Ontario Mining – Page 305 – Republic of Mining

Ontario Mining Act and Far North Act upsets Aboriginal groups…any many others – by Gregory Reynolds

July 8, 2011

This article appeared in the Winter 2010-11 issue of Mining Life & Exploration News (Canada’s Quarterly Mining Magazine)

Ontario has a new Mining Act and also a special law intended to protect 225,000 square kilometres of the Boreal Forest, the Far North Act. Then why are so many people unhappy with these pieces of legislation?

Basically because many Aboriginal organizations, environmental watchdogs and mining groups believe when the verbiage is stripped from the core of the two laws, they leave total control in the hands of the government.

Many argue both the mining sector and Aboriginals are worse off today than before the process started to protect the industry while respecting constitutional rights and Treaty obligations involving natives. There is a saying, the legislature passes laws but the devil is in the regulations created by bureaucrats.

It is the process that will lead to the regulations under the acts that have many organizations concerned today and worried about tomorrow.

OMA member Sifto Canada helps upgrade town of Goderich’s infrastructure — and future prospects

July 8, 2011

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 Sifto Canada is joining forces with the Town of Goderich and the Goderich Port Management Corp. in a public-private partnership to expand and enhance the local port. The three parties have signed a memorandum of understanding for the anticipated $47 million project.

The plan envisions the creation of six hectares of new industrial land at the harbour, new docks for ships carrying salt, aggregate and agricultural products, new storage facilities, repairs to existing port infrastructure and the installation of new breakwalls. The project will create more than 500 construction jobs. The plan will be finalized following the completion of satisfactory environmental assessments, engineering studies and feasibility evaluations.

The Goderich port improvement project will be funded through a $15.7 million grant from the provincial government, funds from the Goderich Port Management Corp.’s major maintenance account and port usage fees. Sifto is expected to pay about $19 million in additional port usage fees over a five year period.

Pressure from U.S. could hasten development of strategic chromite deposits in Ring of Fire – by Gregory Reynolds

July 8, 2011

This article appeared in the Winter 2010-11 issue of Mining Life & Exploration News (Canada’s Quarterly Mining Magazine)

The drive to develop the Ring of Fire’s huge storehouse of minerals is no longer just based on economics but has entered the world of international politics. In fact, the safety of the United States of America has become a factor……and the military establishment wields a big stick.

The need for a safe and secure chromite source to keep the U.S. gigantic defence machine in a state of perpetual readiness (as well as fighting two wars at the moment) has been drawn to the world’s attention by WikiLeaks, a web site dedicated to revealing government secrets.

In November, WikiLeaks founder Julien Assange started publishing some of the 250,000 secret diplomatic message sent by and to U.S. diplomats stationed around the world. Concern was expressed about foreign dependence on key commodities.

One of the key players in the Ring of Fire is KWG Resources Inc. and it issued a statement Dec. 6 that said: “The inclusion of chrome sources in Kazakhstan and India, on a U.S. State Department leaked listing of strategic assets, demonstrates the potential global significance of the Ring of Fire chromite discoveries. Until now, North America has had no commercially viable sources of chromite,” explained KWG president Frank Smeenk.

For peat’s sake: Use this source of energy – Stan Sudol (Toronto Star – February 11, 2005)

July 7, 2011

The Toronto Star, which has the largest broadsheet circulation in Canada, has an enormous impact on Canada’s federal and provincial politics as well as shaping public opinion.

This article is being posted for archival purposes. Stan Sudol is a Toronto-based communications consultant who writes extensively on mining issues. stan.sudol@republicofmining.com

Not since the oil price hikes of the 1970s has Ontario’s energy future been so precarious. Dwindling North American gas supplies, Middle-East turmoil and enormous energy demands from Chinas are all causing shortages and price increases of oil, gas and coal.

To keep a green election promise to reduce pollution, the Ontario Liberals are committed to closing five coal-fired power plants, which supply 25 per cent of the province’s electricity.

The one Ontario fuel source that could help the province weather the energy turmoil of the next few years is all but ignored. That energy source is peat, a relatively economical alternative that produces significantly less pollution than coal. A 1982 provincial report indicated that Ontario’s peat resources have the energy equivalent of approximately 26 billion barrels of oil – this province’s version of the Alberta tar sands.

[Thunder Bay’s] Lakehead wins approval to launch law school – by James Bradshaw (Globe and Mail – July 6, 2011)

July 6, 2011

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous impact and influence on Canada’s political and business elite as well as the rest of the country’s print, radio and television media.

Lakehead University has won provincial approval to launch the law school it has long coveted, promising to gear its newest faculty to attract aboriginal students and focus on aboriginal law.

It is Ontario’s first new law school since 1969, and one of several recent efforts across Canada to craft programs and curricula around local cultural needs, from plans for an indigenous law degree at the University of Victoria to Cape Breton University’s newly minted chair in aboriginal business studies.

It is also Northern Ontario’s first law school, chosen to fill a regional need as well as a cultural gap. For years, Lakehead has argued the need to train local students close to home to maintain a strong pool of legal talent, drive economic expansion and serve aboriginal students, who already make up nearly 14 per cent of its student body.

A first class of 55 law students will enroll in September, 2013, with priority going to Northern and aboriginal applicants. They will be able to take courses on aboriginal law, which can range from indigenous legal principles to treaty or land-claim law.

Where is our share? [Mining Taxes] – by Kate McLaren (Timmins Daily Press – July 6, 2011)

July 6, 2011

The Daily Press is the newspaper of record for the city of Timmins.

Northern leaders seek mining tax revenue

Communities in Northern Ontario are looking for a piece of the pie when it comes to taxes generated from the mining industry.

“When you look at the resource-based industry, it’s important we are able to build some sort of a legacy from our mining resources,” explained Timmins mayor and Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) vice-president Tom Laughren.

“We are struggling for infrastructure and capital dollars, when the provincial and federal governments are benefiting from this mining tax.” FONOM is calling for an equitable share of the rich mining tax revenue currently collected by the provincial government, which have totalled more than half a billion dollars over the past five years.

[FONOM] Groups want cut of mining tax – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 6, 2011)

July 6, 2011

The Sudbury Star, the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. cmulligan@thesudburystar.com

The subject of mining taxes may not be on the minds of Sudburians in these long, hot days of summer.

But the president of an organization looking out for 110 municipalities, including Sudbury, says mining taxation hits northern residents right where it hurts — on their property tax bills.

The Federation of Northern Ontario Federation of Municipalities says the Government of Ontario has collected more than $500 million in Ontario Mining Tax revenue in the last five years, and that money is all leaving the North.

Kapuskasing mayor and FONOM president Alan Spacek said this is a “very good time” to ask candidates running in the Oct. 6 provincial election. “It has a real impact on the average homeowner-taxpayer,” said Spacek.

NEWS RELEASE: Northern Ontario Communities Seek Share of Mining Tax

July 6, 2011

Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM): www.fonom.org

Date published: Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Northern municipalities want an equitable share of the rich mining tax revenue currently collected by the provincial government. The Province has collected over half a billion dollars in Ontario Mining Tax revenue over the past 5 years.

Alan Spacek, President of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) stated, “Northern Ontario is a vast storehouse of mineral wealth. In recent years, Northern Ontario has returned record levels of revenue to the provincial government. Northern Ontario is once again a major economic contributor.”

Tom Laughren, Vice President of FONOM and Mayor of Timmins noted, “Unfortunately for Northern municipalities, much of the wealth generated by mining leaves the region in the form of corporate profits, Federal and Provincial corporate income tax, and resource specific taxes or fees such as the Ontario Mining Tax. This has created significant hardship for all Northerners. We are facing increasing cost pressures related to the provision of vital local services and an additional source of revenue would be of great benefit to our people.”

Dumas Contracting and Goldcorp graduate more First Nations miners

June 30, 2011

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 members Dumas Contracting and Goldcorp facilitated the training and graduation of eight First Nations residents from a four month training program recently. All graduates will be starting work with either Dumas or Goldcorp. The ceremony in Timmins followed the recent mining academy graduation of six students at the Young-Davidson mine near Kirkland Lake involving Dumas and Northgate Minerals.

The training in Timmins was carried out by Dumas in a partnership program with Wabun Tribal Council, the Matachewan Aboriginal Access to Mine Jobs Training Strategy (MAATS) and Goldcorp. Steve LaRocque (Matachewan First Nation) graduated as a heavy duty mechanic apprentice and Natasha Lefebre (Metis affiliation) completed her orientation as a human resources assistant.

The other six graduates completed training in basic underground mining – Courtney Batisse and Paul Denomme (Matachewan First Nation), Steve Denomme (Matachewan First Nation affiliate), Jean Loiselle (Mattagami First Nation), Paul Minarik (Mattagami First Nation affiliate) and David Tookate (Attawapiskat First Nation).

OMA member Barrick Gold makes multi-million dollar contribution to global health

June 29, 2011

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 Barrick Gold and the Family of the late Greg Wilkins, former company president, have donated $5.5 million to advance global health. Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation will be using this gift to combat brain diseases and improve medical training for surgeons and nurses in developing countries.

Mr. Wilkins was President and Chief Executive Officer at Barrick from 2003 to 2008. He started with the company in 1981 and helped transform it into the world’s largest gold producer. Mr. Wilkins held an executive position with another corporation for several years in the late 1990s up until 2003. He passed away in December 2009 at the age of 53 after losing his battle with cancer.

The donation, which was first announced earlier this year, has several components. They include the Greg Wilkins Chair in International Surgery, which will oversee research and training for doctors and nurses in developing countries. Dr. Mark Bernstein, a neurosurgeon at Toronto Western Hospital, who performed brain surgery on Mr. Wilkins as part of his care team, was appointed to this position last week. Dr. Bernstein has described Mr. Wilkins as “extremely courageous.” Toronto Western Hospital is a world leader in the treatment of and research on diseases of the brain and spinal cord.

[Ring of Fire] A Market For Chrome – by Brian Sylvester (Mining Markets – September, 2009)

June 28, 2011

Please note this article was originally published in Mining Markets in September 2009. Much has changed in the Ring of Fire since then and this article is posted here for archival reasons. – Stan Sudol

Noront Resources (NOT-V) president and CEO Wes Hanson says the global ferrochrome market is somewhere around 17 million tonnes, while his predecessor and Noront director, Joe Hamilton, believes it’s closer to 12 million.

German firm Heinz Pariser Research is forecasting an average ferrochrome price of US$0.79 per lb. and US$1,600 per tonne until 2017. Raw chromite fetches US$200 per tonne.

With global demand of 14.5 million tonnes (the average of the earlier estimates), the global ferrochrome market is worth about US$23.2 billion. A 5% share of that market would be worth US$1.16 billion annually.

Some rough estimates put the chromite tonnage in the Ring of Fire well into the billions but it takes 2.5 tonnes of chromite to make 1 tonne of ferrochrome. And if you saturate the market with too much production early on, prices will sink and the financial models used to finance development would be rendered useless.

[Ring of Fire] When In Chrome: A Brief Histroy – by Brian Sylvester (Mining Markets – September, 2009)

June 28, 2011

The ‘Ring of Fire’ contains vast gobs of black ore known as chromite. Some wild-eyed folks are speculating that there is enough ‘black gold’ for 100 years worth of production at current demand levels. No junior in the camp really knows how much chromite it has but they are all racing to find out.

Somewhere beneath the labyrinth of peat bogs, meandering streams and shallow lakes, there is a hole in an Archean-aged greenstone belt that started everything.

Two men are largely responsible for drilling that hole and finding Canada’s biggest chromite deposits (as well as others): Spider president and chief operating officer, Neil Novak, who until June was the vice-president of exploration of — you guessed it — Noront Resources; and Richard Nemis, Noront’s former president and CEO, and current chairman emeritus.

Spider was seeking diamond-bearing kimberlites in the McFauld’s Lake area, since dubbed the ‘Ring of Fire’ in the late 1990s when it engineered a joint venture with De Beers Canada. It was a good fit: De Beers had cash and, Spider, prospective concessions.

[Ring of Fire] Chrome – Brian Sylvester (Mining Markets – September, 2009)

June 28, 2011

Please note this article was originally published in Mining Markets in September 2009. Much has changed in the Ring of Fire since then and this article is posted for archival reasons. – Stan Sudol

If Las Vegas odds makers were handicapping the field to determine who will be first past the post in the ‘Ring of Fire’ Chromite Derby, Noront Resources (NOT-T) would be the surefire front-runner; Freewest Resources (FWR-V), the dark horse; KWG Resources (KWG-V) and Spider Resources (SPQ-V), the long shots; while Probe Mines (PRB-V) would be the pretender — at least for now.

The winner will publish Canada’s first National Instrument 43-101-compliant resource estimate for a chromite deposit — a feat that could be worth millions.

“I have got the first resource estimate, for sure,” claims Wes Hanson, president and CEO of Noront. “Certainly some of the other players in the camp have very interesting chromite discoveries. Unlike Noront, they are probably about two years behind us in terms of getting it drilled off to a level sufficient enough to allow them to do a 43-101 resource estimate.” While that may or may not be true, Noront’s leader-of-the-pack status did not happen without a plan.

Peat Resources hopes to fuel the Ring of Fire – Resource World Magazine – (May 2010)

June 28, 2011June 28, 2011

http://www.peatresources.com/

http://www.resourceworld.com/

Dr. Peter Telford, President/CEO of Peat Resources Ltd. [PET-TSXV] has a question. How can Ontario meet its political commitments and achieve northern economic development, specifically, how to meet the need of the Ring of Fire proponents for reasonably priced power?

His company may have the answer. Peat Resources has identified over 200 million tonnes of fuel-grade peat in northwest Ontario, representing about 22 million tonnes of pellets, enough to supply Ontario Power Generation’s northern generating stations for over 20 years. Peat is considered biomass and is used in electricity generating stations requiring a long-term, assured supply of environmentally friendly, economically competitive and consistently stable, quality fuel.

“Before going into production, we need to do some feasibility work and scale up our pilot plant operations to a full-scale production facility at Upsala, located 130 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario,” explained Telford. “Right now we can process about 25 tonnes per day. The plant was set up to prove up the technology that we are using and provide us with material for marketing and testing purposes.”