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Ontario Mining

Advancing safety in mining through better planning and practices in Ontario

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’s mining industry continues to move towards the goal of zero harm in the workplace by 2015. Every avenue is being explored to reach that target. A presentation by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer George Gritziotis at a recent Ontario Mining Association board of directors meeting helps to provide light for the path forward.

“The Prevention Council held its first meeting on September 28 and one of its priorities is a renewed focus on the Internal Responsibility System,” said Mr. Gritziotis. “Health and safety is a tier one public good.” He is looking into having a mine in Northern Ontario participate in a pilot project concerning the re-emphasis on the IRS.

Roy Slack, President of mine contractor Cementation Canada, represents the mining sector and Northern Ontario on the Prevention Council and he was described by Mr. Gritziotis as a “true champion of health and safety.”

Mr. Gritziotis outlined the priorities of the Prevention Council. They include support in health and safety for small employers and small businesses, for vulnerable workers such as youth, immigrants and older workers and for those in high hazard sectors.

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[Thunder Bay power plant] Gas conversion on hold – by Kris Ketonen (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – November 3, 2012)

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

The fate of the city’s OPG power plant will be clearer in a few months, the province’s minister of energy assured Friday.
Regional representatives were caught off-guard Thursday when the provincial government announced a hold on its plan to convert the plant so that it runs on natural gas instead of coal.

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) — which is in charge of Ontario’s long-term power system planning — believes the loss in power generation could be made up elsewhere, and mothballing the local plant would save taxpayers up to $400 million (that number was highly disputed on Friday, however).

“If the plans will provide those power needs and save money, then we’ll take a look at them,” Ontario Energy Minister Chris Bentley said in an interview Friday. “If they won’t, then the conversion is back on.

“Look, anytime anybody tells me they can do something and save up to $400 million, they’ve got my attention. But right now, I’m at the ‘show me’ stage, and that’s why we’re waiting for the more-detailed approach and plan.”

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Mines at risk in Thunder Bay power plant closure, officials say – by John Spears (Toronto Star – November 3, 2012)

The Toronto Star has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Suspending a project to convert Thunder Bay’s coal-burning power plant to natural gas threatens the well-being of northwest Ontario’s booming mining sector, according to local politicians. And the Ontario Mining Association is also taking a close look at the impact decision, a spokesman said.

They were reacting to the Ontario government’s decision to halt work on converting the Thunder Bay plant to gas. It now burns coal, but the province has pledged to shut down all coal plants by the end of 2014. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association put out a sharply worded release on the news.

“These actions put at risk billions of dollars of investment in the mining sector by raising concerns that the required power may not be there when it is needed,” said Ron Nelson, president of the association.

The province says that converting the 300-megawatt Thunder Bay plant isn’t needed, because the area’s needs can be served by a new transmission line scheduled to go into service in 2017.

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NEWS RELEASE: OPA Decision Puts Mining Growth at Risk [Northwestern Ontario]

Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA)

For immediate release: Friday, Novemver 2, 2012

THUNDER BAY – The Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announcement that they are suspending further work on the Thunder Bay Generating Station gas conversion is being met with anger and frustration by the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA). The announcement is a result of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) informing OPG that it “needs to explore other options for energy supply in the northwest” despite personal assurances by the Minister as recently as August that the conversion would proceed.

For many years, NOMA and its partners have made energy a top priority in our meetings with Government. We have been calling on the OPA to undertake proper energy planning in the Northwest including repeated requests to meet with Northwestern Ontario leaders and experts to discuss the comprehensive energy needs of the region. These requests have fallen on deaf ears and this decision is an unfortunate example of the consequence.

“How dare the OPA ignore specific government direction by causing further delays to the Thunder Bay Generating Station conversion!” said NOMA President Ron Nelson. “These actions jeopardize the conversion and also put at risk billions of dollars of investment in the mining sector by raising concerns that the required power may not be there when it is needed.”

“Why is OPA determined to turn off the lights in our region?” questioned Nelson. “Why is the Ontario Government letting this happen?”

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Cliffs eyes more delays [Ring of Fire chromite project] – by Sebastien Perth (Sudbury Star – November 2, 2012)

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

Cliffs Natural Resources admits it may have to delay production at its Black Thor project in the Ring of Fire to 2017. The news came out during a recent quarterly report conference call, nearly a month after Cliffs announced it was pushing back production in the Ring of Fire to 2016.

Cliffs director of global communications Pat Persico said the company is still aiming for 2016, but that could easily change based on the market situation.

“As noted during our earnings call, Cliffs’ CEO Joseph Carrabba had noted that the company has several options and levers we can pull should the market change. One of those levers is capital spending related to our chromite project. Officially, we are working toward the end of 2016, but this could push the production target date beyond 2017,” Persico said.

He said despite the “significant potential” the Black Thor project represents, iron ore prices have caused Cliffs to re-evaluate the project’s timeline.

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Cliffs says it will include Neskantaga feedback in environmental assessment – by Rick Garrick (Wawatay News – November 1, 2012)

Northern Ontario’s First Nations Voice: http://wawataynews.ca/

Cliffs Natural Resources is looking to include Neskantaga’s concerns about an important gathering place on the Attawapiskat River in the environmental assessment process for its Ring of Fire chromite mine.

“In terms of Neskantaga’s interest in the river, that is one of many aspects that has to be incorporated into the environmental assessment,” said Jason Aagenes, director of environmental affairs at Cliffs, during an Oct. 24 media briefing prior to a Cliffs open house in Thunder Bay. “We’re looking for feedback and input, not just from Neskantaga but all of the area First Nation communities, into the environmental assessment. The purpose of the environmental assessment is to take into account areas of cultural or archeological sensitivities and make sure that the project will not adversely impact those areas.”

A Lakehead University professor recently confirmed Neskantaga’s concerns about the gathering place after conducting a surface examination at the location where Ring of Fire companies are planning to build a bridge across the Attawapiskat River.

“It is a place of high archeological potential,” said Scott Hamilton, a professor in Lakehead University’s department of anthropology. Hamilton found evidence of occupation at the gathering place, including log tent frames, five gallon barrels cut into stoves, hide stretching racks and a metal pipe that he speculated could be the remnants of a musket dating back to the days of northern Ontario’s fur trade.

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Ring of Fire on the backburner for Cliffs? – by Northern Ontario Business staff (November 1, 2012)

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

Volatile commodity prices and cost pressures have Cliffs Natural Resources pushing back the start of chromite production at its Black Thor project in the James Bay lowlands Ring of Fire camp to 2017, or even beyond.

In the Cleveland miner’s Oct. 25 third-quarter conference call, Cliffs chairman and CEO Joseph Carrabba said the company is curbing capital spending and is holding off on early site construction at the remote location in the James Bay lowlands until a feasibility study is finished next summer.

It’s the second time in recent months that Cliffs has pushed back the start date at Black Thor by an additional year after steadfastly maintaining it was sticking to its original project startup date of 2015.

While Black Thor has great long-term potential, Carrabba said the sharp decline in prices of iron ore – Cliffs’ bread and butter commodity — has the company taking a serious re-evaluation of the massive $3.3-billion mine and processing development project.

“This includes delaying the major capital spending outlays and could push the production target date beyond 2017,” Carrabba told analysts.

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Ontario Mining moves into Queen’s Park for a day

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 message that modern mining is a significant contributor to Ontario’s economy and society and a helpful partner in improving the province’s financial condition was well received at Queen’s Park. On Tuesday, October 30, the Ontario Mining Association and its member companies held their annual Meet the Miners event in the Legislature.

Although Ontario’s seat of government is a major international mining finance and services centre, this strength of the provincial economy is sometimes lost amidst the other activities in the city and the visible absence of mine headframes. It is important for the industry to constructively show its presence and its attributes from time to time in the province’s main political arena.

And the message is getting through. Mining has earned mention in recent provincial budgets and throne speeches and is gaining a larger presence in the business and mainstream media. CBC Radio recently included mining in a segment of the series “Toronto Juggernauts,” which featured strong and integral parts of the city’s economy.

There were several components to Meet the Miners Day this year. While the remnants of tropical storm Sandy may have left some mining participants awash with their travel plans and the prorogation of the Legislature found some MPPs in their home ridings, the participation rate was extremely high.

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[Northern Ontario] ONR sale concerns resource companies – by CBC Radio Sudbury (October 31, 2012)

http://www.cbc.ca/sudbury/

Georgia Pacific and Detour Gold say they rely on stable freight service

Companies who move their products by rail say they are watching the Ontario Northland divestment closely. The Ontario Northland Railway hauls freight for a number of industrial operations in communities along Highway 11.

The future of what is now the ONR is doubly important for the town of Englehart. The railway is a major employer, as is Georgia Pacific — a company that uses the ONR to ship oriented strand board from its Englehart plant.

“We’ve engaged in conversations with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines,” said Georgia Pacific spokesperson Eric Abercrombie.

“We have expressed to them that any change in the ownership of the Northland Railroad would need to continue providing … consistent reliable service level.”

The Atlanta-based company has had “a great relationship with the Ontario Northland Railroad,” Abercrombie said, adding that the Englehart plant “depends on quality rail service that is … safe, reliable and competitive so we [can] continue delivering products to our customers.”

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NEWS RELEASE: Bold Ventures Receives Permission From Marten Falls First Nations to Explore on its Koper Lake Project in the Ring of Fire which Contains the Blackhorse Chromium Deposit Optioned From Fancamp Exploration Ltd.

Toronto, Ontario October 31 2012 – Bold Ventures Inc. (BOL:TSX.V) (“Bold” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that in keeping with its policy of positive First Nations relations, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Marten Falls First Nation (“MFFN”). Marten Falls is a First Nation community located proximal to the Company’s Koper Lake project optioned from Fancamp Exploration Ltd. (“FNC”).

The Koper Lake project is located in the Ring of Fire area of the James Bay Lowlands, northeastern Ontario. The MOU outlines an understanding between the parties to compensate MFFN for any impacts created by the project work within MFFN traditional territory. The MOU also provides for local job creation, respectful stewardship of the land and environment as well as the promotion of business partnerships with MFFN and local service providers.

About The Koper Lake Project

The property contains a known occurrence of massive chromite called the Black Horse occurrence. One drill hole intersected massive chromite interpreted to have a true thickness of approximately 35 to 55 m; a second drill hole intersected intercalated chromitite and peridotite beds followed by massive chromite over interpreted true thicknesses of 20 to 25 m. (Please refer to Fancamp press release dated December 27, 2011).

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Cliffs criticized for[native] hiring practices – CBC Radio Thunder Bay (October 26, 2012)

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

Mining company responds to First Nations man’s concern about criminal record checks 

A First Nations man in Thunder Bay says he is concerned that Cliffs Natural Resources is shutting out a large number of Aborginal workers from getting mining jobs in the Ring of Fire in Ontario because of criminal records.

Chris Towegishig is originally from Ginoogaming First Nation. Earlier this month Towegishig was told he wouldn’t have a job at Cliffs, despite receiving a written offer of employment from the company just days earlier. The offer had been for a field assistant position at the site.

“And she told me ‘no’ we’re not going to have you out there due to your criminal record,” Towegishig said, describing his interaction with a Cliffs human resources representative. Towegishig said he was told the other workers would be “scared for their safety.”

According to Towegishig, he had been honest about his criminal record from the start, and had been told by the company his history shouldn’t be a problem.

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Toll road to the Ring of Fire? – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – October 2012)

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.

A provincial toll road may be in the offing for mining companies hauling ore out of the Ring of Fire. Noront Resources said in its discussions with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, among the options on the table with Queen’s Park are a toll charge being assessed based on each company’s “proportional usage.”

That’s just fine with Noront since its concentrate shipments will be less than seven per cent of the road’s entire haul. The province has committed to financing a north-south haul ore road out of the James Bay lowlands’ mining camp, and has further assured Noront that the road will be open to all mining companies, not just Cliffs Natural Resources.

The other option under government consideration involves the companies ponying up money for the road corridor. The cash-strapped Ontario government has also appealed to Ottawa for infrastructure capital.

Noront president and CEO Wes Hanson said a final decision on how the road will be built and financed has yet to be decided.

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No cash for new [Ring of Fire railroad] line – province – by PJ Wilson (North Bay Nugget – October 28, 2012)

http://www.nugget.ca/

The province doesn’t have the money to build a rail link connecting the Ontario Northland line to the Ring of Fire region, says to a spokeswoman for Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci.

Laura Blondeau said Friday neither she nor Bartolucci have seen anything from the General Chairperson’s Association about its proposal for a “new deal” to revitalize the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission which was announced last week.

“We have asked to see the proposal, and they have sent us the press release they issued and communications products, but we don’t really know the plan or how it will be implemented,” Blondeau said.

She said her office is looking to meet with them next week to discuss the proposal that would keep the ONTC alive, but stressed the province does not have the money to extend the track to the Ring of Fire, a remote area without rail lines, all-season roads, electricity or communications networks west of Moosonee.

The proposal was put forward by the GCA, which represents employees of the ONTC, which called for ownership of the Crown corporation to be transferred to a new ports authority which would be operated under the Canada Marine Act.

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Ontario Mining contractor celebrates 50 years of service and growth

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 congratulates member JS Redpath on reaching its fiftieth company birthday — today. Recently, a gala event to acknowledge this milestone was held at Memorial Gardens in North Bay, which attracted more than 400 guests including company founder Jim Redpath.

Local dignitaries and current and retired Redpath employees were also on hand at the celebratory event. Mr. Redpath established the mining contracting company in 1962, when he was 26 years of age.

Redpath is believed to be the first Canadian mine contractor to reach a fiftieth anniversary. North Bay has been the home base of JS Redpath since 1969. The company has grown from a regional supplier of mining contracting services, in its early years, to a global service provider with business units in North America, South America, Australia, South Africa and Europe, today.

The company has 6,000 employees world-wide working on projects in 18 different countries during 2012. Redpath employees celebrated their employer’s fiftieth anniversary not just in Ontario but at many locations around the world.

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Cliffs holds open house to discuss [Sudbury] chromite smelter – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – October 26, 2012)

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

Interested residents who attended an open house Thursd ay in Capreol on had an opportunity to have their comments and complaints considered by Cliffs Natural Resources as it undertakes the environmental assessment for its chromite smelter project.

Cleveland-based Cliffs is about two years into collecting baseline data for its combined federal and provincial environmental assessment for development of its Black Thor deposit near McFaulds Lake in the Ring of Fire.

Jason Aagenes, director of environmental affairs for Cliffs’ ferroalloys division, briefed reporters on the environmental assessment of the four components of its Ring of Fire. Cliffs is looking to develop an open-pit mine in the James Bay lowlands, which will include a concentrator to crush chromite ore and a lined tailings pond.

It is also developing an integrated transportation corridor to move concentrated ore from the Ring of Fire to a ferrochrome processing plant it plans to build at the former Moose Mountain Mine site, north of Capreol.

Aagenes said the project is in the feasibility and environmental assessment stages, and said Cliffs is working on an aggressive deadline to begin mining and processing by 2016. Cliffs originally intended to be in production by 2015.

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