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Northern Ontario Politics

Show us the Ring of Fire plan, says Rickford to province – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – December 4, 2014)

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.

Federal Natural Resources and FedNor Minister Greg Rickford remains optimistic about the future prospects for the Ring of Fire despite the slow exit of Cliffs Natural Resources from Ontario.

But the Kenora MP stuck to the federal government’s line that the province must identify “focussed infrastructure projects” before Ottawa is prepared to spring for any dollars to help the Wynne government develop a transportation corridor to reach the stranded chromite and nickel deposits in the James Bay region.

“I remain confident that the province will come to understand that that’s what Northern Ontarians expect on this legacy resource development project.”

Rickford was in Sudbury Dec. 4 to announce the Community Investment Initiative for Northern Ontario, a FedNor program that sets aside $3 million for small towns and remote First Nations to hire economic development officers to advance local projects in their communities.

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Ontario lecturing Harper on good government is laughable 133 – by Christina Blizzard (Toronto Sun – November 25, 2014)

 http://www.torontosun.com/

TORONTO – They’re the terrible twins of Confederation: Ontario and Quebec. Yet like two wayward, know-it-all teenagers, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and her Quebec counterpart, Philippe Couillard, have taken to lecturing the grown-ups about what they’re doing wrong.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, like a bemused dad, rolls his eyes and ignores them — which as any parent will tell you is the best way to deal with kids who act out.

Except these two aren’t just seeking attention. They want his money. Quebec and Ontario are the two most indebted provinces. It’s almost as if they’re competing with each other. Who can dream up the costliest program to drive their province deeper in the red? Quebec comes up with $7-a-day daycare? We’ll raise that — and see you with full-day kindergarten.

Wynne and her government use any opportunity they can to slam Harper. Clearly, they’re trying to help federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau as we head into next year’s federal election. Don’t forget, some of Trudeau’s advisers are the people who brought former premier Dalton McGuinty to power.

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Leadership race: Ring of Fire ignites PC debate – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – November 25, 2014)

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

It was the last question at the first Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership debate, submitted online by a man from Huntsville. But it fired up candidates and an audience of about 150 people, most party faithful, at College Boreal on Monday night.

Whitby-Oshawa MPP Christine Elliott, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod and Barrie MP Patrick Brown were asked what their plans were to spur development of the Ring of Fire.

“We’ve heard a lot of talk and promises from the Liberals,” wrote the Huntsville resident, “but no real plan to move forward.” All four candidates couldn’t have agreed more with that statement.

Fedeli summed up the frustration of northerners with the lack of development of the chromite deposits 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay at the first of six debates before a new party leader is named May 9.

A former two-term mayor of North Bay, Fedeli said he remembered the Liberals’ Northern Development and Mines minister visiting his town to talk about this “great, vast find.”

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Ontario should be No. 1 in mining: Fedeli – by Jeff Labine (Timmins Daily Press – November 21, 2014)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Vic Fedeli wants to make Ontario No. 1 in mining again.

The MPP for Nipissing and Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership candidate paid a visit to the Timmins Chamber of Commerce on Friday during his campaign tour. He laid out his plan to help small businesses if he gets elected as party leader this coming May. He called it an excellent opportunity to discuss the business climate in Ontario.

He said there are many threats to businesses – such as high energy rates and payroll taxes – so he promised that as party leader he would work to lower hydro and have the government stay out of the way while providing support and less red tape.

His first step to reducing those costs was to stop spending as he believes the province spends more than it takes in. He pointed to the recent fall economic statement that showed a $509 million shortfall.

He said he wants Ontario to be first in everything from health care to mining. “This isn’t about ideology. This is about rolling up our sleeves and doing what’s right for all of us,” he said. “You can imagine here in Northern Ontario the mining and forestry sectors that getting permits for a new mine has become almost impossible, it has certainly become impracticable.

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Province on defensive after federal accusations of Ring of Fire inaction – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – November 20, 2014)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

The provincial and federal governments seem to be in a war of words over the Ring of Fire. Federal Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford (Con., Kenora) said in the House of Commons Wednesday that the province’s much-touted $1 billion for infrastructure and development corporation in the Ring of Fire isn’t actual policy.

“Ontario has not committed a red cent and has set up a development corporation that is not supported by First Nation communities, the private sector, and it is not a policy option for this government in its current form,” Rickford said.

“We have made significant investments in the Ring of Fire and will continue to demonstrate our commitment by working with First Nation communities and the provincial government should it identify the Ring of Fire as an actual priority.”

He was responding to a question by MP David McGuinty (Lib., Ottawa South) on whether Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne by the end of the year on the issue.

In Queen’s Park Thursday Ontario Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle (Lib., Thunder Bay-Superior North) said the province is absolutely committed to the project despite the absence of the federal government.

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Ring of Fire funding held up by Ottawa, Ontario battle – by Bill Curry (Globe and Mail – November 19, 2014)

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.

OTTAWA — Plans to spend billions of federal and provincial dollars on infrastructure in Ontario are being held up by a behind-the-scenes battle over the Ring of Fire, as the province wants Ottawa to match $1-billion in new money to develop the ambitious mining project.

Nearly two years have passed since Ottawa announced a 10-year, $14-billion Building Canada Fund for infrastructure, but the Conservative government is expressing its strong frustration that Ontario has yet to submit a list of projects. Ottawa has said Ontario qualifies for $2.7-billion from the fund, but the province argues that using that money for the Ring of Fire would leave very little for other provincial needs such as transit and new roads.

As a result, the two governments appear to be at loggerheads, though ministers and officials are attempting to break the impasse. The waiting, combined with falling chromite prices, has proved to be too much for Cleveland’s Cliffs Natural Resources – the region’s leading mining firm is now looking to sell its Ring of Fire assets.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford, who represents the Northwestern Ontario riding of Kenora, insisted Tuesday that there is momentum around the Ring of Fire and that he expects the two governments to make progress shortly.

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MPP says Ontario dragging its feet on Ring of Fire – by Jeff Labine (Timmins Daily Press – November 19, 2014)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – The MPP for Timmins-James Bay is blaming the Liberal government for squandering the proposed Ring of Fire project and causing friction with mining companies.

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa delivered his fall economic statement, saying the government is working to meet fiscal targets despite modest economic growth and later than expected revenues. He said the revenue projection for 2014-15 is $118.4 billion – $509 million lower than first forecast.

In that same report, Sousa once again called on the federal government to match the Liberal’s $1-billion investment into the Ring of Fire.

New Democrat MPP Gilles Bisson said because the Liberals have dragged their feet, major companies like Cliffs Natural Resources have left the project. He said Cliffs and many other mining companies continue to voice their frustration with the government.

“They have been talking about the Ring of Fire for eight or nine years,” he said. “They have mentioned it now in two or three budgets and a couple of Throne Speeches. Now they got this fallacy going on that they are going to do something when it comes to infrastructure in the Ring of Fire but we have to wait for the feds.

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Feds prepared to spend billions on Ring of Fire – by Len Gillis (Timmins Times – November 18, 2014)

www.timminstimes.co

Federal mines minister Greg Rickford said this week the federal government is ready to ante up its share of infrastructure funding for nationally significant projects such as the Ring of Fire mining development.

But he made it clear that the Province of Ontario will have to pay a share of those costs as well. Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, was speaking at the annual Mining Day event on Parliament Hill on Tuesday. The event was sponsored by the Mining Association of Canada. The Timmins Times requested a copy of his speech.

Rickford, the government MP for Kenora, said he recognizes the importance of mining on both the provincial and national levels, in that it continues to generate tens of billions of dollars to Canada’s GDP (gross domestic product).

“Bottom line – mining is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy and our quality of life,” he said. He admitted that as a Northern MP, he has a continuing local interest.

“My riding has a dynamic mining sector, with some of this country’s biggest mines. As your own figures show, the sector is directly responsible for providing more than 380,000 jobs. The industry is a major employer of Aboriginal Peoples, providing employment to over 10,000 individuals,” Rickford told the audience.

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PoV: Sudburians victim of political shell game – by Don MacDonald (Sudbury Star – November 12, 2014)

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

When it comes to developing the Ring of Fire, or building the Maley Drive extension, Sudburians are getting to watch the old political shell game. It’s not a game they want to play or one in which they can get any satisfaction.

During spring’s Ontario election campaign, Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne promised $1 billion to help develop the infrastructure the Ring of Fire needs, such as roads and power. She promised to strike a board to oversee the development of the Ring of Fire within 60 days of getting elected.

Wynne also promised $26.7 million as the province’s share of extending Maley Drive. The city has already committed $26.7 million; all that’s needed is for the federal government to come up with its $26.7 million.

Maley Drive is important to the city because the extension would reduce traffic on Lasalle and The Kingsway, and divert heavy ore and other trucks.

The Ring of Fire is important to Sudbury — but also Northern Ontario and, in fact, all of Canada — because it may be home to $60 billion in mineral wealth. It could create thousands of new jobs and lots of new tax revenue. Sudbury, being the centre of mining in Ontario, can only stand to benefit by opening up the Ring of Fire, a large swath of land in northwestern Ontario containing chromite, nickel, copper and platinum.

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“The clock is ticking” on Algoma Central Railway – by Greg Gormick (Northern Ontario Business – November 2014)

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.

A takeover of the Algoma Central Railway (ACR) passenger service from CN by a third-party operator is in the works and, at first blush, this seems to hold the promise of reviving the Agawa Canyon tour train and the full Sault Ste. Marie-Hearst service.

CN’s business is moving large volumes of freight over long distances, not hauling passengers. A new operator can bring expertise and enthusiasm that’s been understandably lacking under CN. Its involvement is only a consequence of its 2001 purchase of the ACR as part of a larger package of railway lines from Wisconsin Central (WC), which acquired the ACR in 1995. CN really didn’t want the ACR or its federally-subsidized passenger service, but was obliged to take both because it wanted other strategically-valuable WC lines.

But in the cheering about the potential improvements that could come with a new passenger service provider operating on CN infrastructure, there are two issues not being fully considered.

The most obvious one is the subsidy, which has been provided by the federal government since 1968 under a program to support passenger trains vital to regions lacking adequate air and road access.

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Howard Hampton to advise federal NDP on Ontario’s Ring of Fire – by Rosemary Barton (CBC News – November 04, 2014)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics

Success in northern Ontario important to federal NDP’s chances in 2015

In a bid to try and push ahead the ill-fated development of the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario, the federal NDP is bringing a well-known Ontario face on board to help.

CBC News has learned federal New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair will announce former Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton as a special adviser for the party. Mulcair will make the announcement before the party’s weekly caucus meeting tomorrow.

Sources says Hampton will start working for the federal party immediately as a liaison on the complicated development file.

Hampton, who spent 24 years as a member of provincial Parliament, or MPP, for the northern Ontario provincial riding of Kenora-Rainy River, has experience at Queen’s Park, but has also worked extensively with First Nations communities in the region, as well as with mining companies.

As an adviser for the Official Opposition, Hampton will only be able to lay the groundwork for how and what the NDP would do if the party were to form the government after the next election. The appointment speaks to the party’s interest in the project. But it’s also about politics.

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NEWS RELEASE: NDP DEMANDS CONSERVATIVES SHOW LEADERSHIP PROMISED ON RING OF FIRE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2014

OTTAWA – Following claims from Cliffs Resources’ chief executive officer that the future of the Ring of Fire is in question, New Democrats are demanding Conservatives drop the silent treatment and work to make sure the project moves forward.

Today, NDP MP Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt) demanded answers from the Conservatives as to when Northern Ontarians can finally expect the economic investment in the Ring of Fire they’ve been promised.

Claude Gravelle:

The new CEO of Cliffs Natural Resources sees zero hope of developing the Ring of Fire in the next 50 years, he cites no plan, no infrastructure, no leadership.

This means no jobs, no investments for Northern Ontario and no benefits to Ontario’s broader mining, finance and technology sectors.

Almost all of the government’s Ring of Fire announcements failed to materialize. When will this government show the leadership it promised over a year ago and work with ‎Ontario to make Ring of Fire happen?

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NDP critic knocks Liberals over Ring of Fire – Michael Mantha Letter to the Editor (Sudbury Star – October 4, 2014)

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

Michael Mantha is the MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin and the NDP Critic for Northern Development and Mines.

Re: Minister defends record on Ring of Fire

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle’s letter to the editor criticizing NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on the Ring of Fire demonstrates the Liberal government’s failure to develop the project and Premier Wynne’s lack of leadership for Northern Ontario.

The minister claims his government is leading the way to drive development in the Ring of Fire and that significant progress has been made despite his government’s widely reported failures on the project. Ask Northerners what they think about the Liberal record on Ring of Fire.

After lack of action on the Ring of Fire over the last seven years and a vague announcement of creating a development corporation, the Wynne government gave itself a deadline of 60 days to create that corporation that was to include partners in industry and First Nations. What the Wynne government produced, in order to meet its self-imposed deadline, was a board comprised of four government bureaucrats sitting at the table by themselves.

The Wynne government failed to bring industry together. Premier Wynne and Minister Gravelle failed to bring First Nations together.

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North Bay residents up in arms over TransCanada plan to switch crude oil for gas in local pipeline – by Raveen Aulakh (Toronto Star – September 28, 2014)

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.

TransCanada Corp. plans to repurpose a pipeline running through North Bay, Ont., from carrying natural gas to crude oil. Locals worry about potential environmental damage.

NORTH BAY, ONT.—From his many-windowed fifth-floor office at city hall, Mayor Al McDonald points to the Laurentian escarpment to the north, then to the shimmering blue waters of Trout Lake to the east. Vast Lake Nipissing is visible to the west, though you have to crane your neck to see it. Below are the Victorian buildings and tree-lined streets of the downtown.

McDonald clearly loves showing off the view. But it also pitches him into anxiety. “If something happens to Energy East here, if there is a spill, we’ll be ruined,” he says. “Who would want to come here then?”

Somewhere near the escarpment and Trout Lake, there is a natural gas pipeline. It has been there for four decades, but has become a source of concern in this northeastern Ontario city.

TransCanada Corp., the Alberta-based oil giant, wants to repurpose the pipeline, now carrying natural gas, to transport crude oil from Alberta’s oil sands to New Brunswick. Dubbed Energy East, the project is TransCanada’s $12-billion oil dream.

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Go bigger with bear hunt (Thunder Bay Chronicle- Journal – July 20, 2014)

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

A pilot-project bear hunt that ran in eight wildlife management units this spring, including one near Thunder Bay, needs to be expanded to be an effective wildlife management tool.

This past week a Thunder Bay man was knocked down and dragged by a bear near his home on Garden Avenue. It was the second aggressive bear encounter this summer in the city. One bear which showed up in the Oliver Road area and became aggressive had to be put down by city police.

In another encounter last month in Sioux Lookout, a man was dragged off a trail by a bear. So far no one has been seriously injured.

Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen’s Alliance John Kaplanis said Friday that it would be “most prudent” of Natural Resources Minister Bill Mauro to consider changes to the pilot project, if it is not doing enough to affect local bear populations.

He said NOSA has recommended that the pilot hunt be expanded to include additional wildlife management units as well as allow non-resident bear hunters, housed by tourist operators, to participate in the spring hunt.

Kaplanis noted that the spring hunt is only six weeks in length and with the very late thaw in Northwestern Ontario it is likely that the pilot bear hunt had little effect on black bear numbers.

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