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Ontario Mining Association sets the date for the first post-election Meet the Miners event for November 30

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

Following close on the heels of the recent provincial election, which resulted in a minority government, the Ontario Mining Association will be holding its Meet the Miners event on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto. This is the second Meet the Miners hosted by the OMA in 2011 with the earlier celebration of mining being held on Monday, March 28, before the event was shifted to a regular fall time slot. 

“While we are still awaiting news on legislative business such as the appointment of a new speaker and a new cabinet by the government, including the Minister of Northern Development and Mines, we feel it is important to move forward with this opportunity to communicate the importance of the mineral sector to Ontarians,” said OMA President Chris Hodgson. “During the recent election campaign, the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives and NDP all included important and constructive positions on mining in their platforms.” 

Details still need to be finalized but the day will include an OMA board meeting in the morning, a luncheon with a keynote speaker, who ideally would be the newly appointed mines minister, recognition of the industry and the OMA and its members in the Legislature, team meetings with cabinet ministers and opposition leaders and a reception from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sutton Place Hotel. Invitations for various components of the day will be distributed electronically in the near future.

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Commenting period [on Ring of Fire] now open – by Harald Carmichael (Sudbury Star – October 18, 2011)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. hcarmichael@thesudburystar.com

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has just launched the first of three public consultation periods for a federal environmental assessment of Cliffs Natural Resources’ Black Thor chromite deposit in the Ring of Fire area of northwestern Ontario.

The agency’s draft Environm e nt a l Impact Statement Guidelines has been prepared and identifies potential environmental effects to be addressed and information that needs to be included in Cliffs’ Environmental Impact Statement. It can be viewed on the agency’s website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (Registry reference number 11-03- 63927). The document is also available in print by request.

The deadline to submit a comment with this first round of public input is Nov. 16. The agency is also making $40,000 available under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in the environmental assessment. Funding applications received by Nov. 16 will be considered.

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NEWS RELEASE: Cliffs Chromite Project: Public Comments Invited and Federal Funding Available

OTTAWA – October 17, 2011 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is starting a comprehensive study type of environmental assessment for the proposed Cliffs Chromite Project located in northern Ontario. The Agency invites the public to comment on the project and the conduct of the comprehensive study.

The Agency has prepared the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines that identify potential environmental effects to be addressed and information that needs to be included in the proponent’s EIS. Public comments on the draft EIS Guidelines are invited and will be reviewed and considered before the document is finalized and issued to the proponent.

The draft EIS Guidelines and more information on this project are available on the Agency’s website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (Registry reference number 11-03-63927). The document is available in paper copy by request as well.

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Quadra FNX Mining and Xstrata team up – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – October 15, 2011)

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

Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. announced Friday it has an agreement to use a mine shaft owned by Xstrata Nickel, saving Quadra millions and helping to increase production at its Levack Mine.

The company said the 1,500- metre shaft at the nearby Craig Mine, owned by Xstrata Nickel, will significantly improve flexibility and provide more access to the ore.

“The access arrangement with Xstrata Nickel provides mutual benefits to both parties going forward,” Quadra FNX president and CEO Paul Blythe said in a release. “We will be advancing the implementation plan in order to shift operations from the Levack number two shaft to the Craig shaft immediately. This will be a significant step forward in the optimization of our (nearby) high-grade Morrison deposit.”

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Firm [Cliffs Natural Resources] defends environmental review process – by Bryan Meadows (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – October 15, 2011)

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

While First Nation leaders and environmentalists continue to have concerns about the approved environmental assessment process for Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.’s Chromite Project, the company maintains that the EA will mean a thorough review of all components of the project.

Some Matawa First Nations chiefs are upset about the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s (CEAA) decision to side with industry by choosing a Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment (EA) process, instead of a Joint Review Panel EA.

“I don’t understand how the CEAA can make this kind of choice,” Chief Sonny Gagnon of the Aroland First Nation, said in a news release.

“The area being affected is among one of the largest groups of intact wetlands in the world. These Ring of Fire developments are going to impact everyone in the region, one way or another, but especially the First Nations near these developments.

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MININGWATCH NEWS RELEASE: Federal Decision Ignores First Nations and Public Input: Likely to Hinder Development in Ontario’s “Ring of Fire”

Oct 13, 2011

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency recently announced that Cliffs’ proposed chromite mine, the first for a remote area of northern Ontario, will undergo a ‘comprehensive study’ environmental review despite the request of two First Nations councils and several non-governmental organizations for a public panel review.

The proposed project is a massive and complex undertaking that includes a mine and new infrastructure for transportation, power, and processing. The Matawa and Mushkegowuk First Nations representing 13 individual communities as well as MiningWatch Canada, Ecojustice, Wildlands League, and the Wildlife Conservation Society have all recommended that the project be evaluated through a joint federal-provincial review panel. Friday’s announcement indicated that this will not be the case and that the project will be reviewed through the less rigorous – and less participatory – comprehensive study process.

Cliffs’ project is the most advanced of several projects being developed in the much-touted “Ring of Fire”. If approved, Cliffs’ project would open the entire region and establish the infrastructure for future developments.

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MININGWATCH NEWS RELEASE: What Kind of Environmental Assessment for Ontario’s “Ring of Fire”?

Oct 12, 2011

The “Ring of Fire” is an area of northern Ontario that has seen a rapid growth in mineral exploration and potential developments in recent years. Two projects, Cliffs’ chromite project and Noront’s copper-nickel project, have filed descriptions with federal authorities – the first step in initiating an environmental assessment. The proponents of the projects have also volunteered to have their projects designated under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (mining projects are not required to undergo an EA in Ontario).

Both projects are large and complex with massive infrastructure development, power supply, and processing facilities that are part of the proposed developments. The projects each propose a different permanent road corridor and a there is a third proposal for a railway.

The concerns about the proposed projects are many and include:

•The way that these first developments will open up the region to additional developments and the cumulative effects of these projects.
•Meeting infrastructure needs of remote First Nations communities;
•Providing meaningful economic development opportunities for First Nations; and northern communities;

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NEWS RELEASE: Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund Helps Aboriginal Communities to Become “Mining Ready”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund is a non-profit Aboriginal corporation providing loans, tools and business support services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs looking to start, expand or acquire a business in remote, rural and urban communities across Northern Ontario.

Mining Ready Summit: Preparing Aboriginal Communities for Mining-Related Business Opportunities www.miningready.com

Thunder Bay, ON, October 14, 2011– Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) is proud to announce the first annual 2011 Mining Ready Summit in Timmins Ontario, on October 25 & October 26, 2011. The Summit will bring together Aboriginal businesses, community leaders, industry, government, contractors and mining related service providers, to help Aboriginal communities prepare for mining related business opportunities.

“As the situation stands today, there is clearly a missing link between Aboriginal businesses and industry. NADF wants to encourage new relationships to bridge these gaps. This can only be achieved by coming together to learn about each others respective goals and needs. The Mining Ready summit will ensure that both sides bring new knowledge, evidence, lessons learned and best practice into mining development talks,” says NADF Special Initiatives Advisor, Brian Davey.

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Future glitters for [Timmins] Lake Shore Gold – by Chris Ribau (Timmins Daily Press – October 14, 2011)

 The Daily Press, the city of Timmins newspaper. Contact the writer at news@thedailypress.ca.

Company set for major expansion of Timmins operations

Lake Shore Gold reported higher commercial production from its Timmins operations and is poised for a bright future.

The Timmins Chamber of Commerce hosted its Inside Their Business Luncheon Thursday at the Days Inn. Guest speaker Dan Gagnon, vice-president and general manager of Lake Shore Gold Corp, discussed key assests in the Timmins area, including the Timmins West Complex, the Bell Creek Mine and Bell Creek Mill.

“I’m grateful to talk about Lake Shore and our operations. I think we have a good story, and I’m always looking forward to sharing it with the community, because we are here to stay,” said Gagnon.

He reported higher commercial production from the company’s 100% owned Timmins Mine in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the first two quarters. Total gold poured year-to-date was more than 60,016 ounces, while gold sales in the third quarter totaled 16,570 ounces at an average price of US$1,726.

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Public hearings lacking for Ring of Fire – CBC News Website (October 12, 2011)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/

Mining Watch Canada says ‘largely paper process’ shuts out public input

A spokesperson with Mining Watch Canada says the environmental assessment underway for the biggest project in the Ring of Fire will shut many people out. He’s alarmed that public hearings are not being held for Cliffs Natural Resources proposed chromite mine north of Thunder Bay.

“[It’s] largely a paper process of submitting written comments, reviewing documents and providing written feedback back and forth,” said Ramsey Hart, Mining Watch’s program co-ordinator.

He said he can’t understand why the government wouldn’t call public hearings into such a massive project — as it has for a new mine near Marathon.

Cliffs’ project includes the construction and operation of a chromite mine, an all-season road south from the mine to the rail line near Nakina and a smelter, which could be located near Sudbury.

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Environmental assessment begins on Cliffs’ [Northern Ontario chromite] project – by Harold Carmichael (Sudbury Star – October 12, 2011)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. hcarmichael@thesudburystar.com

For the web’s largest database of articles on the Ring of Fire mining camp, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

A federal environmental assessment is underway for Cliffs Natural Resources’ Black Thor chromite deposit in the Ring of Fire area of northwestern Ontario.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has announced that based on information it has received, an environmental assessment is required. The project, the agency also said in a release, is subject to the environmental assessment requirements of the Ontario government.

Celine Legault, an agency spokeswoman in Ottawa, said Tuesday the assessment could take a year or more, depending on how long Cliffs takes to put together its own environmental impact study.

“We are calling it the Cliffs Chromite Project,” she said. “It will involve the construction, operation and commissioning of one open pit operation with a projected 30-year mine life.”

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Republic of Mining.com – Stan Sudol CBC Radio Thunder Bay Ring of Fire Interview (October 11, 2011)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 CBC Radio – Thunder Bay   Superior Morning radio host Lisa Laco: “Stan Sudol has his own ideas about how to develop the Ring of Fire. Sudol authors the blog Republic of Mining:” http://www.cbc.ca/superiormorning/episodes/2011/10/11/the-ring-of-fire/ This interview was the result of my “Mining Marshall Plan for Northern Ontario”. Click here to read: Mining Marshall …

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NEWS RELEASE: NAN WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR A POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

For the web’s largest database of articles on the Ring of Fire mining camp, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

Friday October 7, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy congratulates Premier Dalton McGuinty and will continue to strive for a positive working relationship with the returning official government of Ontario and bring forward the issues affecting the people of Nishnawbe Aski.

“NAN is mandated to work with all political parties and all levels and therefore we will continue to push for meaningful dialogue with the elected officials of Ontario,” said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy.

Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals managed to secure a third straight mandate, but fell just shy of a third straight majority. The Liberals had won 53 ridings, one short of the 54 needed for a majority. The Liberals had captured 37.6 per cent of the popular vote, with the Progressive Conservatives close behind at 35.4 per cent. NDP support was at 22.7 per cent.

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Minority may mean Northern [Ontario] voice will be heard – by Ryan Lux (Timmins Daily Press – October 8, 2011)

 The Daily Press, the city of Timmins newspaper. Contact the writer at news@thedailypress.ca.

A minority Parliament might just be what it takes for the North to be heard in Queen’s Park, said Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren following Thursday’s provincial election which saw the Liberals win government for a third time.

“In a perfect world I would love to see the three parties roll up their sleeves and work together on the issues facing the North,” Laughren said. “That’s why people elect minority Parliaments, not because we want another election in 18 months time.”

While Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals were short only one seat from achieving an historic third-consecutive majority, Laughren is pinning his hopes that on issues facing the North, that the deciding vote incorporates a Northern voice.

“In many cases, Northern leaders have been going to all kinds of different sessions related to mining, endangered species and land use, and talking about the challenges and in many instances it does not appear that we’re being listened to,” Laughren told The Daily Press.

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Court dismisses Inco [Port Colborne] lawsuit – by Christine Dobby (National Post – October 8, 2011)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed an environmental class-action lawsuit and reversed an award of $36-million to a group of Port Colborne residents who claim their property values took a hit because of emissions from a nearby Inco Ltd. refinery.

In a decision released Friday, a three-member panel of the court unanimously ruled that the plaintiffs did not prove that Inco was liable to them. Even if they had succeeded on that front, the court said, the plaintiffs failed to show any actual loss to Port Colborne’s property appreciation rates.

On top of throwing out the claims, the court ordered the plaintiffs to pay $100,000 in costs to Inco.

In one of the first class-action lawsuits to go to trial, Judge Joseph Henderson of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on July 6, 2010, ordered Inco to pay three subgroups of plaintiffs a total of $36-million in damages.

Now owned by Vale Canada Ltd., Inco operated a nickel refinery in the small town on the north shore of Lake Erie from 1918 to 1984.

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