Ontario Mining Association – Page 12

Exploring the global mineral exploration business

June 25, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Mining Association member Boart Longyear provided a glimpse of the growing global mining exploration industry at an investor event held at its North American headquarters in Mississauga recently. An audience of about 50 people including bankers, investors, analysts and Boart Longyear customers were on hand for the presentations.

Setting the stage was Jason Goulden, Vice President Research for the Metals Economics Group (MEG), which is based in Halifax. His company plots trends in exploration spending, locations, commodities and other related data. More than 3,500 companies are interviewed annually for its major survey and it is estimated to take into account 90% to 95% of all mineral exploration spending.

MEG estimates global mineral exploration spending to reach $21 billion in 2012, a 17% increase from the $18 billion invested in mineral exploration in 2011. “This is a small change in what we have seen in the past few years, but it is still an increase,” said Mr. Goulden.

Will SYTYKM winners today be celebrities tomorrow?

June 6, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

So You Think You Know Mining (SYTYKM)

The filmmaking, writing, musical, comedic and overall artistic talents of a number of high school students from different regions of the province were given a well-deserved spotlight this evening at the Ontario Mining Association’s So You Think you Know Mining awards gala. The event, which attracted more than 200 invited guests, was held at the Royal Ontario Museum on June 5, 2012.

The potential of all the winning student filmmakers was front and centre at the award ceremonies. The Best Overall winner was Scott Keyes from H.B. Beal Secondary School in London for his production “The Melodic Miners.” He received $5,000 and his school will also receive a $500 donation to support future filmmaking.

There were two excellent close contenders for the top honour. Brooklyn Vercruyssen from St. Anne’s in Clinton was First Runner-Up for “Surviving the Storm,” which included spectacular footage of a tornado lashing Goderich’s beach area on Lake Huron. Second Runner-Up was Jeremy Keith from Canterbury High School in Ottawa for the whimsical “Billy’s Breakfast Bash.” Each runner-up received $1,250.

OMA’s Wesdome’s new Mishi pit pumps-up prospects in Algoma

June 4, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

New mines in Ontario can come in all shapes, sizes and commodities — Earlier this week, OMA member and gold producer Wesdome officially opened the Mishi Pit, which is being integrated into the company’s precious metal operations in the Wawa area — A group, including company directors, Wesdome investors, financial analysts and employees participated in the ceremony, which included a controlled blast. . . .

Though this addition to Wesdome assets, which is expected to account for 9,000 ounces of gold in 2012, may be modest by some standards, its positive contribution to the local employment scene is quite significant. The Mishi Pit is located about two kilometres from the company’s Eagle River Mill and 16 kilometres from its larger Eagle River underground gold mine.

The opening of the Mishi Pit itself has directly created 40 new jobs itself adding to the 240 employees at the Eagle River Mine. Incorporating Mishi ore into the Eagle River mill has created a second shift at the processing plant and led to the hiring of additional employees.

Two Sudbury OMA contributors – Charlie Graham and Bob Onucki – gain CIM recognition

May 18, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Two significant and long-serving contributors to Ontario Mining Association activities and initiatives have recently been presented with major awards by the Canadian Institute of Mining. Bob Onucki, Senior Global Account Director Mining for Sandvik, won the CIM Distinguished Service Medal and Charlie Graham, Managing Director of the Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization (CAMIRO), was the first winner of the Underground Mining Society Award.

Presentations of these mining industry awards were made recently at the Canadian Institute of Mining’s 114th annual conference, which was held in Edmonton. Both Mr. Onucki and Mr. Graham are based in Sudbury. They were part of a contingent of 10 people from the Sudbury area who received recognition at this awards ceremony. The CIM Distinguished Service Medal was inaugurated in 1956. It is presented for distinguished and meritorious service to the CIM and the mineral industry, of a nature not necessarily technical or scientific.

“This award culminates 40 years of my being in the mining business and more than 25 of those years as a CIM member,” said Mr. Onucki, who has always been a champion of promoting students interested in the industry. “This award reminds me of the great people and interesting moments in the business and it is absolutely fantastic to be recognized by my peers.”

OMA member Cliffs plans to invest $3.3 billion in Ring of Fire

May 16, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Association Member Cliffs Natural Resources has announced intentions to invest $3.3 billion to develop a chromite mine in the Ring of Fire area, a transportation corridor and a processing plant in Northern Ontario. This could lead to more than 1,200 direct jobs over the anticipated 30 year life of the mine.

“Cliffs is pleased to be moving forward the proposed development of a mine in the Ring of Fire and a processing facility near Sudbury,” said Bill Boor, Senior Vice President Global Ferroalloys for Cliffs Natural Resources, based in Cleveland. “These milestones bring us closer to opening the mine and starting production to meet the global demand for stainless steel.”

“Ontario is blessed with an abundance of natural resources at a time in history when the world is developing faster than ever and demanding these resources,” said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP for Sudbury. “We are taking advantage of this incredible opportunity in the Ring of Fire to further open up Northern Ontario by bringing thousands of jobs, new infrastructure and economic opportunities to cities, towns and First Nations communities.”

The Ring of Fire is a mineral rich and somewhat isolated area of Northern Ontario located about 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

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.

Ontario Mining Association safety summit re-emphasizes goal of zero harm

April 23, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

A recent Ontario Mining Association mine managers’ safety summit held in Sudbury, involving 30 mine managers and safety specialists, has helped the industry re-dedicate itself to the goal of achieving zero harm by 2015. The group was seeking new answers and new ideas at the one day session, which preceded Workplace Safety North’s annual health and safety conference.

By any yardstick, the mining industry in Ontario has an exemplary record of improving its safety performance. Since 1976, the sector’s lost time injury rate has improved by 96%. This same measurement has improved by 81% since 1989 and by 73% since 1993. What was an industry wide lost time injury rate of 12 per 200,000 hours worked has been reduced to the 0.5 range today.

However, the closer you get to zero, the less room there is for improvement and the harder it becomes to make each gain. The idea to hold the mine managers’ safety summit arose when the industry hit a speed bump on the road to continuous safety improvement in 2011. Over the past 10 years, the lost time injury rate of 1.2 per 200,000 hours in 2002, declined steadily to 0.5 in 2010. However, in 2011, for the first time in a decade, there was a bump up to 0.6.

OMA member Osisko strengthens mining industry-Metis relations

April 20, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Mining Association member Osisko Mining has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) concerning the development of its Hammond Reef gold project in Northwestern Ontario. The MOU defines how the parties will be consulted and commits both parties to work together to address potential impacts of the mineral development project on Metis rights, interests and way of life.

“The signing of the MOU is the result of a respectful consultation process between the signatories,” said Sean Roosen, Osisko President and Chief Executive Officer. “The agreement represents a milestone in our continuing working relationship with all the local communities in the region and underscores Osisko’s commitment to continue developing a strong relationship with Aboriginal people.”

“This agreement is an important step in building a mutually respectful and sustainable relationship between the Metis community and Osisko Hammond Reef. It sets out a consultation process through which Osisko Hammond Reef can engage with the Metis Community at the local and regional levels in order to better understand Metis rights and interests that may be impacted in the local area around the project,” said Gary Lipinski, President of the MNO.

Students in Ontario’s nickel capital submit record number of Ontario Mining Association SYTYKM entries

April 5, 2015April 2, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

So You Think You Know Mining (SKTYKM)

Efforts by the Sudbury Mining Committee and Cambrian College have helped to boost the number of Sudbury area entries in the Ontario Mining Association’s high school video competition So You Think You Know Mining this year. The OMA appreciates the support and cooperation from these groups during the fourth rendition of SYTYKM.

Students from four Sudbury area high schools — St. Benedicts, Bishop Alexander Carter, Confederation and Lively — submitted 15 SYTYKM entries. Though there have been entries – and winners — from Sudbury in previous years, this number is at least three times the normal level of Sudbury area entries. This year, more than 135 videos were received from students across the province, which is approximately 70% more than the 80-plus Ontario entries last year.

Sudbury Mining Week plans on showcasing the top SYTYKM entries from the region during events planned for April 27 to May 5, 2012. This group aims to promote mining and its importance to the economy and culture of Northern Ontario. The Sudbury Mining Week Committee also wants young people to learn more about the broad range of career opportunities the industry offers and the high-tech realities of modern mining. Sudbury Mining Week details can be found at www.sudburyminingweek.com.

Provincial Budget reveals a multi-faceted plan to improve Ontario’s finances

March 28, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Everyone will be called upon in different and sometimes unequal ways to make a contribution to improve the province’s finances in the future, according to the Budget delivered by Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan yesterday. “Strong Action for Ontario” outlined a combination of spending cuts, administrative streamlining and new revenues to reduce the province’s projected 2011-2012 deficit of $15.3 billion and produce a balanced budget by 2017-2018.

“Right now, the single most important step the Ontario government can take to grow the economy is to balance the budget,” said Mr. Duncan. “We must change the political culture and the way all of us in this legislature and across the province approach and confront the challenges we all face. To ensure strong job growth into the future, Ontario must eliminate the deficit to strengthen the foundation of the economy.”

Mining is mentioned several times in the Budget. Mining companies pay all of the same taxes as corporations in other sectors of the economy. In addition, mining companies are the only enterprises, which pay the Ontario Mining Tax. The Budget has fully endorsed the recommendation of the Drummond Report to review this industry specific tax.

OMA high school video competition So You Think You Know Mining attracts record number of entries

April 5, 2015March 21, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

The Ontario Mining Association’s high school video competition So You Think You Know Mining, which is now in its fourth year, continues to attract more entries. Momentum keeps building with dramatic increases in the level of participation of every edition. This year, more than 135 videos were received, which is approximately 70% more than the 80-plus last year.

Video entries arrived electronically from all parts of the province and students from high schools we had not seen SYTYKM entries from previously have been received for the judges’ consideration. “We try every year to keep the SYTYKM video competition fresh and interesting for students and educators,” said OMA President Chris Hodgson. “It is gratifying to see this response. We know these students invest a great deal of creativity, energy and time into making their productions.”

This year’s competition is making available opportunities to win $33,500 in prize money, an $8,000 increase of what was on the table last year. Several entries eligible for the Early Bird draw for $500 were received by March 1. Other key dates in 2012 are April 1 to 15 for the determination of nominees for the People’s Choice and OMA Academy Award, April 20 to June 3, which is the voting period for the People’s Choice Award, and May 22 when winners will be determined and notified.