario] Gov’t fails mining – by John Scott (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – March 7, 2012)

March 8, 2012

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

John Scott is from the Thunder Bay Geological Services

Re Government Move Surprises KI; Huge Chunk of Land Near Reserve Off-limits to Mining — CJ, March 6:

Once again the Government of Ontario has failed the people of Ontario and has failed the only industry in the province that is still (?) viable enough the drag the province out of its economic tailspin. The problems with KI are not so great that Premier Dalton McGuinty has to use a club of this proportion to appease the handful, and it is a handful, of KI squeaky wheels.

While generally the area still has to be explored, we know enough of the area to indicate that the mineral potential is conducive to exploration. This is based on the magnetic characteristics of the rocks as well as the geology of the area. The potential for deposits of gold, base metals, copper, nickel and the platinum group metals to be found within the area withdrawn from staking is very high. The development of these Ontario resources would have benefited the entire province; now these potential resources have been removed from the economy of the province to the detriment of all.

What would the people living in the Toronto-centered area say if the government did not allow any exploration or development of any kind in an area equivalent to the KI withdrawal centered over Toronto?

A cautionary tale for the mining industry [Solid Gold Resources/Wahgoshig F.N. conflict] – by Jeff Gray (Globe and Mail – March 7, 2012)

March 7, 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.

David Babin, chief of the tiny Wahgoshig First Nation in Northern Ontario, was driving home from nearby Kirkland Lake during the spring thaw last year when he noticed the heavy equipment of a drilling crew, looking for gold in his people’s traditional lands.

It was the first Chief Babin had heard of the drilling. And it was the beginning of conflict that would end up in court, with an Ontario judge handing down a rare injunction earlier this year that suspended drilling on behalf of Solid Gold Resources Corp., a Thornhill, Ont.-based junior miner, and ordered consultations with the Wahgoshig.

“They didn’t understand first nation’s concerns,” Chief Babin said of the company in an interview. “Meanwhile, these guys kept on drilling, saying, ‘We’ve got the right to drill, and you can’t stop me.’ ”

Lawyers who work on these cases, representing both native bands and mining companies, say Solid Gold’s story is a cautionary tale for companies that fail to properly consult native communities that could be affected by their activities on Crown land.

Ontario to protect 23,000 square kilometers of native land from mining – by Tanya Talaga (Toronto Star – March 6, 2012)

March 6, 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.

In a surprise move, the province has protected 23,181 square kilometres of traditional First Nation land in northern Ontario away from mining firms.

The land in question is near the territory of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) about 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. God’s Lake Resources, a junior gold mining firm, has plans for a 3,000-metre drill program in the area.

This is not the first time KI has been in a dispute over land use. Four years ago, KI was embroiled in a long-standing conflict with Platinex, a Canadian exploration firm, who sued Ontario and the Cree First Nation because they said they were prevented from accessing their mining claims.

The province spent $5 million to settle the dispute.

Huge [Ontario] land withdrawal catches KI off guard – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – March 5, 2012)

March 6, 2012

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

The Ontario government says its recent land withdrawal near Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) will help avoid future disagreements like the ongoing conflict between God’s Lake Resources and KI.

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines announced Mar. 4 that it has withdrawn 23,181 square kilometers “in the vicinity of KI” from prospecting and mine claim staking.

But KI Chief Donny Morris said the land withdrawal caught his community off guard, considering that negotiations between the First Nation and Ontario over land claims broke down months ago.

Ontario Government move surprises KI – by Carl Clutchey (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – March 6, 2012)

March 6, 2012

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

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation Chief Donny Morris says his community needs time to ponder the province’s move to make a huge tract of land north of the reserve off-limits to mining.

“For something of this size, it’s an historical event,” Morris said Monday from Big Trout Lake, a fly-in community of 1,300 Oji-Cree located 500 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

In a surprise announcement Sunday, Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci excluded from mining 23,000 square kilometres of KI traditional territory “to give clarity to the province’s mineral exploration industry and avoid future disagreements over the land in question.”

In 2009, the Ontario government paid Toronto-based exploration company Platinex $5 million, plus options for future royalties, when the company agreed to stop exploring south of the KI community.

NEWS RELEASE: Ontario Addresses Mineral Exploration Concerns [KI-God’s Lake Resources conflict]

March 5, 2012

March 4, 2012 10:00 AM

McGuinty Government Takes Steps to Address Mineral Exploration Impasse

Ontario has withdrawn lands in the vicinity of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) from prospecting and mining claim staking to give clarity to the province’s mineral exploration industry and avoid future disagreements over the land in question.

KI asserts jurisdiction over the land and has asked for a moratorium on mineral exploration and development. The Ontario Government has made several attempts to facilitate communication between KI and God’s Lake Resources (GLR), a junior mineral exploration company that holds a mining lease and mining claims in the vicinity of KI, north of Red Lake in Northwestern Ontario. The company’s existing mining lease and mining claims are not affected by the withdrawal.

The government remains committed to continuing discussions with both parties.

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

March 4, 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.

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

March 2, 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.

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

March 2, 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.

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

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.

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

March 1, 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)

March 1, 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 …

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

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.

MINING WATCH NEWS RELEASE: ROYALTIES, ENVIRONMENT AND CITIZENS’ RIGHTS : SURVEY RESULTS SUPPORT DEMANDS OF QUEBEC MINING REFORM COALITION

February 27, 2012

http://www.miningwatch.ca/

Monday, February 27, 2012

For Immediate Release

ROYALTIES, ENVIRONMENT AND CITIZENS’ RIGHTS: SURVEY RESULTS SUPPORT DEMANDS OF QUEBEC MINING REFORM COALITION

Montréal, Sunday, February 26, 2012. “The survey by Léger Marketing on the mining industry confirms the relevance and importance of our work over the last four years” stated Ugo Lapointe of the Coalition Québec meilleure mine (Better Mining Coalition). According to the survey, a majority of residents of Québec including the Abitibi region (the most active mining area of Québec) agree that there is a need for further reforms to improve royalties, environmental protection and respect of citizens’ rights. “It’s very encouraging. It shows that our positions are supported by the people of Québec, even in the mining regions where the industry lobby is most active” added Lapointe.

Conducted between February 17 and 19 for the Journal de Montréal the survey questioned 600 people, with a good representation of respondents from Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Results of the survey include:

– 59% of the Québec population judges current royalties to be insufficient, including 73% of Abitibi-Témiscamingue residents