Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications – Page 249

Human development first: Rae – by Bryan Phelan (Wawatay News – November 8, 2013)

November 8, 2013

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Ontario needs a plan for its Far North beyond just the Ring of Fire and the Matawa First Nations nearby, says Bob Rae.

Rae, the former NDP premier and Liberal MP, currently works as an advisor to the Matawa tribal council in negotiations with the provincial government regarding mining development in the Ring of Fire, about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. Rae talked about those negotiations Oct. 16 as the keynote dinner speaker at the Mining Ready Summit in Timmins, hosted by the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund. But he also shared a broader perspective on development in the North and “the underlying issues that we have to deal with.”

Partway into his speech, Rae looked behind at a backdrop bearing the name of the event: Mining Ready Summit. “We’ve got to ask ourselves the question, ‘Are communities really ready?’ ” he said. “Or when we look at ourselves honestly, don’t we have to recognize that we have significant challenges.”

Rae listed some of those challenges in the region’s remote First Nations: “significant problems with respect to health care;” “significant issues with making sure people are ready to get trained to take advantage of the opportunites;” isolation and the resulting high cost of living; poor quality of housing and other factors that have created “public health issues that you see on every reserve that we shouldn’t be seeing in our communities in Canada.”

Ontario creating Ring of Fire corporation – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – November 8, 2013)

November 8, 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 Ontario government is establishing a development corporation to build infrastructure and settle all the squabbling in the Ring of Fire.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle announced Friday in Thunder Bay that the province is “taking action” to move forward on infrastructure development for the mining companies and First Nation communities in the James Bay lowlands.

But Ottawa needs to come to the table, he said. “My intention is, and always has been, to drive this project forward,” said Gravelle. “We are going to invest in this vital piece of infrastructure. But we really need the federal government to join us.”

Mineral exploration of the vast chromite and nickel deposits in the Ring has stalled largely because of a lack of government direction on how to develop road or rail access to this future mining camp, 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.

Ring of Fire: Voisey’s Bay replay – by Bill Gallagher (Onotassiniik Magazine – Winter 2013/2014)

November 8, 2013

http://onotassiniik.com

Bill Gallagher served as a strategist to Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company on forging key Native impact and benefits agreement alliances. He is the author of Resource Rulers: Fortune and Folly on Canada’s Road to Resources, available on Amazon.com (see his blog: http://billgallagher.ca/resource-rulers-book/)

Ring of Fire followers should plan on becoming Voisey’s Bay followers, given the close parallels and missed outcomes after five years of project wheel-spinning.

I helped develop a recovery strategy for the Labrador nickel project and it would appear that likewise, that’s what’s needed today for the Ring of Fire chromite project. All the same factors are in play and, to cut to the chase, if you can get Native communities onside then all the other project blockages will soon start to dissipate.

For Inco, original owner of the Voisey’s Bay mine, the triggering event was the following headline: “Voisey’s Bay gets aboriginal support: sources” (Canadian Press Nov. 30 2001). Here’s what project followers need to know in order to make up for lost time on the Ring of Fire’s road to resources.

Better Than Ping Pong: Panda Diplomacy Builds [Resource] Relationships – by Cassie Ryan (Epoch Times Oct. 31 – Nov. 6, 2013)

November 8, 2013

http://www.theepochtimes.com/

Cute bears involved in uranium sales and free-trade agreements

A new study from Oxford University holds that the 50 something giant pandas on loan around the world are aimed at building ‘guanxi’ or deep, long-lasting relationships in exchange for “trades and foreign-investment deals.”

Australia, France, and most recently Canada received panda loans when uranium deals were struck with the Chinese regime. Panda transactions also took place with Asian nations like Malaysia and Thailand as part of free-trade agreements.

Published in the journal Environmental Practice, the study points to an emergent third phase in the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy of gifting and loaning pandas, whereby countries with important resources and technology can lease the black and white bears for a hefty fee. This new pattern appears to be related to the 2008 earthquake that struck Sichuan Province and damaged the Wolong Breeding Center, meaning that the 60 pandas there needed rehousing.

In phase one, during Mao Zedong’s era in the 1960s and 1970s, pandas were gifted to build strategic friendships. During Deng Xiaoping’s regime, starting in 1978, phase two involved loaning the bears in a capitalist lease model based on financial transactions.

Powering the Far North – by Bryan Phelan (Onotassiniik Magazine – Winter 2013/2014)

November 8, 2013

http://onotassiniik.com

Hydro transmission plans for remote First Nations and mines

An Ontario Power Authority (OPA) plan, to be finalized by the end of this year, shows there is a “strong economic case” for connecting 21 remote First Nations in northwestern Ontario to the province’s hydro grid.

The First Nations, including the five Matawa tribal council communities closest to the Ring of Fire mining development, currently rely on diesel generators for their electricity – generally described as an expensive, unreliable, dirty, and growth restricting source.

While co-ordinated efforts between remote communities and mining companies could reduce power costs for both groups, OPA draft plans show it makes economic sense to build hydro transmission lines to the First Nations even without connection to future mines in the Ring of Fire. OPA, which plans Ontario’s electricity system for the long term, figures hydro grid connection to the 21 remote communities would eliminate about half a billion dollars in diesel generation costs over 40 years, while providing a cleaner and more reliable electrical supply.

New [Laurentian] school of mines to take a broad approach – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – November 7, 2013)

November 8, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

The Goodman School of Mines will explore all aspects of the mining industry

Nicole Tardif, the program co-ordinator for Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines, updated mining industry professionals in Sudbury on the school’s progress at the 2013 Ontario Exploration and Geoscience Symposium. Jonathan Migneault Northern Life.
Laurentian University’s new Goodman School of Mines has taken a multi-disciplinary approach to teach every aspect of the mining cycle.

Nicole Tardif, the Goodman School of Mines’ program co-ordinator, said staff have worked to offer students a wide variety of programs ranging from geology, to engineering and workplace safety.

Tardif addressed a crowd of mining professionals Wednesday at the 2013 Ontario Exploration and Geoscience Symposium in Sudbury with updates on the school’s progress since it was founded in 2012.

The school’s goal, Tardif said, has been to regroup Laurentian’s various mining-related courses to create relevant programs for mining students.

Cliffs still moving ahead with Ring of Fire plan – CBC Sudbury Points North (November 7, 2013)

November 8, 2013

http://www.cbc.ca/pointsnorth/ Cliffs Natural Resources is responding to questions raised by competitor, KWG Resources. For the interview, click here: http://www.cbc.ca/pointsnorth/episodes/2013/11/07/cliffs-still-moving-ahead-with-ring-of-fire-plan/#.UnwWR8FJ_ws.twitter

Golden opportunities in Timmins – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – November 8, 2013)

November 8, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – A junior mining company based in Timmins is voicing excitement about the potential for two projects that could leave their mark on the city for a long time to come.

Ian Campbell, president and CEO of Temex Resources, said the two biggest things the company has on its side are a pair of properties located in the heart of a region that has seen over a century of continuous mining activity.

“In the junior mining space, everybody knows there’s some issues going on, and that’s hard, but in our view, Temex stands our for a variety of reasons,” Campbell said to a crowd at an Inside Business luncheon hosted by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. “We stand out because we’re not a junior relying on just one project. We’ve got two projects.

“Our focus is on the Whitney Project, in the East End of Timmins. It’s got all those things you need going for a project these days. It’s got high-grade (gold), it’s got location, it’s got the infrastructure to put something into production. Of course, we’re a small management team, and I’m focused on the efficient allocation of cash.”

Mine has ‘must-see’ destination potential – Dave Mabell (Lethbridge Herald – November 7, 2013)

November 7, 2013

http://lethbridgeherald.com/

Like the Canadian Pacific viaduct, it’s one of Lethbridge’s most intriguing images. The hoist tower and tipple that remain from the Galt No. 8 coal mine have become the visible link to our gritty industrial past.

Now the long-idle mine works could become a signal for the future as well, a Lethbridge group suggests. It’s acquired an option on the minesite and it’s launching a campaign for community support.

“The Galt No. 8 historical mine has the potential to become one of Canada’s ‘must see’ tourist destinations and a hub of local activity,” says Fred Covey, speaking for the historical minesite society.

In addition to offering attractions related to its heritage value, he says, part of the 77-acre site could also become a demonstration centre for coal’s energy successors: wind, solar and geothermal power.

While the tipple tower could be refashioned into a high-visibility restaurant, he says other assets on the land could become part of an attraction which also includes historical interpretation buildings, a convention facility, a “4-D theatre” and the green energy development project.

Canadian Royalties starts Nunavik production (Nunatsiaq-online – November 6, 2013)

November 7, 2013

http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/

Beleaguered mine says it will begin to generate revenue, pay off creditors starting at month’s end

Canadian Royalties Ltd. has shipped its first load of copper concentrate from its Nunavik Nickel project, the company said in a Nov. 5 news release.

That signals a new beginning for the beleaguered mine, which struggled to get operations up and running while owing more than $50 million to its creditors.

“We are very pleased that CRI has achieved the significant milestone of producing and shipping saleable concentrate,” said the company’s acting chief executive officer Parviz Farsangi Nov. 5. “As discussed with many of our suppliers, CRI will begin to generate revenue in less than a month from the sale of the concentrate and will be making payments as committed to all of its suppliers.”

After sinking $735 million into infrastructure, Jien Canada Mining Ltd., the Chinese company that took over Canadian Royalties several years ago, had planned to ramp up production in early 2013, training and hiring more Nunavik workers.

KWG throws wrench into Ring of Fire – John R. Hunt (North Bay Nugget – November 5, 2013)

November 6, 2013

http://www.nugget.ca/

Sudbury council is in a terrible tizzy. It wants the provincial government to do something, anything to get the Ring of Fire project back on track. It is easy to understand why.

Look at all the clues and the straws blowing in the wind and it is obvious that Sudbury may not get all it has taken for granted. There seems to be an excellent chance that Timmins will become the centre for chromite refining.

When Rick Bartolucci was minister of Northern Development, he got Cliffs Natural Resources to promise to build a chromite refinery at Capreol. Now an outfit called KWG Resources may mess it all up.

KWG is a fast-moving exploration company. It staked some ground just where Cliffs want to build a road. It did everything according to the book and the provincial government will have to invent some new laws if it wants to push KWG aside in favour of Cliffs.

The First Nations must also be satisfied they get a square deal. Bob Rae is expected to act as their negotiator, which adds considerable political clout to their case.

High energy rates could jeopardize mining: NDP – by Jonathan Migneault (Sudbury Northern Life – November 04, 2013)

November 5, 2013

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Energy makes up to 30 per cent of the costs for mining operations in the province

Ontario’s power rates jeopardize the future of the province’s mining sector, said Michael Mantha, the NDP’s critic for northern development and mines.

Mantha, the MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, said the province needs to ensure the mining sector has more long-term predictability for hydro costs.

“We need to focus on programs that will have a greater impact,” he said. The provincial government has a number of programs in place to provide competitive energy rates to heavy industry, including the Industrial Accelerator Program, the Industrial Electricity Incentive, changes to the Global Adjustment and the Northern Industrial Electricity Rate.

Electricity is the second highest operating cost for Ontario’s mining industry, after labour. According to the Ontario Mining Association, 15 to 30 per cent of the costs associated with a typical mine in the province are tied to energy.

Timmins shows us how to do the job – by Brian MacLeod (Sudbury Star – November 1, 2013)

November 1, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Where is one of the bastions of entrepreneurial growth in Ontario outside of Toronto?

Why, it’s the sprawling municipality of Timmins. And a sprawling municipality it is. With 2,979 square kilometres of land, it’s one of the largest geographic municipalities in Canada, larger than a dozen GTA municipalities combined. It’s the city with a history of fur trading and mining, and more recently, of Sherry Tremblay, Canada’s Most Perfect Woman over 30, as named by the Canada’s Perfect Pageant.

And, of course, it’s the home of Shania Twain.

A Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) survey has put Timmins eighth in Canada for the last couple of years among mid-sized cities for its entrepreneurial zeal. The report on the subject by Ted Mallett, vice-president and chief economist of the CFIB, notes a few things worthy of note for municipalities bent on attracting jobs.

Most importantly, spend more time looking inward. While entrepreneurs are typically mobile, communities are rooted, so an entrepreneurial city needs to harness its own people’s strength.

Northern summit to be held in Timmins – Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – November 1, 2013)

November 1, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Ontario cabinet ministers will converge on Timmins in early December to meet with Northern leaders. On Thursday, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle announced plans to host a Northern Leaders’ Forum on Dec. 6 in Timmins. The meeting will involve municipal, Aboriginal, business, industry and education leaders from across the North.

The main topic for discussion will be how best to implement the provincial government’s Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.

“Our government first released the Growth Plan as a blueprint for job creation and economic development throughout Northern Ontario,” Gravelle said. “Since its release, we have seen communities, organizations, and Aboriginal groups achieve some amazing things that have unequivocally proven my belief in the strength and resilience that we all share as Northerners.

“I am very pleased that our government is able to fulfil the request of the Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) and bring together key government ministers and community and Aboriginal leaders from across Northern Ontario to renew momentum and drive forward the next phase of the Growth Plan.”

Unearthing the Possibilities [Women and Mining] – by Ashley Milne-Tyte (Women of Influence – August 26, 2013)

November 1, 2013

https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/

(PLEASE NOTE DATE OF THIS POSTING!)

Considering that women weren’t even allowed underground at Canadian mines 40 years ago, the strides we’ve made into the industry — sometimes up to the C-suite — are to be celebrated.

When Barb Courte started working with her husband in the mining industry 18 years ago, his associates made clear this was no place for a woman — not the drill sites, not the office, not the mining conventions. This was a man’s world. Courte’s husband Garry ran a drilling company, and boring through the earth looking for minerals, because of the sheer physicality of the job, attracts tough, burly men — with attitudes to match.

Many didn’t want her around. “If I was talking to a man [at work], they’d spread the rumor I was having an affair,” she says. “I still to this day experience [problems] being a woman in this industry, but I’m such a smartass I turn it around with humour.” Several years ago she attended a mining convention and spotted a man who had been gossiping about her behind her back. She sat down next to him. “He turned his back on me. I said, ‘How many contracts do you have to bid on? He said ‘none.’ I said, ‘Well I’ve got 10, because I’m better looking.’ ”