Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications – Page 244

Change to Vale’s buying scheme makes city more attractive – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – December 06, 2013)

December 9, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Changes to Vale’s procurement system will result in new jobs and opportunities in Sudbury, said the executive director of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA).

Dick DeStefano, SAMSSA’s executive director, said Vale’s new regional focus on supply and service procurement will improve Sudbury’s reputation as a world-leader for the mining supply and service sector.

“This will attract a number of satellite offices,” DeStefano said, as companies will set up shop in Sudbury to be closer to the buying action. Mining supply and service companies previously had to deal with Vale’s offices in Toronto and Brazil to set up contracts with the mining giant.

But in 2012, Vale started to change its organizational structure, and shifted its gaze to regional markets. “It was about getting more autonomy in the different regions,” Kelly Strong, Vale’s vice-president of Ontario operations, said regarding the shift in focus.

In early 2014 companies in Sudbury will be able deal with Vale employees who handle procurement directly in Sudbury.

Ring of Fire high on agenda for Northern leaders – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – December 7, 2013)

December 9, 2013

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

Some of Ontario’s top politicians — including Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk — met with their Northern Ontario colleagues in Timmins on Friday. Not surprisingly, the stalled Ring of Fire development was very much on everyone’s minds.

“We’ve had a great session here this morning with northern leaders – municipal and First Nations and Metis,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said in a teleconference with reporters. “This is really about a relationship that’s extremely important to our government.

“Whether we’re talking about infrastructure in the North or whether we’re talking about availability of health services or whether we’re talking about relationships between government and First Nations governments, all of those issues are of real importance (to) us.”

Joining Wynne in Timmins were ministers Eric Hoskins (Economic Development and Trade), David Orazietti (Natural Resources), Linda Jeffrey (Municipal Affairs and Housing), David Zimmer (Aboriginal Affairs), Michael Gravelle (Northern Development and Mines), Glen Murray (Infrastructure and Transportation), Michael Coteau (Citizenship and Immigration), Deb Matthews (Health and Long-Term Care) and Steven Del Duca (parliamentary assistant to Finance Minister Charles Sousa).

[Northern Ontario’s] Ring of hype? – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – December 6, 2013)

December 9, 2013

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

People in the region can learn from Public Enemy when it comes to development in the Ring of Fire a mining watchdog says — “don’t believe the hype.”

Long lauded as the next oil sands and an economic saviour to Northwestern Ontario, MiningWatch Canada’s Ramsey Hart said people need to rein in their expectations when it comes to the area. A remote location with no infrastructure is a tough sell right now for companies looking for investors.

“Don’t believe the hype in a sense that there may be viable projects there, but it’s really far from a market though for that product,” he said Friday morning during the second day of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration conference at Lakehead University.

“That makes these projects on the periphery of attractiveness for investment.” If the day comes when development does happen, it probably won’t meet the expectations of politicians, industry and others who have promoted it for so long.

Sudbury entrepreneurs recognized for their contributions – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – December 06, 2013)

September 7, 2018December 6, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Darryl Lake never thought of himself as an entrepreneur, but in the early 1990s, his career as an academic took an unexpected turn with his effort to end the Sudbury brain drain of young talented people.

In 1995, Lake left his position as Cambrian College’s dean of health sciences, trades and technology, and started the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT).

The move was a big gamble. Lake left a comfortable job to start a non-profit organization at a time many others were going under. “The economy was a disaster,” Lake said about that period. “There were no jobs for young people.”

To establish a stable base of revenue for NORCAT, Lake brought over the Occupational Health and Safety Resource Centre, and the Ontario Centre for Ground Control Training, he had started at Cambrian. NORCAT soon became one of the world’s leading occupational health and safety training centres. With that base, NORCAT was able to start mentorship programs for young entrepreneurs and an intern program that had a 100-per-cent conversion rate to full-time jobs for interns who completed it.

My Take on Snow Lake: Hard times on display at the Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention – by Marc Jackon (Thompson Citizen – December 6, 2013)

December 6, 2013

The Thompson Citizen, which was established in June 1960, covers the City of Thompson and Nickel Belt Region of Northern Manitoba. The city has a population of about 13,500 residents while the regional population is more than 40,000.

From Nov. 20-22, mining people from around the province, and from across the land, gathered in Winnipeg for the 45th Annual Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention. Included among them were mining experts, geoscientists, educators, community and aboriginal leaders, as well as resource and industry specialists, a number of them with a connection to the area.

Literature produced for the event advised that the convention highlights the value of minerals and petroleum to Manitoba’s economy and provides insight into the latest developments, opportunities and challenges facing the exploration and mining sector. Additionally, it provides an excellent opportunity for attendees to work together in order to advance Manitoba’s rich mineral potential and geologically diverse land base.

The convention also features a trade show, property showcase and presentations on recent geological findings and exploration projects from around the province. On Nov. 22 the public was invited to participate in various activities including digging for fossils with the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden, panning for gold with champion panner Yukon Dan, and visiting other mineral displays and activities with the Mineral Society of Manitoba.

Ring of Fire a decade away – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – December 5, 2013)

December 6, 2013

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

It will be at least a decade before development in the Ring of Fire begins, predicts one strategist.

An expert on First Nations, government and corporate relations in resource development, Bill Gallagher said nothing is going to happen in the Ring of Fire until there is major progress from the province when it comes to First Nations support.

Author of the recently published “Resource Rulers” Gallagher, who is also a lawyer, highlights 150 court cases in Canada that have been a battleground over resource development and First Nations are the victor. While other provinces have caught on to the notion that nothing will happen without the backing of First Nations, Ontario is stuck in a time warp.

“The Ontario public has to get informed and get up to speed as to how much ground this province has lost vis-a-vis other provinces in dealing in a sophisticated and strategic manner in dealing with the rise of native empowerment,” he said Thursday morning after a speech during the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration conference at Lakehead University.

Gravelle seeks Ring of Fire support from feds – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – December 6, 2013)

December 6, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – The province wants Ottawa to share the cost of installing transportation infrastructure within the Ring of Fire.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle, who was in Timmins on Thursday along with Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti, outlined why the province feels the federal government should contribute to the project.

“We are talking about a major resource development, $60 billion in mineral potential, in a part of the province that has never seen development before,” said Gravelle.

“In terms of economic development, and opportunity for job creation, the Ring of Fire project is certainly on a scale that more than warrants the federal government’s matching funds. I’d like to think that is the direction we will be going in.” Both Gravelle and Orazietti were speaking at a Timmins Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the Porcupine Dante Club.

In the meantime, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne was in Ottawa on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss the federal government’s involvement in the Ring of Fire.

Man named to chair review into mine safety – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – December 6, 2013)

December 6, 2013

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

A man whose position was created after an expert advisory panel reviewed the Christmas Eve 2009 deaths of four men working on scaffolds in Toronto will chair the review into mine safety that will be conducted in Ontario in 2014.

One of the recommendations of the 2010 report into the scaffolding tragedy was that a chief prevention officer, reporting to Ontario’s Labour minister, be appointed.

George Gritziotis, founding executive director of the Construction Sector Council and a former strategy analyst at Investment Canada, was named to that job as part of an overhaul of Ontario’s occupational health and safety system.

Chris Hodgson, former minister of Northern Development and Mines in the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris, said the review into the deaths of the four men was led by former cabinet secretary Tony Dean.

It produced 46 recommendations and an 80-page report, which Hodgson said was supported by organized by both labour and management.

Northern members frustrated with lack of action on Ring – Star Staff (Sudbury Star – December 6, 2013)

December 6, 2013

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

Two opposition party members — one federal, one provincial — were slamming governments Thursday for not acting decisively to move forward development on the Ring of Fire chromite deposits.

Nickel Belt New Democrat MP Claude Gravelle apparently had his motion rejected at the Conservative-dominated natural resources committee to invite provincial officials to come and tell the federal government what they need to move the Ring of Fire forward.

Gravelle, the NDP’s mining critic, slammed the federal Tories for moving his motion in camera to study the way the federal government could help with the project. In a news release, Gravelle said: “The committee has no future plans to proceed with a study of this nature.”

Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne travelled to Ottawa to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to talk about a number of issues, with the Ring of Fire high on the list.

More action needed to woo North voters – by Brian MacLeod (Sudbury Star – December 5, 2013)

December 6, 2013

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

The concession northerners managed to extract from the province about the future of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission this week is remarkable. But why did it happen?

The Liberal government has been doing a long, slow dance on the Dalton McGuinty’s government’s decision to sell off the agency since Premier Kathleen Wynne took power, finally getting Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, to put in writing that the ONTC’s mandate is no longer to be sold off in pieces, but that it is to undergo a “transformation.”

It’s a fuzzy term for restructuring, and still possible divestment, but the main goal is no longer to kill off the 101-year-old agency that would put the 1,000 or so jobs in the North in jeopardy. About 600 of those jobs are located in North Bay.

The ONTC runs bus service communities located mostly along the Hwy. 11 and Hwy. 17 corridors from Toronto to Hearst.

Ring of Fire mining project remains stalled – by Claude Gravelle (Netnewsledger.com – December 4, 2013)

December 5, 2013

http://www.netnewsledger.com/

Claude Gravelle is the federal MP for Nickel Belt

Breaking the Politics on the Ring of Fire Mining Project

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario Politics – The mega Ring of Fire mining project remains stalled as the governments for Ontario and Canada play the blame game rather than put our northern communities and the country’s economy first.

To help break the stalemate, I have filed a motion with the federal all-party Natural Resources Committee to call the Government of Ontario as a witness. With Prime Minister Harper mulling over a meeting request from Premier Kathleen Wynne, here is an opportunity for Ontario to identify publicly what they need from the federal government, who is responsible for what, really how to move the project forward together.

I figured my motion might give Ontario a useful audience that includes representatives from the three main federal parties. As I said on the CBC Radio Ontario Today program last week, if this doesn’t work it may mean marriage counselling for the prime minister and premier. This stall is infuriating to northerners.

Steelworkers, safety advocates welcome review of mine standards – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – December 5, 2013)

December 5, 2013

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

Details of exactly how a comprehensive mining safety review will unfold haven’t been released, but those involved in pressuring the province to conduct it are convinced it will make Ontario mines safer in a matter of months.

Representatives of United Steelworkers and MINES (Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone’s Support) announced Tuesday they have hammered out an agreement with Labour Minister Nasir Yaqvi to guide the review. USW Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand told a news conference at the Steelworkers Hall the union and MINES are pleased with the terms of the agreement reached with Naqvi for a comprehensive review.

While it isn’t the public inquiry into mine safety the union began calling for in February 2012, the review will involve labour, industry and government in a process that will produce recommendations that will be acted upon to improve mine safety.

The call was made after USW Local 6500 completed an eight-month investigation into the June 2011 deaths of two men at Vale’s Stobie Mine. Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, died after being overrun by 350 tons of muck while working at the 3,000-foot level of the mine.

Timmins, Saskatchewan colleges sign agreement – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – December 3, 2013)

December 4, 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.

Northern College in Timmins and Northlands College in Saskatchewan have signed an agreement to train students through the mining engineering technician program at the Haileybury School of Mines.

The new agreement is built upon an established relationship between the two colleges. Northlands has delivered the program in the past, offering enrolment once every two years. The new agreement, which will be valid for seven years, will see six consecutive intakes of first-year students.

Earlier this year, an agreement was established with Confederation College to allow graduates of Confederation’s mining techniques program to take the second year of the mining engineering technician program at Confederation.

“The fact that Haileybury School of Mines programming is being delivered by multiple colleges in both Ontario and Saskatchewan is a testament to the quality of our mining programs,” said Fred Gibbons, president of Northern College, in a news release.

No inquiry into mining safety: Ministry – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – December 4, 2013)

December 4, 2013

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

The Ministry of Labour has rejected a call from mining advocates in Sudbury and the North to hold a public inquiry into mining safety, opting instead for a comprehensive review of mining safety in Ontario.

United Steelworkers Local 6500 and a lobby group called MINES (Mining Inquiry Needs Everyone’s Support) will hold a news conference Wednesday to respond to the province’s plan for the review.

USW Local 6500, and later MINES, began calling for a full-blown inquiry in February 2012 after the union’s eight-month investigation in the June 8, 2011, deaths of two men at Vale’s Stobie Mine.

The 200-page report into how Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, died contained 165 recommendations, including that an inquiry be held to update mining safety practices. That recommendation prompted the formation of MINES, led by Fram’s mother Wendy Fram, which championed the drive for the inquiry.

Labour finally invited into ONTC talks – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – December 2, 2013)

December 2, 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. Ian Ross is the editor of Northern Ontario Business ianross@nob.on.ca.

The unions at the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) say they’ve won a small victory in being asked to participate in the provincial process to determine the future of the Crown-owned agency.

“It’s great news,” said Brian Kelly, spokesman for the General Chairperson’s Association. “This is what we’ve been looking for. This is actually a very good day as far as we’re concerned.”

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle issued a Dec. 2 release that the provincial government’s previous 2012 marching orders to sell off the assets of the ONTC have been officially “revised” to look at other options.

In signalling a stark change in policy direction, Gravelle said the memorandum of understanding has changed from a “mandate for divestment to a mandate for transformation of the ONTC.”