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Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications

In the rush for Canada’s critical minerals, Indigenous rights and sovereignty are being ignored – by Jon Thompson (Ricochet Media – April 9, 2025)

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First Nation leader warns that a proposed gold mine in northwest Ontario would impact their water source

A First Nation chief in northwestern Ontario says political rhetoric about running roughshod over Indigenous consultation to fast-track mining and other extraction projects is emboldening an abusive approach to resource engagement.

Onigaming Chief Jeff Copenace says his community “fundamentally opposes” a proposed gold mine and warns that the development “will be opposed at any cost necessary including peaceful protest and direct action.”

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FPX Nickel extends exploration partnership with JOGMEC (Mining Technology – April 8, 2025)

https://www.mining-technology.com/

FPX Nickel has secured 60% ownership in new JV projects.

Canada-based nickel mining company FPX Nickel has extended its Global Generative Exploration Alliance with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), turning it into an open-ended joint venture (JV).

After two years of collaboration, the partnership will continue to focus on identifying and acquiring high-quality awaruite nickel properties globally, particularly those geologically similar to FPX’s flagship Baptiste Nickel Project in British Columbia. The Generative Alliance has established a budget of C$1.5bn for its third year, running from April 2025 to March 2026.

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‘Trailblazing’ leader has had ‘extraordinary impact’ on mining industry – by Staff (Timmins Today – April 6, 2025)

https://www.timminstoday.com/

Wyloo announced its vice-president of Indigenous enterprises, Glenn Nolan, will retire this year

Glenn Nolan, a respected leader with more than five decades of experience in Northern Ontario’s mining sector, is set to retire this year.

Australian Ring of Fire developer Wyloo made the announcement in a social media post on March 31, paying tribute to Nolan with a lengthy profile on its website outlining his many achievements and contributions to the sector.

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Pivotal year for Timmins nickel project, says CEO – by Maija Hoggett (Timmins Today – April 3, 2025)

https://www.timminstoday.com/

With ongoing uncertainty around tariffs, Mark Selby says the company’s net-zero focus means they could sell to Europe with no issues

TIMMINS – It’s a pivotal year for Canada Nickel’s local project, says CEO Mark Selby.

In 2025, Canada Nickel is finalizing permits, pushing for funding, and working on securing a site for its processing plants. With ongoing uncertainty around tariffs from the United States, Selby says it’s in a good position as a net-zero project.

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A Thrilling Yellow Diamond Discovery at Rio Tinto’s Diavik Mine – by Jane Asher (Natural Diamonds – April 1, 2025)

https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/

This exciting new discovery is sure to make natural diamond history.

A new diamond discovery from Rio Tinto’s Diavik mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories has been unearthed, a thrilling discovery for the natural diamond industry. The 158.20-carat rough diamond is one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamond ever discovered in Canada, the third-largest natural diamond producer in the world. Rio Tinto’s yellow diamond discovery is sure to make history.

The rough diamond is only one of five yellow diamonds weighing over 100 carats ever discovered at Diavik in its 22-year history. The mine, located just 200 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, primarily produces white gem-quality diamonds. This yellow diamond discovery falls into the less than 1% category of yellow diamond production from Diavik, making it an ultra-rare gemstone.

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Why Sudbury can be a critical minerals processing hub to the world – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 28, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Mayor Paul Lefebvre pitches a compelling case to the Toronto corporate crowd to expand nickel processing capacity in the city

Sudbury has a strategic role to play in Canada’s natural resources security and economic sovereignty. Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre delivered that message to an audience of corporate leaders and influencers at the Canadian Club Toronto, March 27, by inviting strategic partners and government funders to come north and invest in critical metals processing capacity in the city.

Lefebvre took part in a panel discussion that Canada is falling short in realizing its full potential due to the lack of investment in mid-stream processing that’s needed to feed the burgeoning battery, energy and defence sectors.

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Restart date for White River mine remains in the vault – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 19, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Vault Minerals charts a new mine plan, eyes more ounces at Sugar Zone

The cone of silence prevails on a possible restart date of the Sugar Zone mine, north of White River. Vault Minerals, however, is shedding some light on how things will come together to resume production at the mothballed underground operation based on some details in a February news release and an investor presentation this month.

Vault is a merged entity of two Australian mining companies, consisting of Silver Lake Resources, which originally acquired Sugar Zone in 2022, and Red 5. The companies rebranded to its current name last June.

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Lefebvre to lead delegation in tour of Korea, Japan in support of mining – by Tyler Clarke (Sudbury.com – March 4, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

The trip has been in the planning stages since before the threat of U.S. tariffs, which took effect March 4, began looming

A delegation of approximately 10 local political and industry leaders have scheduled an April 7-11 tour of Korea and Japan, “to strengthen economic partnerships.” Mayor Paul Lefebvre announced the delegation during the 2025 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto on March 3.

“We were already planning this last year — this hasn’t happened overnight — but I think the timing couldn’t be better,” he told Sudbury.com on the eve of the United States imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports, which strengthens the need to diversify export markets. “It’s about diversifying.”

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Coal mining reversal a double betrayal, says Mountain View County resident – by Simon Ducatel (The Albertan – March 16, 2025)

https://www.thealbertan.com/

Paltry royalty revenue not worth risk to environment and health, Robert Bueck

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – The provincial government’s plans to allow coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in any shape or form after previously back peddling and pledging not to due to public backlash just a few years ago is a double betrayal, says a Sundre-area resident.

“I think they have betrayed Albertans,” said Robert Bueck, who lives in the McDougal Flats area. “They betrayed them the first time when they rescinded the coal mining policy in May of 2020, and I think the second time now after they had said that they were not going to go ahead and do it.”

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Where will the metals for the robot revolution come from? – by Christian Purefoy (The Oregon Group – March 13, 2025)

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Elon Musk has projected there will be 10 billion humanoid robots by 2040, and he’s not alone in predicting such extraordinarily high numbers:

-in China, Shenzhen’s city government has released an action plan to offer funding and policy support for intelligent robots, including humanoids. By 2027, it aims to host more than 10 companies valued at over 10 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) and over 20 companies with annual revenues exceeding 1 billion yuan.

-a Citi report estimates there will likely be 1.3 billion AI-robots by 2035 and 4 billion by 2050

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With key permits in hand, Gen Mining ‘closer than ever’ to Marathon construction decision -by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – March 13, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

One provincial permit to go before north shore copper-palladium mine developer can move on $1-billion pit project

Generation Mining is itching closer toward making a final construction decision on its Marathon copper-palladium mine project near the north shore of Lake Superior.

The Toronto mine developer said March 11 it’s finally pocketed three important provincial permits from the natural resources ministry that are key to moving ahead with its proposed open-pit mine, valued at $1.16 billion.

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Vale Base Metals chair hopes ‘cool heads will prevail’ in U.S.-Canada trade dispute – – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – March 10, 2025)

https://www.sudbury.com/

International nickel miner has contingency plans in place should U.S. nickel exports be halted.

It’s still too early in the U.S.-Canada trade dispute to determine what impact tariffs will have on Vale Base Metals’ U.S.-bound nickel shipments, given the rapidly changing situation, according to company chair Mark Cutifani. Cutifani’s hope is that federal and provincial parties can return to discussions to agree on a long-term solution.

“We hope that, from a political point of view, the U.S., Canada, Ontario can all come together and sort out what should occur and, at least once the rhetoric sort of settles down a little bit, we hope that cool heads will prevail and we’ll find solutions that work,” Cutifani told Northern Ontario Business in an interview.

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Mining the Northwest: Governments’ moves to fast-track critical minerals projects please lithium company – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 7, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Ottawa, Queen’s Park prepared to throw their support behind Frontier Lithium’s refinery plans for Thunder Bay

The federal and provincial governments are prepared to financially backstop Frontier Lithium’s proposed refinery in Thunder Bay. The Sudbury company said March 4 that it’s pocketed letters of intent (LOI) from the two orders of government to help fund construction at the former site of the Thunder Bay generating station.

The refinery is part of Frontier’s integrated plan to mine and ship lithium from its PAK Project, located in a remote area north of Red Lake, to Thunder Bay for processing. Frontier stresses these LOIs are non-binding and represent only an “initial step in ongoing discussions with the respective government agencies.” The parties are working toward completing a final term sheet.

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Outraged by Toronto mining convention, protestors disrupt opening day proceedings – by Alex Flood (Timmins Today – March 4, 2025)

https://www.timminstoday.com/

Mining Injustice members blocked the northside entrance to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for 30 minutes during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention on Sunday

TORONTO – The world’s largest mining convention is well underway inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, but outside, a lively protest denouncing the companies for their alleged unethical roles with international excavation projects has taken shape.

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is expected to bring tens of thousands of representatives from the global mining industry to the city’s downtown core between Sunday and Wednesday.

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Ford sends message to Ottawa on Ring of Fire: Get out of our way – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 3, 2025)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Premier delivers sense of urgency in pushing for expedited approvals, development of critical minerals projects

Premier Doug Ford is ready to shove Ottawa out of the way to make progress in the Ring of Fire. Fresh off last week’s provincial election win and armed with a strong majority, an emboldened Ford appeared at the PDAC mining show in Toronto, March 3, ready to pick a fight with the feds in order to expedite critical minerals production in the face of a looming trade war with the U.S.

Calling Ontario as being in a pandemic-like “survival mode,” Ford said he’s taking bold policy steps, backed by investments, to build a resilient economy and to use critical minerals production as leverage against the Trump administration’s expected tariffs on Canadian goods.

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