Twitter

Ontario Mining

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s “Ring of Fire” Letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (November 8, 2013)

(L to R) Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines at the PDAC Convention, March, 2013. (Photo by Stan Sudol)

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

The economic development opportunity in the Ring of Fire region is vitally important to Northern Ontario and First Nations communities. I am writing to update you on Ontario’s progress in advancing smart, sustainable, collaborative development in the region, and to solicit greater involvement by your government.

Today, Ontario announced it is leading the creation of a new development corporation that would bring together private and public partners, including First Nations, mining companies, and both of our governments. The corporation would develop, construct, finance, operate and maintain the infrastructure that supports access to strategic resources in the Ring of Fire region.

The national significance of the Ring of Fire has been recognized by your government on several occasions. In September, the Honourable Greg Rickford, your government’s lead Minister for the Ring of Fire, said in reference to development of the region: “Our Government recognizes the important role the mining sector plays in creating jobs, attracting investment and strengthening not only the economy of Northern Ontario, but also of the country, which is why we are committed to creating the conditions that will enable the industry to continue to flourish.”

Read more

Human development first: Rae – by Bryan Phelan (Wawatay News – 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.”

Read more

NEWS RELEASE: GCA encouraged with Creation of Ring of Fire Development Corporation

NORTH BAY, ON, Nov. 8, 2013 /CNW/ – The General Chairperson’s Association (GCA) representing unionized employees at Ontario Northland is encouraged with the direction Premier Wynne’s Government is taking with today’s announcement that it will be creating a development corporation which will bring together both private and public parties to develop, construct, finance, operate and maintain a publically owned infrastructure to access the Ring of Fire.

“This proposal by Premier Wynne’s Government is a positive step for all Northerners and the GCA is ready and willing to be part of any discussion about this new corporation. The Minister of Northern Development and Mines Advisory Commission (MAC) should play an important role in these discussions”, said GCA spokesperson Brian Kelly

“It is a natural fit for the ONTC which is a major provincial infrastructure holding in the north to be involved in accessing the Ring of Fire. Converting the ONTC into an integrated transportation and communication system for both north eastern and north western Ontario makes sense and would also help improve the social and economic development of all communities in Northern Ontario” added Kelly.

“The ONTC can be the catalyst to develop an environmentally responsible transportation corridor into this pristine area that will access and develop the vast mineral deposits for the betterment of all Northerners”, concluded Kelly.

Read more

Ontario creating Ring of Fire corporation – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – 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.

Read more

Ontario creating Ring of Fire development corporation – by CBC News Thunder Bay (November 08, 2013)

http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/

Provincial officials say they want to help push mining project forward, in spite of recent setbacks

Ontario’s governing Liberals are pledging to create a development corporation for the Ring of Fire mineral zone in an effort to ensure infrastructure development for future mining projects moves ahead. Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle made the announcement in Thunder Bay on Friday.

In a statement, Gravelle said the corporation will bring First Nations, mining companies and provincial and federal partners together “to settle divergent interests and get back to making this development happen.”

Gravelle said competing private sector interests have impacted the project’s ability to move forward.He hopes the new development corporation will help bring the parties together, and make mutual development decisions.

Cliffs Natural Resources has stated it may have to reconsider its project as a result of a recent failed effort to obtain the right to build an access road to its holdings on top of claims held by KWG Resources. First Nations continue to express concerns about a lack of consultation on resource development in their traditional territory.

Read more

NEWS RELEASE: What can we learn from the fate of Australia’s and Quebec’s mining tax plans?

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 trend in resource taxation philosophy found on both sides of the world came to light recently. It would seem both Australia at the national level in the southern hemisphere and Quebec at the provincial level in the northern hemisphere are heading in the same direction on this topic.

New Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his government believe the mining tax imposed by the previous government was damaging to investment and jobs. The government is in the midst of repealing the tax, which it believes “fundamentally undermined confidence in Australia as an investment destination.”

The mining tax or “resource super profits tax” (RSPT), is a tax on any profit made by mining companies that is above 6% of their capital investment, in addition to corporate tax. Mr. Abbott’s government claims scrapping the mining tax will mean workers will be an extra $450 (Aus) a year better off. The RSPT did not net the government the tax dollars anticipated.

Read more

NEWS RELEASE: Probe Mines Honoured with Ontario Prospectors Association 2013 Ontario Prospector Award

Probe Exploration Team, David Palmer, Prospectors Jack Robert and Mike Tremblay Recognized for the Borden Gold Discovery

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Nov. 7, 2013) – Probe Mines Limited (TSX VENTURE:PRB) (“Probe” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that along with prospectors Jack Robert and Mike Tremblay, Dr. David Palmer and the Probe exploration team have been recognized with the “2013 Ontario Prospector Award” for the Borden Gold Discovery, during the recent annual awards ceremony held in Sudbury on November 5, 2013.

“We are honoured to receive this award from the Ontario Prospectors Association for the Borden Gold Project,” said David Palmer, President and CEO of Probe Mines. “It is a validation of the dedication and excellent work that the Probe team has done in advancing the Borden Gold Project into one of the premier new gold projects in Ontario. It took the combined vision and work of many people to advance the project to this point. From the prospectors, Jack Robert and Mike Tremblay, who made the initial outcrop discovery; to the entire Probe team, particularly our field team and geologists Craig Yuill and Breanne Beh, who all work tirelessly on the project.”

Patrick Reid, Chairman of Probe added, “On behalf of the Board and shareholders of Probe, we would like to offer our congratulations to the entire technical team for this much deserved recognition.

Read more

NEWS RELEASE: Will global demand for Ontario minerals be strong in 2014?

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.

An economic presentation at the most recent Ontario Mining Association board of directors meeting has helped to shed some light on forces impacting the international markets for the products and services of Ontario mineral producers next year. Gareth Watson, Vice President Investment Management and Research at Richardson GMP, met with Ontario miners on October 30 and shared his perspective through his paper “Looking Forward to 2014: Global Macroeconomic Views.”

“Canada can expect moderate growth in 2014,” said Mr. Watson. “Canada is reducing its deficit and getting it closer to zero, which bodes well relative to other countries.” However, he sees high personal debt levels as the biggest risk to the Canadian economy going forward. “A generation growing up on low-cost credit doesn’t help the situation.”

Mr. Watson believes Canada needs foreign investment for resource development but feels the government may be sending out mixed messaging on how sincere the welcome mat for foreign investment really is. Also, new pipelines are seen as important to future prosperity in Canada but he cautions “pipeline delays will subdue economic recovery.”

Read more

Local firms test new Ring of Fire technology – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – November 2, 2013)

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

Research is being conducted at a Sudbury facility to develop a new, less expensive method of processing chromite ore from the Ring of Fire and turning it into ferrochrome.

KWG Resources Ltd. has filed a patent application while work is being done to commercialize a method of using natural gas, rather than an electric arc furnace, to power a ferrochrome processing plant.

Moe Lavigne, vice-president of exploration and development for KWG, said his company is aiming to reduce the cost of producing ferrochrome from the chromite it will mine from the Black Horse deposit it has an 80% share in in the Ring of Fire.

If you factored in current electricity prices, two to three times higher in Ontario than some provinces, electric arc furnaces and road transportation, “there’s a very strong chance … the Ring of Fire won’t be economical at all,” said Lavigne.

Cliffs Natural Resources hopes to develop its Ring of Fire Black Thor deposit and ship some of its material to a smelter it plans to construct in Capreol.

Read more

NEWS RELEASE: Season six of SYTYKM begins — today

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 officially launched season six of its high school video competition So You Think You Know Mining (SYTYKM) today. New features of the competition this year include an additional award category and an increase in available prize money to $40,000 from $36,500.

The new Teachers’ Choice Award carries a $2,500 prize for the video receiving the most votes from educators. Every teacher who votes will be eligible for a random draw to win $1,000 to acquire audio-visual equipment for their schools. “We want to make SYTYKM a little more exciting and innovative each year,” said OMA President Chris Hodgson. “The success of SYTYKM would not be possible without the interest and support of dedicated teachers across the province. The new award is a way to recognize the vital role of teachers in the SYTYKM program.”

The award for the Best Overall video will be $5,000 and most other Oscar-type award categories carry $2,500 cash prizes for winners. While the competition opens today, the deadline for submitting two to three minute videos – or a 30-second commercial – on the benefits of mining is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2014.

Read more

Mining Day at Queen’s Park – by Michael Gravelle (October 31, 2013)

http://www.netnewsledger.com/

Minister Michael Gravelle is the MPP for Thunder Bay Superior North and the Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines

QUEEN’S PARK – Today, I’m honoured to be joining the Ontario Mining Association as we host Meet the Miners Day at Queen’s Park. Meet the Miners Day, as I think many of you will know, is an annual tradition dating back more than 25 years that gives members of the Legislature and senior mining executives the opportunity to exchange ideas to help continue to build a healthy mining sector.

This year’s theme is “Mining Builds Communities,” something our province has excelled at by working with the mining industry to strengthen the economies of diverse communities across the province. Our government has worked very hard to advance our province’s standing as a preferred jurisdiction for mineral development. We’re working very hard to ensure that mining remains an important contributor to the provincial economy.

Here are some of the facts: Ontario is among the top-10 mineral investment jurisdictions in the world. As a result, 24 new mines have opened here over the last 10 years. That’s more than anywhere else in Canada. There are some notable examples. I could go on, but certainly we think of the De Beers Canada’s Victor diamond mine, Ontario’s diamond mine near Attawapiskat; the extraordinary Detour Gold project near Cochrane, one of the greatest gold deposits in North America; and the AuRico Gold Young-Davidson mine near Matachewan as well comes to mind—great examples of projects that are creating extraordinary employment.

Read more

The Nickel Miner’s Ghost – by Mark Leslie and Jenny Jelen (Excerpt from Spooky Sudbury: True Tales of the Eerie & Unexplained) [RepublicOfMining.com – Halloween Theme]

To order a copy of Spooky Sudbury, click here: http://www.dundurn.com/books/spooky_sudbury

For a CBC Sudbury interview with Mark Leslie, click here: http://www.cbc.ca/morningnorth/past-episodes/2013/10/01/spooky-sudbury/

The Nickel Miner’s Ghost

It was a fresh new century when, in newlywed bliss, Amanda, her husband, their daughter, and a red Doberman moved into the beautiful old house they had purchased in an established Sudbury neighbourhood. The gorgeous two-storey home had character and charm, but it also held a little something else that wouldn’t fully reveal itself until a couple of years later, when their son arrived.

And though their very first night in the new home was a disturbing night to remember, the chills that later greeted them were never frightening, never threatening; they were merely eerie. “Our first night at the house was a horror!” Amanda says with a bit of a grin.

They were exhausted from the day of moving, and the beautiful spa bath upstairs that had so attracted Amanda when they had been considering the home called to her like a siren beckoning a sailor on the open seas.

Amanda started the tub, filled it up, and then went down¬stairs to get a nice glass of wine to drink while relaxing in the tub. It wasn’t until she was heading back upstairs that she heard what sounded like rain inside the house. She ran back down to the kitchen to see water pouring from the pot lights in the kitchen ceiling.

Read more

Haunted 2650 Level of Levack Mine – by Mark Leslie and Jenny Jelen (Excerpt from Spooky Sudbury: True Tales of the Eerie & Unexplained) [RepublicOfMining.com – Halloween Theme]

To order a copy of Spooky Sudbury, click here: http://www.dundurn.com/books/spooky_sudbury

For a CBC Sudbury interview with Mark Leslie, click here: http://www.cbc.ca/morningnorth/past-episodes/2013/10/01/spooky-sudbury/

Haunted 2650 Level of Levack Mine

It is a well-known fact that shift work and general over-tiredness can often lead to a change in perception, a blurring of the lines between reality and the dream world. In his 1996 book, Sleep Thieves, Stanley Coren described the effects of sleep-deprivation on our physical and mental health.

One such side-effect has to do with hallucinations. Coren documented what happened when Peter Tripp, a New York City DJ, decided to go without sleep for two hundred hours for a charity fund-raising event. Early into the experience, Tripp experienced distortions in his visual perceptions: he was inter-preting spots on the table as bugs, seeing spiders crawling around his booth, and even spinning webs on his shoes.3 Later on, Tripp was so susceptible to delusions that he became convinced that the doctor monitoring his health was actually an undertaker there to bury him alive. Tripp could no longer properly distinguish between reality and his nightmares.

Tripp’s experiences are perhaps a bit extreme, but Coren also includes multiple references to the effect of shift-work on internal circadian clocks. He illustrates how workers on rotating shifts tend to sleep two less hours per day, spend most of their time sleeping in the lightest stages of sleep, and thus typically suffer from sleep deprivation and build up a significant amount of sleep debt.

Read more

Mining: ‘More benefits, less paperwork’ – by Marlene Bilous (Anishinabek News – October 28, 2013)

http://anishinabeknews.ca/

FORT WILLIAM FN –Lake Superior region Chiefs are looking for more benefits and less paperwork related to mining activities on their traditional territories.

Participants in an Oct. 9-10 Northern Superior Regional Mining Workshop were unanimous in their call for increased capacity at the local level to protect Anishinabek and treaty rights and to respond to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines heavy paperwork burden resulting from the new mining regulations. Furthermore, they stressed the need for a mining coordinator at the UOI Northern Superior office.

Workshop participants emphasized the need for changes to the new mining regulations made mandatory on April 1, 2013. Councillor Ed Wawia, Red Rock First Nation, emphasized that mining companies need to come to First Nation band offices and outline their exploration plans before they set foot on treaty or traditional territory.

“They should make the band office their first stop and we should be involved from the beginning and at each stage of the mining process.”

Read more

Sudbury mining firm sues province for $110M – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – October 26, 2013)

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

A Sudbury-based resource company has filed a $110-million lawsuit against the Government of Ontario, charging it has “absolutely failed” to fulfil its constitutional duty to establish a framework to help companies and first nations settle mining deals.

Northern Superior Resources Inc. filed the statement of claim Thursday in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for damages it says it’s incurring by not being able to access its Thorne Lake, Meston Lake and Rapson Lake gold properties. They are located just west of the Ring of Fire.

None of the allegations contained in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

Tom Morris, president and chief executive officer of Northern Superior, says the Government of Ontario is failing both mining companies and first nations by not ensuring consultation occurs as required under the Mining Act.

Northern Superior has had successful negotiations with Cree nations in northern Quebec and with the Neskantanga First Nation in northwestern Ontario, said Morris.

Read more