Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery – Page 120

TSX cracking down on Ring of Fire remote miners – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – December 18, 2012)

December 20, 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.

The lack of a coherent plan to develop transportation infrastructure in the Ring of Fire is hurting the exploration financing scene in Ontario, says a leading business law firm.

Fasken Martineau issued a Dec. 13 bulletin that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has taken the position not to list companies with exploration projects in global regions where there is no authoritative plan to move raw and bulk product to market. This pertains to junior miners operating in Ontario’s Far North, the firm said in a statement.

Fasken said, historically, a National Instrument 43-101 technical report establishing “economically interesting grades” of mineral resources on a property was usually good enough to satisfy the TSX.

Not anymore. Faskens said the TSX wants assurances that bulk products, such as concentrate, can be shipped to market by roads, rail or via port facilities.

“We understand that the TSX has recently turned down the listing application of several companies in the Ring of Fire and in Quebec, because of concerns about the availability of infrastructure.”

Ring of Fire: Miles to Go Before We Dig – by Stan Sudol

January 8, 2013December 20, 2012

This column was published in the January 5 and 7 editions of the Sudbury Star:

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/01/05/accent–ring-of-fire—miles-to-go-before-we-dig

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2013/01/07/miles-before-we-dig

Intro

It may be a cliché, but over the past six months, how things have changed and how they’ve stayed the same in the Ring of Fire. There may be some ongoing activity or discussions behind the scenes, but without a doubt, the declining state of the global economy, First Nations issues and Ontario politics seem to have halted any progress on a varity of issues.

First let’s look at the fragile nature of the world economy. The U.S. is still struggling, Europe is worse, with skyrocketing unemployment rates in many countries and China’s past double-digit expansion is gone. It is estimated that their economy will “only” grow seven per cent this year.

The price of commodities and the value of resource companies have plummeted. Many mining projects are being put on hold or cancelled while layoff notices are being handed out. Funding for junior exploration companies – the source of future discoveries like the Ring of Fire – has become almost imposible to find putting many on life support.

The stock price of Cliffs Natural Resources has plummeted from US$100.00 per share a year and a half ago to a little under US$30.00 recently. Cliffs has publicly stated that they are looking for a partner to help develop their northern Ontario chromite deposits. Recently the company has put their Bloom Lake iron ore expansion project in Quebec’s Labrador Iron Trough on hold and stopped production at two of their U.S. iron ore mines.

More support to revitalise ONTC – by Henry Lazenby (MiningWeekly.com -December 18, 2012)

December 18, 2012

http://www.miningweekly.com/page/americas-home

TORONTO (miningeekly.com) – The New Deal for Northern Ontario, an initiative to revitalise the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC), build a rail link to the Ring of Fire and create thousands of new jobs, on Monday said it is gaining traction as more role-players voice support for the initiative.

Liberal leadership candidate Harinder Takhar recently issued a policy statement calling for “Divestiture of the ONTC to an independent, self-sustaining organisation, and the development of a new rail line for the ‘Ring of Fire’ operations.”

Takhar’s statement is closely aligned with the New Deal plan to transfer ownership of provincially-held ONTC’s railroad and other assets to a new ports authority to be operated under the Canada Marine Act. ONTC operations will be strengthened, and a new rail line to the Ring of Fire mineral deposits will be developed to ship chromite, nickel and other minerals and finished products to markets around the world.

MPP Glen Murray, another Liberal leadership candidate, has called on the government to “pause” its plan to divest the ONTC, while Gerard Kennedy is seeking a “review” of the sell-off decision and further examination of ONTC’s potential role in developing the Ring of Fire mineral deposits. Candidate Charles Sousa, meanwhile, supports “a sustainable, reliable ONTC that connects the North and supports jobs.”

NEWS RELEASE: Support Builds for New Deal to Revitalize Ontario Northland, Connect Ring of Fire

December 17, 2012

• More stakeholders demand government pause its ONTC sell-off plan

• New website launches today to support the New Deal

NORTH BAY, ONTARIO (Dec. 17, 2012) – The New Deal for Northern Ontario www.newdealnorth.ca), an initiative to revitalize the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC), build a rail link to the Ring of Fire and create thousands of new jobs, has expanded its base of support among key stakeholders.

Liberal leadership candidate Harinder Takhar recently issued a policy statement calling for “Divestiture of the ONTC to an independent, self-sustaining organization, and the development of a new rail line for the ‘Ring of Fire’ operations.”

Ontario’s Ring of Fire could open economic door to locals – by Henry Lazenby (MiningWeekly.com – December 14, 2012)

December 14, 2012

http://www.miningweekly.com/page/americas-home

In the far-north muskeg of Ontario lies a chromite deposit that could potentially rival that of world No 1 producer South Africa, heralding the development of North America’s first significant chromite mine, a new era of prosperity for the region’s First Nations and millions in tax revenue for Canada’s capital province for many decades to come.

Discovered almost by accident in 2002 by diamond major DeBeers, which at the time was looking for diamonds, but instead found copper and zinc, the 5 000 km2 Ring of Fire deposit, which is about 1 000 km north-west of Toronto, is one of the most promising mineral development opportunities in Ontario in almost a century.

Tucked deep into northern Ontario, the Ring of Fire contains rich mineral deposits that could transform the region much as the oil sands have transformed Alberta. Named whimsically for a Johnny Cash song, the crescent-shaped arc of deposits has the potential to make Canada the world’s fourth largest chromite producer.

Only four countries account for about 80% of the world’s chromite production, with South Africa leading Kazakhstan, Turkey and India.

China’s resource-hungry economy buys half the world’s supply and the US buys about 15%. Chromite, when processed into an alloy, is used in the production of stainless steel, among other products and is valued for its ability to increase steel’s hardness, toughness and resistance to corrosion. In thin chrome-plated coatings, it protects auto parts, appliances and an array of other products, including weapons.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE? NORTHERN ONTARIO’S RING OF FIRE – by Nathan Elliott (Ontario Mineral Exploration Review – December 2012)

December 14, 2012

This article is from the Insightwest website. Insightwest offers strategic, compliance and technical-based solutions for the energy and resource sectors. http://www.insightwest.ca/

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire

The ring of fire

On January 11, 1964, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash became the number one record on Billboard’s new Country Album Chart. The collection featured some of Cash’s best material and its title track would become the biggest hit of the “Man in Black’s” career. The album, however, was more than a one hit wonder. Several of its songs would also climb the charts and connect with listeners worldwide. For example, Cash re-wrote what became the iconic television score for Bonanza, but its central messages remained the same – the pursuit of fortune, and the thrills of striking it rich. In the anti-war classic The Big Battle, Cash’s social conscience is front and centre, as is the old adage that a fight is not over until it’s over. (There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me) concludes the album. Its message is one of hope and possibility, rising from the ashes of conflict.

With the 50th anniversary of the Ring of Fire album release around the corner and the 10 year commemoration of Cash’s passing next year, it is timely that the northern Ontario geological discovery that bears the album’s name is front page news today. It is also fitting that the universal themes of hope, desire, war and peace that define the album can be used as frameworks for understanding the Ring of Fire mining developments, as well as the motivations of First Nations, industry, government and environmental groups with vested interests in the region today.

Why Ontario has a strong economic case for seceding from Canada – by John Ibbitson (Globe and Mail – December 13, 2012)

December 13, 2012

Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

“But prosperity will prove elusive, unless $12-billion that flows out of Ontario
annually is used at home – to retrain unemployed workers, to expand public transit
in Greater Toronto and to supply the needed roads, energy and Internet without
which Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire, touted as the most promising Canadian mining
development in a century, will never reach its full potential.” (John Ibbitson)

If it were simply a question of dollars and cents, Ontario should separate from Canada, now. This is emphatically not the conclusion of a new report by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce on the punishment that Ottawa inflicts on Canada’s economic heartland. But so damning is the evidence contained in that report that the sentiment is hard to suppress.

A copy of “A Federal Agenda for Ontario”, released Thursday, was provided in advance to The Globe and Mail. It details the manifold ways in which federal policies punish Ontario workers and the Ontario economy.

‘Twas ever thus, but at least in the past Ontario was wealthy enough to bear the burden. No more. “Ontario needs to think of how it can reinvent itself and reinvent its economy,” Allan O’Dette, president of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview.

Bill Gallagher, Author, Lawyer, Consultant and Strategist – Nation Talk Interview (December 11, 2012)

December 13, 2012

http://nationtalk.ca/ NationTalk speaks to Author, Lawyer, Consultant and Strategist Bill Gallagher. An experienced strategist in the dynamic area of native, government, and corporate relations, he is held in high regard as an authority on the rise of native empowerment in Canada’s resources sector. He is now also the Author of Resource Rulers: Fortune and Folly …

First Nations given tight deadline to respond to Cliffs new terms of reference – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – December 12, 2012)

December 13, 2012

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

Cliffs Natural Resources has adjusted the terms of reference for its proposed Ring of Fire mine, meaning First Nations are again being asked to provide comments and concerns.

Yet at least one First Nation argues that the government should deal with an outstanding Treaty issue before expecting it to comment on the new terms of reference. First Nations were provided with Cliffs’ amended terms of reference on Nov. 30, and given 15 days to respond.

Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias said that while he wants to respond to the terms of reference, situations within his community and his family mean there is not time to do so before the date that Ontario has set.

Moonias also said Ontario should deal with Neskantaga’s request for mediation on the terms of reference before expecting First Nations to respond to the amended version of the terms of reference.

“The government is trying to give its mandate (to consult with First Nations) to Cliffs,” said Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias. “They are trying to make Cliffs look like the bad guy, but the government is the one that has a responsibility to come back to the table with First Nations.”

First Nations prepare for the mining boom – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – December 6, 2012)

December 6, 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.

Charlotte Tookenay is the new face of the mining industry. The mother of two teenagers, a graduate of the Mining Essentials training program for Aboriginal people run through Confederation College, is part of an industry push to employ more First Nations people to replenish its workforce ranks.

At the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund’s Mining Ready Summit in Thunder Bay in October, she presented the 200 delegates with a video montage of photographs during her 12-week time in the program last summer.

Tookenay graduated from the program last June and landed a job with Barrick Gold at its Hemlo complex, not far from her home community, the Pic Mobert First Nation on the north shore of Lake Superior.

She was spurred into making a career change out of sheer necessity. “Mobert has so little employment and job opportunities,” said Tookenay, who worked on highway construction jobs and as a Native language teacher.

Breaking new ground [Ontario Mining] – by George Ross, (Canadian Government Executive – Vol. #18 Issue #9 – November 2012)

December 6, 2012

http://www.canadiangovernmentexecutive.ca/

George Ross is deputy minister, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and the president of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.

Ontario and jurisdictions across Canada are entering a new golden era of mining. Massive mineral deposit discoveries are spurring enormous economic opportunity. But, to fully benefit from the prospect at hand, governments need to adapt to 21st century needs, and Ontario has led the way.

There is no doubt that the minerals industry in Ontario is booming. We are anticipating eight new mines to open over the next decade with three opening this year.

Yet, while success has been traditionally measured by jobs created and economic prosperity gained, it’s vital that the social well-being of Aboriginal communities and other area residents – and the need to curtail any potential environmental concerns – are put front and centre in the planning process. This is not only for just reasons, but also to ensure mine development can be fostered swiftly and assuredly. In addition, it’s critical that the province – through its legal duty to consult – ensure that Aboriginal and treaty rights are respected throughout the mining process.

Joint-venture poised to tackle infrastructure, labour shortages – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – December 4, 2012)

December 5, 2012

Don Wing looks upon Wasaya Dowland Contracting as having a transformational effect in giving Aboriginal people the skills and confidence to tackle a looming labour shortage in the North.

With more than a dozen potential new mines poised to start development within five years, the vice-president of Dowland’s Ontario division calls the new joint venture between the Wasaya Group of companies and Dowland a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the way things are done.”

“We’re going to take that venture, we’re going to make it successful, and we’re going to change people’s lives.” Dowland Contracting appeared on the Thunder Bay scene last year when the Wasaya Group introduced the Northwest Territories-based contractor as a strategic development partner.

With 51 per cent of the limited partnership owned by Wasaya, the aim is to position itself to meet the infrastructure challenges in remote First Nation communities as resource development takes hold.

The venture is viewed as a stepping stone to train Aboriginal people in the skills required to build mines, power lines, arenas, hospitals, hotels and schools.

NAN deputy grand chief says private road to Ring of Fire ‘totally wrong’ – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – November 26, 2012)

November 26, 2012

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

Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy grand chief says that First Nations will not allow Ontario and the companies involved in the Ring of Fire to build a private road to the development without connecting communities of the region.

Les Louttit called Ontario’s plan to subsidize a private road from Nakina to the Ring of Fire that would provide industry a way to get ore from the mines to market, but not connect to First Nations along the route, ‘totally wrong’.

“That cannot be allowed to happen and we will make sure as a political organization that we pressure the government and industry that any transportation corridor that is going to go into the Ring of Fire development will have to have open access to the communities,” Louttit told Wawatay News.

“It will be going close by Aroland, Eabametoong, Neskantaga, Marten Falls and Webequie,” he added. “It doesn’t make economic sense, it doesn’t make moral sense and it’s just not going to happen that way.”

A spokesperson with Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines previously confirmed that the government plans to help build and operate and pay-for-use road to the Ring of Fire.

Mushkegowuk wants unique mining plan – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – November 21, 2012)

November 22, 2012

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

In response to what it claims are shortfalls with Ontario’s new mining act, Muskegowuk tribal council says it has started discussions with the province on the creation of a unique mining plan for the Mushkegowuk region.

Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit said it may be time for Ontario to implement specific legislation and policies giving First Nations consent over mining and exploration activities in the Mushkegowuk region.

Louttit said a clear regional plan would add certainty for industry and First Nations alike.

“We believe the recent changes to the Mining Act still do not fully acknowledge the rights of First Nations,” Louttit said in a press release. “Government, the mining companies and the public have to wake up to the harsh reality that First Nations are here.”

“We are unique, we are different, we have Treaty Rights and (government and industry) should know that consultation and consent are critical and mandatory for any activity on our homelands,” Louttit added. “Yes, there may be 133 different approaches to consultation but the cold reality is: nothing will happen until governments and companies realize this.”

Phase two of Ontario’s new mining act started to take effect on Nov. 1. Under the changes the province will inform all affected First Nations when a claim on traditional lands has been staked, and companies are required to consult First Nations identified by Ontario.