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Northern Ontario Politics

Angus disappointed with lack of [Ring of Fire railroad] plan – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – April 11, 2013)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Members of the federal opposition were taking shots at a government “pipe-dream” this week – and for once it had nothing to do with oil sands.

MP Charlie Angus (NDP–Timmins-James Bay) said he was upset to look through the federal budget and see only cuts to rail service across the country.

He was particularly upset about the lack of mention of the James Bay Port Authority. The idea of a central, federally owned rail and infrastructure corporation — potentially located in the Moosonee region — was the source of much discussion within Northern municipalities, the federal government, and worker’s unions alike over the past year.

“I’m shocked,” Angus said. “I looked through the budget and there’s really no plan for Northern Ontario. One of the big promises being floated was to develop this James Bay Port Authority, and it was being proposed as a way of helping save Northern rail infrastructure. So what happened, where is it?”

On the heels of the provincial Liberals’ decision to sell off the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) in March 2012, followed by the cancellation of the Northland passenger train service in September 2012, there was uproar in Northern Ontario about the perceived lack of transparency and consultation.

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Confining processing to Ontario hurts mining – by Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – April 20, 2013)

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

Michael Gravelle is the Liberal Minister of Northern Development and Mines

I appreciate the concerns raised by Carlos Santander-Maturana in his letter of April 17 (Priorities Lie Elsewhere). However, our government members voted against the private member’s bill, the Mining Amendment Act, precisely because we want to protect and encourage job growth in the mining sector.

Creating a protectionist environment by requiring all ore mined in Ontario to be refined in the province would neither protect the important mining jobs we have, nor encourage further investment in this key sector.

Ontario is one of the leading mining jurisdictions in North America and benefits greatly from the ability to move minerals across borders. Many other jurisdictions currently take advantage of the expertise and resources available in Ontario, shipping their minerals here for refinement.

Four of Ontario’s five largest mineral processing facilities receive two-thirds or more of their feed from outside the province and their economic viability, as well as the jobs they create, depend very much on the movement of minerals from outside of Ontario. This could be threatened under the protectionist environment this act would have led to.

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On April 11 MPPs debated Bill 43 – Mining Act – by Sarah Campbell MPP Kenora-Rainy River (April 14, 2013)

Sarah Campbell is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2011 election. She represents the electoral district of Kenora—Rainy River as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party caucus.

KENORA – On April 11 MPPs debated Bill 43, an amendment to the Mining Act intended to promote Ontario jobs.

While it did not propose sweeping changes, the Bill would have created transparency in the system that could be used to promote economic development and job growth in the mining sector.

The bill changed only one word in the Act – a provision that ensured ‘all minerals mined in Ontario must be treated and refined in Canada’ would instead read that ‘all minerals mined in Ontario must be treated and refined in Ontario.’

The Act currently- and would still- allow for exceptions to be granted by the Minister of Northern Development and Mines. The only difference being that the Minister would have to explain and defend his or her decision to allow processing outside of Ontario.

This would force the government to publicly acknowledge policy and infrastructure shortcomings that renders the province at a competitive disadvantage. It would, at the same time, provide Ontarians with an important opportunity to address these challenges and provide for better long-term planning that can lead to successful job growth strategies.

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Keep riches here [in Ontario]: MPP – by Bryan Meadows (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – April 12, 2013)

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

Thunder Bay-Superior North and Kenora-Rainy River MPPs were on opposite sides of the fence Thursday when debating two private members’ bills at Queen’s Park.

Following debate late Thursday afternoon, MPPs defeated Bill 43: Mining Amendment Act (Resources Processed in Ontario), and approved second reading of Bill 42: Ombudsman Amendment Act (Children’s Aid Societies).

Bill 43, introduced by NDP Northern Development and Mines critic Michael Mantha (NDP-Algoma–Manitoulin), would have required ore and minerals mined in Ontario to remain in the province for refinement. Currently, companies can apply for an exemption from exporting restrictions, allowing them to send raw material anywhere in the world to be processed.

Following the vote, Mantha said the defeat of his bill shows that Liberal and Conservative MPPs are not serious about job creation. “My bill would have given Ontario’s mining industry a bright future,” he said.

“By keeping our resources in the province, there is the potential of job creation in many sectors. We would ensure that the unprecedented wealth of resources in the Ring of Fire is used to create good value-added jobs for Ontarians.”

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Nuke shield law matters in NWO – by Carl Clutchey (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – April 11, 2013)

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

Northwestern Ontario residents who could one day have a massive disposal site for used nuclear fuel bundles close to home should have a say in how much they could potentially sue nuclear industries for in the event of an accident, nuke safety advocates say.

The federal government is reviewing the little-known Nuclear Liability Act, which for the past 40 years has capped the amount that a nuclear supplier or vendor might have to pay out at $75 million. Critics say the figure is ridiculously out of date.

Greenpeace and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) are petitioning the government to expand the review of the act so that ongoing consultation includes public input — especially in the wake of the nuclear accident at Japan’s Fukushima plant two years ago.

“It’s unacceptable that the Harper government wants to continue protecting the nuclear industry without consulting Canadians,” Greenpeace nuclear analyst Shawn-Patrick Stensil said in a news release.

In a statement Wednesday, Natural Resources Canada Minister Joe Oliver said a bill proposing to bring the act up to date will be fully aired before it’s put to a vote in the House of Commons.

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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.

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Cuts not so severe: Clement – by Jonathan Migneaul (Sudbury Star – April 9, 2013)

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

Cuts to the Federal Economic Initiative for Northern Ontario in the latest federal budget are closer to $200,000 rather than the tens of millions claimed by the NDP, Tony Clement, the government minister responsible for FedNor, said Monday.

Industry Canada’s Report on Plans and Priorities for 2013-14 showed the Conservative government slashed the budget for community economic development by 26% from $81 million in forecast spending for 2012-13 to $60.3 million in planned spending for 2014-15.

NDP leader Thomas Muclair, during a Northern Ontario tour last week, said the cuts would affect FedNor, the federal department responsible to boost economic development in Northern Ontario.

“Unfortunately,” Muclair said, “the Conservatives’ cuts, the planned cuts of tens of millions of dollars from the budget of FedNor, will have a devastating effect in the whole region, particularly in centres of excellence. (The cuts will be) 20% this year, 25% next year.

“Those are the actual cuts to FedNor. If Tony Clement says anything otherwise, he’s not telling the truth. This is not a matter of ‘he said, she said,’ these are facts, they are printed on a piece of paper.”

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Ontario shortchanged by equalization payment rules – by Martin Regg Cohn (Toronto Star – April 7, 2013)

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.

Ontario is deeply in debt, but outdated equalization payment rules see the province sending big money to our fellow Canadians, Martin Regg Cohn writes.

Ontario is deeply in debt — roughly $265 billion — and has a massive annual deficit, now about $12 billion. It is slashing government services and freezing public-sector wages. Oh, and we are still giving away big money — $11 billion at last count — to our fellow Canadians.

That’s the tally released this month by the Mowat Centre, a local think tank bankrolled largely by the Ontario government to get the province’s message out — in hopes of keeping our cash from leaking out.

You can do the math: If we didn’t send so much money to other provinces, we wouldn’t be so deeply in debt. Meanwhile, other provinces are balancing their books on our backs, or use our funds to provide services at a higher level than we can afford to offer here — from low-fee child care to high-end health care.

It’s an argument made persuasively, and perennially, by the Mowat Centre (which, unsurprisingly, is headed by a former senior Ontario civil servant).

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One sees the forest, other the trees [FedNor] – by Sebastien Perth (Sudbury Star – April 8, 2013)

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

During a recent tour of Northern Ontario, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair said Tony Clement, the minister for FedNor, was playing word games when he said the latest federal budget won’t make any funding cuts to FedNor.

“Unfortunately the Conservatives’ cuts, the planned cuts of tens of millions of dollars from the budget of FedNor, will have a devastating effect in the whole region, particularly in centres of excellence. (The cuts will be) 20% this year, 25% next year. Those are the actual cuts to FedNor.

“If Tony Clement says anything otherwise, he’s not telling the truth. This is not a matter of ‘he said, she said,’ these are facts, they are printed on a piece of paper.

“Tony Clement should start telling the truth to people in Northern Ontario. If he’s got the guts to cut, let him have the guts to admit what he’s doing and stop playing word games,” Mulcair said during a stop at NORCAT while he was in Sudbury last Thursday.

He added the cuts to FedNor would have a devastating impact on the economy in the north of the province.

“FedNor has been one of those great solutions to provide a more balanced economy in an area that has a great richness in primary natural resources and their developments. That’s a great thing for the region and Canada.

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If Ottawa won’t, Ontario must [Experimental Lakes Area] – Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Editorial (April 8, 2013)

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

The Experimental Lakes Area may be down, but surely — surely — it’s not out. The federal government last week formally closed the unique freshwater research station, located near Kenora. In doing so, it will save a whopping $2 million a year (actually, they’ll save less than that, because much of that $2 million is made up via user fees).

The casualty — aside from the growing political price the Conservatives are paying — is invaluable scientific research into, essentially, the effects of human activities on freshwater ecosystems. That research is vital. It’s incredibly important that we know, exactly, what effects our activities have on the natural world, the fresh water we consume, and the animals and plants that live in and around it.

It is appalling that the federal government would choose to close such a valuable and important facility, ignoring informed pleas and warnings from the global scientific community. The ELA plays too important a role in scientific research to be shuttered and forgotten.

The timing, however, may be good. The Ontario government is in its annual budget mode. That budget has yet to be tabled, but may we suggest it contain some money earmarked for the takeover and continued operation of the Experimental Lakes Area?

We’re not the only ones in favour of such a move. Environment North vice-president Graham Saunders made the case directly to the province last Wednesday, urging the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to in turn urge the Ontario government take the ELA’s reins.

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FedNor cuts will be ‘devastating’: Mulcair – by Sebastien Perth (Sudbury Star – April 5, 2013)

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

NDP leader accuses Tony Clement of ‘word games’ and calls Cliffs’ approach to Ring of Fire ‘really stupid’

The Conservatives are lying when they call cuts to FedNor “efficiencies,” federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair said Thursday during a visit to Sudbury.

Mulcair talked about Conservative spending cuts, Liberal party polling numbers and the Ring of Fire development during a media scrum at NORCAT offices on Maley Drive.

Mulcair accused Tony Clement, the minister for FedNor, of playing word games, in a dispute over the FedNor budget. The NDP says the department’s budget will be slashed from $81 million in 2012-13 to $60.3 million in 2014-15. In a release, Clement said the cuts won’t affect FedNor’s ability to deliver programs– a claim Mulcair challenged.

“Unfortunately, the Conservatives’ cuts, the planned cuts of tens of millions of dollars from the budget of FedNor, will have a devastating effect in the whole region, particularly in centres of excellence,” he said. “(The cuts will be) 20% this year and 25% next year — those are the actual cuts to FedNor.”

“If Tony Clement says anything otherwise, he’s not telling the truth. This is not a matter of ‘he said, she said’ — these are facts, they are printed on a piece of paper.”

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Forward-looking companies will make it in Ring of Fire: Mulcair (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – April 3, 2013)

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

The leader of Canada’s official Opposition says companies need to be “forward-looking” and respect First Nations if they hope to be successful in the Ring of Fire.

“We have to have everyone at the table,” federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said in Thunder Bay on Tuesday.

“There are good models that have worked. Manitoba has a great model, for example — when they develop new hydro projects, they have revenue sharing and 70-year plans and deals with First Nations. Quebec was forced to come up with a deal rapidly when the courts shut down the James Bay hydroelectric agreement some 40 years ago.

“So we’re looking at the behaviour of some of the companies,” he said. “Trying to exclude elders from giving expert testimony in court is just not smart, because what it does is it signals that the companies don’t get it. They’re not willing to work with First Nations and respect their rights.

“So we’re hoping that forward-looking companies will be involved in this, respect not only the rights of First Nations today, but the rights of future generations of all Canadians.”

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Tories, NDP fighting over FedNor – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – April 3, 2013)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – A war of words being waged over the federal government’s plan to support economic development in Northern Ontario.

Due to a lack of information regarding the 2013 budget, that’s about all we know. On Tuesday, the NDP sent out a press release denouncing the ruling Conservatives for “slashing economic development investment in Northern Ontario.”

It stated that FedNor (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) was facing cuts in the 2013 budget – from $73 million in 2012 to $60.3 million by 2014.

With the government seeking ways to balance the federal budget, MP Charlie Angus (NDP – Timmins-James Bay) said, “There is no real rationalization for trying to get us out of a slow economy by cutting an economic investment.

“FedNor is a major stimulus for getting new business starts, for getting companies re-tooled, so it pays itself off because it’s a driver of the economy. For the Conservatives to be taking a serious whack at economic development investment in the North, it just doesn’t make any sense.”

Angus said funding from FedNor is essential to allowing businesses in Northern Ontario to compete with others based in more opportune locations and regions.

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Stakeholder talks open on ONTC – by Liz Cowan (Northern Ontario Business – March 26, 2013)

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.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle delivers the government’s message on the ONTC to the media, March 25 in North Bay, while members of his special advisory committee look on.
A year and two days later after the provincial government’s controversial decision to sell off the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC), regional stakeholders were finally given a chance to provide input.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle met with a new ONTC advisory committee of political, industry and First Nations representatives in North Bay, March 25.

“All the members have provided ideas to help the government’s decision on the ONTC divestment and are helping us move to a more sustainable telecommunications and transportation system for the North,” he said. “This is clearly a very important issue here for us, and I deeply value the opinions, viewpoints and the experience of all the committee members.”

On March 23, 2012, Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci, who was then minister of Northern Development and Mines, announced the surprise divestment of the North Bay-headquartered Crown agency from his home riding in Sudbury. It caused an uproar from unionized workers and community leaders across northeastern Ontario.

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ONTC talks include Northern leaders – by Wayne Snider(Timmins Daily Press – March 22, 2013)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Northern leaders will have the chance to provide input into the privatization of the ONTC.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle announced Thursday the formation of an advisory committee to provide the provincial government with input into the divestment process of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

“I made a commitment to set up this Ministerial Advisory Committee to ensure the voices of Northerners and all those impacted by the divestment of ONTC were heard,” Gravelle said in a press release.

“The advisory committee has also been established to meet the standard our government has set out: To see that divestment recognizes the economic development value of the ONTC, and that the decisions made reflect the need to put in place a Northern transportation strategy that recognizes growth and prosperity.”

The divestment of the provincially owned ONTC was announced on March 23, 2012. The move sparked protests across Northeastern Ontario. The Northlander passenger rail service was shut down in September. Freight rail and Ontera, the telecommunications arm of the ONTC, are still in line for privatization.

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