Northern Ontario Politics – Page 34

Will the Ring of Fire lead to a new Northwestern Ontario territory? – by James Murray (Netnewsledger.com – May 16, 2012)

May 16, 2012

http://netnewsledger.com/

THUNDER BAY – Editorial – Will the Ring of Fire lead to a new Northwestern Ontario territory? In the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday the issue of mining and the Ring of Fire was discussed. Sarah Campbell went so far as to state in the legislature, “This government must start representing our needs and interests today; otherwise, its not just Cliffs that will receive an eviction notice from the northwest, it will be the government of Ontario”.

This is the first time in recent memory that the subject of Northwestern Ontario as a separate political entity from the rest of Ontario has been raised.

It demonstrates the degree of frustration and the depth of growing anger over how the McGuinty government is treating the region.

Campbell stated in a members statement read in Queen’s Park, “While Cliffs made a business decision to process northwestern Ontario resources in northeastern Ontario, which is its right, this government has no excuse for failing in its duty to involve northerners in the process. While the government is silent on many details, it is clear that this government has made commitments without involving municipal leaders or First Nations.

[Northern Ontario Alienation] Forget flying flag half mast … it’s time to light a match – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – May 11, 2012)

May 12, 2012

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

At a time provincial Liberal cabinet ministers are strutting around the south — their chests all puffed out with pride — bragging about all the good they are doing for Northern Ontario, mayors from across the region are doing their damnedest to let everyone know the real reason behind such upper body over-inflation.

The government is full of hot air.

One day after Ohio-based Cliffs Resources announced it will invest $1.8 billion to build a chromite processing facility in Capreol — creating hundreds of direct jobs in the process — municipal leaders were calling the government out on Northern issues.

Kapuskasing Mayor Al Spacek, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), and Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren, chairman of the Northeastern Ontario Municipal Association (NEOMA), were front and centre at meetings in North Bay this week with other Northern political and business leaders. They were hell bent on spreading the word.

First Nation leaders threaten to pull support for Ring of Fire – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – May 11, 2012)

May 12, 2012

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

First Nation leaders are threatening to pull support for mining in the Ring of Fire, after Cliffs Resources’ announced it plans to locate its chromite processing plant in Sudbury.

Cliffs announced on May 9 that the mining company will go ahead with the $3.3 billion Ring of Fire project, which includes the chromite mine east of Webequie, a transportation route running south from the mine site to connect to highway 17 near Aroland, and a ferrochrome processing plant in Sudbury.

The decision goes against the wishes of First Nations and municipal leaders in northwestern Ontario, who wanted to see the processing plant located in Greenstone.

“It’s obvious the province and Cliffs haven’t been listening to First Nations, and what their concerns and their aspirations are,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose. “Today is a classic example of development going ahead without adequate consultation, input and consent from our First Nations.”

Cliffs may export 40% of chromite from Ontario Ring of Fire for processing – by Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press (Canadian Business Magazine – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-publishing business magazine in Canada.

TORONTO – Ontario will likely give Cliffs Natural Resources an exemption from the Mining Act to process a large amount of the chromite it takes out of the Ring of Fire offshore, Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested Thursday.

The New Democrats want as much of the ore as possible smelted and refined in Ontario, and say more processing facilities should be built to make sure the jobs stay in the province as well.

Cliffs announced Wednesday it plans to invest $3.3 billion to develop a chromite mine in the far north, a transportation corridor and a $1.8-billion smelter near Sudbury.

In the legislature, the NDP released testimony from Cliffs’ vice-president Bill Boor before a Commons committee in February showing the company plans to export up to 40 per cent of the chromite offshore for processing into a key ingredient of stainless steel.

Time for [First Nation Ring of Fire] action? – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Raymond Ferris thinks it might soon be time for action over the Ring of Fire. As Matawa’s Ring of Fire co-ordinator, Ferris said he was disappointed but not surprised by Cliffs Natural Resources’ decision to build a $1.8 billion ferrochrome processor near Sudbury instead of somewhere in Northwestern Ontario.

It’s the latest example of governments and industry moving ahead with initiatives without taking any First Nations recommendations into consideration he said.

“Whether the smelter was a good thing or not is something that we wanted to conduct as a study for ourselves so that our membership can be well informed then they can make a decision on their own,” Ferris said Thursday afternoon. “We never had that opportunity.”

Ferris said a smelter in the region could have had countless economic spinoffs for First Nations communities if they were tied to the grid. Communities around Lake Nipigon have everything from solar to wind projects that are just waiting to be tied to the hydro grid, something that could have happened with the arrival of the processor.

[Northern Ontario] Chromite mine may carry hidden costs, critics charge – by Tanya Talaga (Toronto Star – May 11, 2012)

May 11, 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.

Questions are being raised about how much taxpayers are on the hook for as a U.S. mining giant attempts to develop of an ecologically sensitive area in northern Ontario.

The Ontario government announced Wednesday it had reached an initial agreement with Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. to develop a chromite mine at the remote Ring of Fire region.

Cliffs is expected to invest $3.3 billion into building a mine, nearly 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, a smelter in the Sudbury area and a transportation corridor to move the ore between the two facilities.

Sources tell the Star the Liberal government is negotiating a deal on electricity subsidies in order to keep the smelter in the province. Also on the table is said to be construction of a transportation corridor to move the chromite south. On Thursday, Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci refused to talk about any possible subsidy.

Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines – Cliffs Sudbury Ferrochrome Smelter Announcement (Sudbury – March 9, 2012)

May 11, 2012

Today it is my pleasure to share news with you that is exciting and historic in nature… Ontario is blessed with an abundance of natural resources at a time when the world is developing faster than ever, and demanding these resources.

The increasing demand is why mining is experiencing unprecedented growth. It is driving economies and progress around the world. We must take advantage of the incredible opportunity for jobs and prosperity that this sector presents for northern Ontario – including our First Nations communities, and our province as a whole.

And today, I’m happy to say that this boom is again being demonstrated right here in Sudbury, and across the north.

Ring of Fire – Chromite

The Ring of Fire, located over 500 km North of Thunder Bay, is the only substantial deposit of chromite in North America… In fact, it is estimated that it will yield an estimated 2.3 million tonnes of chromite per year over a 30-year mine life.

What makes this massive discovery of chromite exciting is that it is a key component in the manufacture of stainless steel…

…A material needed around the world, and used in basically most things we use in the course of our day to day lives.

[Northern Ontario] Mayors fed up – by By Gord Young, QMI Agency (Timmins Daily Press – May 11, 2012)

May 11, 2012

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Frustration boils over at FONOM conference

Frustration turned to anger Thursday as municipal politicians from across Northern Ontario screamed outrage over the provincial government’s silence regarding the divestment of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

Municipalities and chambers of commerce from across the North were urged to lower their Ontario flags to half mast as disenfranchised and fed up mayors demanded a new deal for Ontario Northland.

“You have ignored the North for too long. You have taken us for granted. And we won’t stand for it any longer,” said North Bay Mayor Al McDonald, during a news conference involving politicians and business leaders representing just about every community in Northern Ontario.

The event, held in the midst of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) conference in North Bay, saw mayor after mayor slam the provincial government for leaving Northerners out of its decisions.

NDP wants answers on Cliffs – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – May 11, 2012)

May 11, 2012

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

Cliffs Natural Resources’ $3.3- billion investment in Northern Ontario is good news, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says, but the province should demand more.

The massive mine, transportation network and ferrochrome smelter designed to take ore from the Ring of Fire in northwestern Ontario and process it in Sudbury was announced by Cliffs on Wednesday. Those announcements, however, left the NDP with more questions than answers, Horwath said.

At Queen’s Park on Thursday, Horwath released details of Cliffs’ testimony before a federal Standing Committee on Natural Resources in which Cliffs officials said up to 40% of the ore produced in Ontario might be shipped out of province for processing.

While the company is committing to building a $1.8-billion smelter at a brownfield site just north of Capreol, the NDP want to know how much more investment in the North would be possible if all the ore it generates is processed here.

Cliffs Chromite Project: Answers Needed Before Decisions are Made – by Steve May (SudburySteve.blogspot.com – May 10, 2012)

May 11, 2012

http://sudburysteve.blogspot.ca/

Steve May is the CEO of the Sudbury Federal Green Party Association (Opinions expressed in this blog are my own, and should not be interpreted as being consistent with the views of the Green Party of Canada – Steve May)

I read with interest today a number of news reports related to the announcement that Cliffs Natural Resources will be investing approximately $3.3 billion in Ontario, to build a chromite mine in the Ring of Fire, and a ferrochrome processing facility in my city, the City of Greater Sudbury. That Cliffs has been pushing ahead with developing the Black Thor deposit in the Ring of Fire has been no secret. What was up in the air, however, was the selection of a community to host the prized ferrochrome processing facility (smelter), which is expected to generate approximately 400 operational jobs, and an additional 400 construction jobs.

Today’s announcement identifying the Moose Mountain site outside of the Capreol community in the City of Greater Sudbury as the new home for the smelter was one of the worst-kept secrets in Northern Ontario. While the communities of Greenstone, Thunder Bay and Timmins were also in the running, Cliffs has been proceeding since the fall of 2011 with an Environmental Assessment process based on a “base case scenario” which identified Moose Mountain as the site of the smelter, and media has since reported that Cliffs has actually purchased the Moose Mountain site.

Cliffs Natural Resources to invest $3.3 billion to develop Ontario Ring of Fire – by Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press (Canadian Business Magazine – May 09, 2012)

May 10, 2012

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-publishing business magazine in Canada.

TORONTO – Ontario announced a $3.3-billion investment by an American mining company Wednesday to develop the Ring of Fire, a huge mineral deposit near James Bay, but faces opposition from some First Nations, local communities and environmentalists.

Cliffs Natural Resources plans to build a chromite mine, a road to the area about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and a processing facility near Sudbury, said Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci.

The Ring of Fire includes the largest chromite deposit ever discovered in North America. The $1.8-billion proposed smelter in Capreol would create about 900 jobs, including 450 when it’s in operation by 2015, and would process the chromite into a key component of stainless steel, Bartolucci said in Sudbury.

“There was stiff competition with other jurisdictions for the location of this smelter and those jurisdictions were outside the province of Ontario,” he said.

NEWS RELEASE: Ring of Fire decision ill-considered says Greenstone Mayor

May 10, 2012

(Greenstone, May 9, 2012) Mayor Renald Beaulieu of Greenstone, the closest municipality to the Ring of Fire mineral find, was underwhelmed by today’s announcement from Cliffs Natural Resources to locate the chromite refinery near Sudbury.

“It is truly unfortunate that Cliffs and the Provincial Government chose not to meaningfully consult with the directly affected First Nations and Greenstone prior to making and announcing their decision,” stated Mayor Beaulieu.

Important questions remain unanswered by Cliffs and the Province said Beaulieu. In particular, it’s hard to see how you can lead with a decision on a refinery location without an agreement on how you are going to obtain the ore body in the first place.

– Why are First Nation interests being ignored? Today’s update confirms the suspicion of First Nations that a secret deal has been worked out between the Government of Ontario and Cliffs. That deal doesn’t place any value on the support First Nations have offered for the project nor does it take their position on the mining activity seriously.

Frustrated [First Nations – No consultation] – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 9, 2012)

May 10, 2012

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

The region’s First Nations and municipal leaders are frustrated and disappointed by a lack of planning from the province and Cliff’s Natural Resources on the Ring of Fire.

In the wake of an announcement Wednesday morning that Cliff’s will set up their ferrochrome processor in Capreol, near Sudbury, leaders from across Northwestern Ontario sounded off on the province’s lack of commitment and consultation with the region.

“It was a great day for Northeastern Ontario. It was a very sad day for Northwestern Ontario I can’t say it any plainer than that,” Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs said.

Natural Resources minister Michael Gravelle and Aboriginal Affairs minister Kathleen Wynne faced a cold reception from regional leaders when they announced Cliff’s $3.3 billion investment to build its chromite mine, North-South all-season road from the Ring of Fire and processing facility.

Ring of Fire mineral development faces burning issues in Ontario – by Adam Radwanski (Globe and Mail – May 10, 2012)

May 10, 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.

Seeking to get in on a resource boom that to this point has passed it by, Ontario has taken a major step toward developing the mineral-rich “Ring of Fire” in the province’s far north.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci announced Wednesday that the government has reached a framework agreement with the U.S.-based Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. for a $3.3-billion investment, including a $1.8-billion smelting plant in the Sudbury area.

But despite the buoyant tone from both sides of the deal, sources in and around government acknowledge Mr. Bartolucci’s target date of 2015 is highly optimistic. That’s because there remain a great number of hurdles to be overcome before much-needed jobs can be created from extraction or processing of chromite, a key ingredient used to make stainless steel.

American mining firm promises big investment in the Ring of Fire – by Tanya Talaga (Toronto Star – May 9, 2012)

May 9, 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.

An American firm is expected to sink $3.3 billion into developing the resource-rich Ring of Fire, the Ontario government announced Monday.

Cliffs Natural Resources, an international mining company based in Cleveland, will use the money to haul and process chromite — the key ingredient used to make stainless steel — out of the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

The Ring of Fire, located 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, is said to contain one of the world’s largest chromite deposits. International mining companies have staked nearly 9,000 claims in the ring and both the federal and provincial government wants to hasten development of the area to bring much needed jobs to the struggling north.

The ring is a 5,000-square-kilometre area of pristine wilderness that is also one of the world’s last untouched ecosystems. Ontario has been locked in a battle with Quebec to keep Cliffs’ smelter plant located here in the province. High hydro rates in Ontario have been a major stumbling block.