Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications – Page 190

College celebrates mining program, strikes new one at PDAC – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – March 10, 2015)

March 11, 2015

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.

Thunder Bay’s Confederation College celebrated a successful mining industry training alliance at the recent Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention and confirmed a new one.

Its industry partner, Noront Resources, received the PDAC’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Award for its work with the Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance (RoFATA), along with other community initiatives with remote First Nation communities.

The award recognizes outstanding leadership in environmental protection and/or good community relations.

“We celebrate this incredible achievement of our community partner and are proud to have played a small part in their success,” said Confederation president Jim Madder in a March 9 news release. “Noront Resources has provided extensive support and leadership within the RoFATA program and has consistently demonstrated its commitment to education and providing pathways to employment in the mining industry.”

Launched in October 2013, RoFATA is training partnership between the college; Matawa First Nations and its training agreement holder, Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services; and Noront.

Chamber report slams government inaction on Ring – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 10, 2015)

March 10, 2015

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

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has given the federal government a failing grade — an F — for not recognizing that the Ring of Fire should be a national economic opportunity.

The Ontario umbrella group and the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce coreleased a report today saying little progress has been made in the year since they issued a first report, “Beneath the Surface: Uncovering the Economic Potential of the Ring of Fire.”

That report said the Ring of Fire would generate $25 billion in economic activity and create thousands of jobs in Ontario in its first 32 years.

The report is being presented this afternoon in Toronto to movers and shakers whom the Ontario Chamber of Commerce is trying to interest in development of the vast chromite deposits in the James Bay Lowlands.

The new report, “Where Are We Now? A Report Card on the Ring of Fire,” concludes permitting delays, a lack of infrastructure and “intergovernmental quarrelling” have stalled development in the Ring.

The report evaluates progress in seven key barriers to developing the region and concludes it will be years before a first mine is opened in the Ring.

Little Italy in Copper Cliff, Ontario: a nice place for reminiscing – by MK Keown (A Thousand Points of Light – June 10, 2013)

March 10, 2015

http://marykkeown.com/

As soon as I turn the car onto Craig Street, it greets my nostrils. It is undeniable. It is pacifying. It is the aroma of rich, delicious homemade fare – spaghetti, roasted chicken, sausages and meatballs the size of golf balls – wafting from Copper Cliff’s Italian Club. The kitchen doors are open on this fiery July day, the scents intoxicating the street’s residents. My knees go weak. I have come to photograph Little Italy and this is my first stop. I fear I may not make it any further.

Josie Apolloni, 75, watches over the beehive of a kitchen. The head chef is a diminutive lady who can barely see over the tops of some of the massive cooking pots, but she keeps vigil beside the meatballs and homemade sauce.

“(The recipe) comes from my roots, from Italy, from Fano,” Apolloni says, pointing to her knee when I ask about Fano’s location. The recipe, which dates back to 1935, is a heavily-guarded secret and Apolloni will only disclose that she uses canola oil rather than lard, which is more traditional.

The day I visit, there are three cooks and about a dozen volunteers scurrying about in preparation for the lunch rush – the Club serves a weekly Friday buffet that brings in admirers from all corners of the city. There is a lot of laughter in this kitchen, with jokes being tossed back and forth like a ping-pong ball.

Ontario Chamber blames Ottawa for Ring of Fire delays – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – March 10, 2015)

March 10, 2015

Although the report cautions that the intent of the report was “not to point the finger,” the federal government was criticized for not committing funds for mining-related infrastructure.

The chamber lamented the current state of affairs which has seen the departure of Cliffs Natural Resources this past year, leaving the mineral camp without a major mining company capable of spending private capital on infrastructure.

But the chamber also points to other factors in the glacial pace of development including the absence of foundational agreements with First Nations and government permitting delays. The chamber also is calling for more transparency on the pace and progress made on the First Nations front.

Despite the province signing a framework agreement with the Matawa First Nations tribal group last spring, the chamber remarked it’s largely unknown to the general public if any further progress has been made beyond the signing ceremony.

Creating a climate of “openness” would ease the uncertainty which is hindering the ability of companies operating in the Ring of Fire to raise money.

Province renewing mineral development strategy – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – March 09, 2015)

March 10, 2015

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Ontario late to notice mining downturn, says prospectors association

The province’s decision to renew its mineral development strategy – first established in 2006 – comes at a time when the sectors is in a downturn, says the executive director of the Ontario Prospectors Association.

When the strategy was developed nine years ago, Ontario’s mining sector was on an upturn, but the timing for the renewed strategy will give the province a very different picture, said Garry Clark.

“They have to understand – and they are coming to grips with the fact – that the only way we stay as a vibrant mining province is to have lots of things in the pipeline coming up from prospectors and junior companies to look at and put into production,” he said.

While Ontario’s mining sector has been in a downturn for two years, Clark said the province has only taken notice over the last six months.

Their statistics, he said, are usually a year behind. In a discussion paper meant to inform the renewed mineral development strategy, the province admits “Ontario could face many challenges in the years ahead.”

Waubetek’s plan to engage mining stakeholders – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – March 3, 2015)

March 10, 2015

Waubetek Business Development Corporation has developed a new mining strategy designed to help stakeholders navigate the intricacies involved with resource development in Northeastern Ontario.

The three-year Aboriginal Mining Strategy for North-East Ontario outlines priorities in four strategic areas, including developing Aboriginal mining industry knowledge; building mining industry relations; engaging a skilled Aboriginal workforce; and promoting Aboriginal business and partnerships.

The steering committee behind the strategy, which includes representatives from First Nations, training organizations, mining research institutions and others, held its inaugural meeting in Sudbury on Feb. 6.

“This is an important strategy for Aboriginal people,” Martin Bayer, Waubetek’s chair, said in a news release. “As we are located in northeast Ontario, in the hub of significant mining activities, we believe it is important to provide the opportunities and tools to Aboriginal businesses in our region and open doors to the mining sector for our clients.”

‘Major step forward for the Ring of Fire’ – by Greg Rickford (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – March 9, 2015)

March 9, 2015

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

Greg Rickford, MP for Kenora, is Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario.

This past week I was pleased to announce important support for Northern Ontario at the world’s largest mineral exploration conference and trade show. I feel strongly that the measures introduced by our government enhance Northern Ontario’s mining and resource development potential, creating and protecting Canadian jobs and opportunities.

Supporting the province’s efforts to develop the Ring of Fire is a priority for our government, and we are delivering. My provincial colleague, Michael Gravelle, and I met this January and agreed to further co-operation with a particular focus on specific, tangible infrastructure projects to support extractive activities and access to remote communities.

I agreed that should we become aware of appropriate initiatives, we would let one another know. FedNor became aware of a suitable proposal, and I engaged my counterpart.

One month later, we were joined in Toronto by First Nations and municipal leaders for the announcement of a plan to enhance economic prosperity and community access to the Ring of Fire region.

Cda. gaining poor rep starting up mining projects — Charest – by Len Gillis (Timmins Daily Press – March 5, 2015)

March 6, 2015

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Former Quebec premier Jean Charest told a breakfast audience in Timmins Thursday that government needs to be more pro-active when it comes to resource development because Canada is getting a reputation as a place where such projects do not get done quickly enough.

Charest was in Timmins as part of a quick cross-country tour for the Partnership for Resource Trade (PRT), a pro-resources organization.

Charest was in Vancouver and Winnipeg earlier this week and after his appearance in Timmins he will be speaking in Moncton and Halifax next week. The tour is sponsored by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

“The PRT is a group put that was together so we can have a much better dialogue about the future of resources in Canada and what role it plays in our economy,” Charest explained, adding there is growing concern about how resources are being managed.

“There is a sense that we must, in Canada, have a much, much better debate, dialogue, conversation, call it what we want, about the future of resources and how we manage them,” Charest told the Timmins business audience at Cedar Meadows Resort.

As a private sector lawyer, Charest travels the world setting up and negotiating agreements for Canadian mining companies. He said this gives him insight into how others see our country.

First Nations seek to reset relationship with Queen’s Park – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 3, 2015)

March 6, 2015

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.

Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy is confident that a new relationship is emerging with Queen’s Park following a summit late last fall designed to find common ground on key issues that will allow resource development to proceed in the Far North.

First Nation leaders from across Ontario met in late November for a “Leaders in the Legislature” event with Ontario cabinet ministers in Toronto to table Aboriginal priorities starting at the community level.

Beardy called the intensive three-day event “a step in the right direction” with a series of roundtables on resource benefits and revenue sharing, treaty awareness, health, education, infrastructure, economic development and missing and murdered indigenous women.

The chiefs matched their issues with the appropriate ministers based on their mandate letters from the premier. Beardy said First Nations aren’t out to block resource development projects, but the law is on their side and must be allowed to participate and benefit from them.

With a number of Supreme Court decisions recognizing Aboriginal title to land – include last June’s Tsilhqot’in decision in British Columbia – Beardy said First Nations are taking a more proactive approach in discussing priority issues with government.

First Nations ready to be partners in development – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 3, 2015)

March 6, 2015

“We want to participate in the new economy, particularly the natural resources sector.”
Protecting large tracts of boreal forest for wildlife eliminates the scope of
possibilities in mining, energy and possibly even oil and gas projects.

And the community land-use planning process is only concerned with surface issues, he
said. “If there’s a greenstone belt running across the territory, those are usually
good opportunities for mines. There’s no opportunity to examine those areas.”
(Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno)

At an Aboriginal energy conference last December in Toronto, keynote speaker Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Harvey Yesno shocked delegates when he remarked that 21 of the 49 communities in his territorial organization were under boil-water advisories; eight of them for more than 10 years. “In Kenora or Hamilton, nobody would put up with that.”

These are some of the extraordinary challenges – including housing, health care and educational shortcomings – NAN communities struggle with daily as the second largest Aboriginal remote cluster in Canada, behind Nunavut.

Yesno had to cut his remarks short to fly back north. Ten diesel-dependent communities in northwestern Ontario were facing serious fiscal challenges in arranging fuel shipping and storage capacity for the winter.

Laughren, as new chair, sees great opportunities for ONTC – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – March 4, 2015)

March 4, 2015

http://www.timminspress.com/

TIMMINS – Former Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren sees a great opportunity for Ontario Northland to make better use of its assets and to generate more revenues and attract more clients.

Laughren, it was announced last week, has been nominated for appointment as chairman of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission rail and bus service.

Laughren’s nomination, as well as the nomination of board members Steven Carmichael, Ewen Cornick, Gaeten Malette and Ila Watson, is subject to the approval of the standing committee on government agencies. “I think we’re going to go in with the goal to create an entity that is sustainable,” he said. “New direction, new customers, new clients, that’s been one of the downfalls of Ontario Northland, especially on the rail side.

“We’ve just watched Resolute (the paper mill in Iroquois Falls) close. I’m sure Resolute would have been a huge user of Ontario Northland. We’ve seen the changes at the Kidd Metallurgical site (with the Hoyle smelter closing). So we all know the importance of rail but we also have to look at new opportunities and future opportunities.”

Ottawa, Queen’s Park fund Ring of Fire road study – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 01, 2015)

March 2, 2015

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Will spend $732K in a First Nations-led initiative

First Nations in Ontario’s Far North are being empowered to have a say on a future road to reach the stranded chromite and nickel deposits in the Ring of Fire.

Four Aboriginal communities in the vicinity of the isolated mineral belt in the James Bay lowlands received more than $732,000 from the federal and provincial governments to conduct a Regional Community Service Corridor study.

In championing it as a First Nation-led initiative, federal Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford and Ontario’s Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle kicked off the opening of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s annual convention in Toronto on March 1 with the joint announcement.

The partnership involves the remote communities of Webequie, Eabametoong, Neskantaga and Nibinamik. The money will cover the costs of satellite imagery and GIS mapping of the terrain in the James Bay region, combined with an extensive consultation process with the area communities that is expected to take four to six months.

Roads from riches in Ring of Fire – by Rick Millette (Timmins Daily Press – March 1, 2015)

March 2, 2015

http://www.timminspress.com/

Rick Millette is a Senior Executive Director/Ring of Fire at Northern Policy Institute.

What is the one thing that would make living in Ontario’s far North communities better? If you asked that question to seven people knowledgeable about the North, you might very well get seven different answers. Clean drinking water. Functional sewer systems. Quality education. Improved health services. Reliable electricity. Healthy food at affordable prices. Better housing.

To a large degree, this wish list stems from the fact that Ontario’s far North communities are accessible only by air for most of the year. These challenges rarely exist for communities with road access.

Astronomically high costs are attached to anyone or anything that has to fly to these places. If the weather cooperates, a winter ice road might provide a month or two of access in every year. There have been poor weather conditions in recent years attributed to global warming. If the pattern continues, winter road construction and use will be progressively problematic.

So what is the one thing that would make living in the far North better? Answer: a network of year-round roads. While there are correlations to improving the quality of life at all levels through road access, none illustrate the benefits more strongly or tangibly than food and fuel.

Light at the end of the tunnel – by Norm Tollinsky (Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal – February 24, 2015)

February 26, 2015

http://www.sudburyminingsolutions.com/

Ontario exploration spending continues slide, but several projects advance to mine development

Exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures in Ontario were down significantly in 2014 – no surprise to junior mining companies, geologists, drilling companies and manufacturers of drilling consumables. But the news wasn’t all bad as the New Year dawned.

Revised estimates published by Natural Resources Canada in September pegged exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures for Ontario at $509.5 million, less than half the amount spent in 2011 and down again from last year’s total of $562 million.

Ontario still leads all other provinces and territories with 24 per cent of spending in Canada, but that’s down from Ontario’s 30.8 per cent share registered in 2010.

Gold continued to be the predominant target, accounting for $416.3 million of total spending for the year. Grass roots exploration took most of the hit, though several of the most promising projects crossed the threshold from exploration to mine development. By late January, gold had rebounded from its October low of $1,140 and was sitting at just under $1300.

“We had a very good run from the early 2000s,” said Rod Thomas, president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. “China was growing at double digit rates and there was a huge demand for commodities starting around 2003 all the way to the financial crisis in 2008… but we bounced back and the industry did really well until around April 2012.”

Moosonee railway extension gaining momentum – by Len Gillis (Timmins Times – February 25, 2015)

February 26, 2015

http://www.timminstimes.com/

Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Lawrence Martin will be joining the chiefs of the Matawa Tribal Council at the annual prospectors’ convention in Toronto next week to outline his plans for a new railway line running from Moosonee to the Ring Of Fire mining project.

Martin said he met with Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias earlier this week to outline the idea, but Martin said Moonias could not make any sort of a commitment on behalf of the Matawa First Nations, which is claiming territorial jurisdiction over the mining area. Martin said however there is growing support for Mushkegowuk.

Regardless, grand chief Martin said the idea is gaining momentum and more people are willing to listen to the idea. He said he expects mining executives at the Prospectors and Developers Convention next week will be interested in hearing the proposal, given the overall interest in the mining project.

The Ring of Fire is the name give to a huge deposit of chromite located in the McFauld’s Lake and Webequie area, about 600 kilometres north west of Timmins. Chromite is an important mineral element in manufacturing stainless steel. The Ring of Fire area could become the largest chromite mining site in North America, a venture measured in the tens of billions of dollars.

In January, Martin revealed the idea of creating a rail link across Mushkegowuk territory into the Ring Of Fire area with a two-pronged objective; one to bring in a rail link and secondly to bring in a high-voltage energy transmission line.