Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery – Page 134

Frustrated [First Nations – No consultation] – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 9, 2012)

May 10, 2012

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

The region’s First Nations and municipal leaders are frustrated and disappointed by a lack of planning from the province and Cliff’s Natural Resources on the Ring of Fire.

In the wake of an announcement Wednesday morning that Cliff’s will set up their ferrochrome processor in Capreol, near Sudbury, leaders from across Northwestern Ontario sounded off on the province’s lack of commitment and consultation with the region.

“It was a great day for Northeastern Ontario. It was a very sad day for Northwestern Ontario I can’t say it any plainer than that,” Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs said.

Natural Resources minister Michael Gravelle and Aboriginal Affairs minister Kathleen Wynne faced a cold reception from regional leaders when they announced Cliff’s $3.3 billion investment to build its chromite mine, North-South all-season road from the Ring of Fire and processing facility.

Cliffs will not be swayed to change [Sudbury] location – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – May 10, 2012)

May 10, 2012

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

The smelter coming to Greater Sudbury is the largest project Cliffs Natural Resources has ever conceived. “It’s a massive project for Cliffs, it’s the biggest project by far that we have ever tackled,” Cliffs’ President Joseph Carrabba said Wednesday evening at Laurentian University.

Carrabba was in Sudbury for a few hours, following Wednesday morning’s announcement that its $1.8-billion ferrochrome smelter will set up shop near Capreol.

The Municipality of Greenstone, Thunder Bay and Timmins were also considered as locations for the smelter. But in the end, Greater Sudbury was just what Cliffs was looking for.

“We had to be in a place where mining is known, it’s welcomed and we can work through the business practices,” said Carrabba. “It looks like it’s a great place for the technical skills, the mine service skills that we need and a great opportunity for a great workforce as well … this was the right spot and we are very pleased to be here.”

Ring of Fire mineral development faces burning issues in Ontario – by Adam Radwanski (Globe and Mail – May 10, 2012)

May 10, 2012

The 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.

Seeking to get in on a resource boom that to this point has passed it by, Ontario has taken a major step toward developing the mineral-rich “Ring of Fire” in the province’s far north.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci announced Wednesday that the government has reached a framework agreement with the U.S.-based Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. for a $3.3-billion investment, including a $1.8-billion smelting plant in the Sudbury area.

But despite the buoyant tone from both sides of the deal, sources in and around government acknowledge Mr. Bartolucci’s target date of 2015 is highly optimistic. That’s because there remain a great number of hurdles to be overcome before much-needed jobs can be created from extraction or processing of chromite, a key ingredient used to make stainless steel.

Ring of Fire burns by Timmins – by Mark Prior (Timmins Daily Press – May 10, 2012)

May 10, 2012

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

U.S. firm selects Sudbury area for $1.8-billion investment

Even though the final decision wasn’t a shocker, it still stings. U.S.-based firm Cliffs Natural Resources selected its Sudbury-area site in Capreol for a $1.8-billion investment for a plant to process chromite from its Ring of Fire deposit.

The Ring of Fire, located about 540 kilometre northeast of Thunder Bay, is the biggest mineral discovery of the past 100 years. It contains a vast array of minerals, including the largest deposit of chromite ever found in North America. Chromite is a key ingredient in stainless steal.

Timmins had made the final four location choices of Cliffs for the smelter. Thunder Bay and Greenstone were also being considered. Officials with Cliffs had visited every community in the running. Delegates from all the communities had made their best pitches to Cliffs representatives, hoping to lure the thousands of direct and indirect jobs that come with the project.

Smelter announcement ‘like a funeral’ for northwest – by CBC News Thunder Bay (May 9, 2012)

May 9, 2012

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

Thunder Bay mayor, First Nations leaders weigh in on Cliffs Natural Resources decision to located chromite smelter in Sudbury

Reaction in Thunder Bay to Cliffs Natural Resources announcement that it will locate its ferrochrome smelter in the Sudbury area is one of disappointment.

Mayor Keith Hobbs said “it was like coming to a funeral,” when he attended a press conference Wednesday morning where he learned the mining company would process the chromite from its Ring of Fire mining project in Sudbury.

Natural Resources minister Michael Gravelle said northwestern Ontario would benefit from the project, and spoke about the number of overall jobs that would be created and how the northwest would play a role in the Ring of Fire development.

But that didn’t ease the concerns of municipal and First Nations leaders in the room. According to Thunder Bay CBC News reporter Jeff Walters, Hobbs said consultation between the minister and Cliffs obviously didn’t happen. Hobbs said there was a lack of leadership, adding he was disappointed in Gravelle — and refused to shake his hand.

NEWS RELEASE: United Steelworkers Welcome Announcement of New Smelter in Sudbury

May 9, 2012

TORONTO, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ – The United Steelworkers union (USW) welcomes today’s announcement by Cliffs Natural Resources that they will be constructing a new smelter in Sudbury, Ontario.

“This project and its spin-offs will provide a much-needed boost to the hard-working families of Sudbury and Northern Ontario,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

“Thousands of jobs will be created during development of the Sudbury smelter, the chromite mine and concentrating plant in northwestern Ontario and all the related infrastructure,” Gerard said. “Once operations begin, hundreds of family-supporting jobs will be maintained in the North for many years.”

“Today’s announcement will bring jobs and economic benefits to Northern Ontario, and that must include First Nations communities,” noted Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.

NEWS RELEASE: NAN SAYS RING OF FIRE DEVELOPMENT GETTING OFF ON WRONG FOOT

May 9, 2012

Wednesday May 9, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) said today’s announcement to build a $1.8-billion chromite processing facility near Sudbury and ignoring First Nations is not the way to build a relationship with the First Nations.

“I am disappointed with today’s announcement as it is obvious that Cliffs and the Government of Ontario are not listening to and not respecting First Nations affected by development in the Ring of Fire,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose.

“The affected First Nations have put forward comprehensive proposals and are trying to work with government on a constructive basis to play a major role in the development of the Ring of Fire. This is a classic case of moving forward without First Nation consultation again. We are not starting off on the right foot.”

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne made the announcement at a news conference in Thunder Bay today announcing that Cliffs Natural Resources intends to build a $1.8-billion chromite processing facility in Capreol, near Sudbury, instead of Greenstone near Aroland First Nation.

NEWS RELEASE: CPAWS Wildlands League concerned science sacrificed for quick business deal

May 9, 2012

Ring of Fire decision pre-empts environmental assessment

TORONTO, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ – CPAWS Wildlands League, a leading provincial conservation group, condemns the actions by the Ontario government and US-based Cliffs Natural Resources to strike a back room deal that potentially sacrifices ecosystems by deciding on a 350km road based on the needs of a single mining company.

The province and Cliffs have decided to build this road without considering scientific concerns, irreversible impacts on fish and wildlife, and communities’ needs.

With today’s announcement, Ontario has broken all of its commitments to ‘get it right’ in the Ring of Fire with a business deal with Cliffs that pre-empts its own environmental assessment processes. The deal allows construction of a 350 km all weather road, along what Cliffs has called the North South route. The all weather road is estimated to cost $600 million – which will be largely borne by Ontario taxpayers.

“We are pleased Sudbury won the smelter. The location of the smelter is of lower relative environmental impact in a project like the Ring of Fire,” says Janet Sumner, Executive Director of CPAWS Wildlands League.

Sudbury lands Cliffs smelter – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – May 9, 2012)

May 9, 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 suspense is over. Cliffs Natural Resources has announced it will build its $1.85-billion chromite processing facility, which will process chromite ore from its Ring of Fire project, near the town of Capreol, located north of Sudbury.

The smelter, which is expected to produce between 1,250 and 1,750 tonnes of chromite per day, is expected to create 450 jobs during construction, an additional 400 jobs to operate the facility and hundreds more spinoff employment opportunities in Sudbury and across the North.

Situated at the former Moose Mine site, the smelter will process chromite into ferrochrome, a component used in the production of stainless steel. The Ring of Fire, located 500 km north of Thunder Bay, is the only substantial deposit of chromite in North America and is expected to yield 2.3 million tonnes of chromite per year over a 30-year mine life.

Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci made the announcement in Sudbury May 9. Calling it an “exciting and historic” announcement for the region, Bartolucci said Cliffs chose Sudbury for its smelter because of the city’s experience in mineral exploration, mineral production and mine financing, along with its skilled workforce, training programs and environmental stewardship.

American mining firm promises big investment in the Ring of Fire – by Tanya Talaga (Toronto Star – May 9, 2012)

May 9, 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.

An American firm is expected to sink $3.3 billion into developing the resource-rich Ring of Fire, the Ontario government announced Monday.

Cliffs Natural Resources, an international mining company based in Cleveland, will use the money to haul and process chromite — the key ingredient used to make stainless steel — out of the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

The Ring of Fire, located 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, is said to contain one of the world’s largest chromite deposits. International mining companies have staked nearly 9,000 claims in the ring and both the federal and provincial government wants to hasten development of the area to bring much needed jobs to the struggling north.

The ring is a 5,000-square-kilometre area of pristine wilderness that is also one of the world’s last untouched ecosystems. Ontario has been locked in a battle with Quebec to keep Cliffs’ smelter plant located here in the province. High hydro rates in Ontario have been a major stumbling block.

Cliffs chooses Sudbury for $1.8B smelter – by Arron Pickard – (Sudbury Northern Life – May 9, 2012)

May 9, 2012

This article came from Northern Life, Sudbury’s biweekly newspaper.

All rumours about where Cliffs Natural Resources will build its chromite processing plant have been laid to rest.

Cliffs has made public its intentions to build its $1.8-billion chromite processing facility north of Capreol. The Cleveland, Ohio-based company has selected the former Moose Mountain Mine site, located 21 kilometres north of Capreol, as it moves from a prefeasibility stage to feasibility, which takes the company to a more detailed analysis of the project.

An agreement in principle between the province and Cliffs has been reached, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, said. This agreement sets the framework for the project. A formal agreement is expected to be finalized within months.

The project will employ 450 people during construction, and as many as 450 people when the facility is operational in 2015. Mine and mill development, as well as the construction and operation of transportation infrastructure, could create an additional 750 jobs, plus hundreds of indirect employment opportunities for northern Ontarians and First Nations communities. The smelter would be used to process ore from Cliffs Natural Resources chromite mine located in northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire.

BNN Reporter Andrew Bell Interviews Cliffs Natural Resouces Senior VP, Global Ferroalloys, Bill Boor – (May 9, 2012)

May 9, 2012

Toronto-based Business News Network (BNN) is a Canadian cable television specialty channel owned by CTVglobalmedia. BNN airs business and financial programming and analysis. BNN reporter Andrew Bell hosts the Commodities program. From aluminum to zinc and everything in between, every Tuesday through Thursday, BNN highlights the hot world of commodities and the companies that produce …

ONTARIO CONSERVATIVE MPP NEWS RELEASE: RING OF FIRE ANNOUNCEMENT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

May 9, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 9, 2012

QUEEN’S PARK – In response to Minister Rick Bartolucci’s announcement that Cliff’s Natural Resources will be building a chromite processing facility near Sudbury, Northern Development and Mines Critic Norm Miller warned against celebrating too soon.

“I am pleased to see Cliff’s selecting a location in Ontario for their new smelter,” Miller explained. “However, I’m more interested in what the Minister didn’t say. I am suspicious of good news presented in vague terms.”

“There was no First Nations participation in the announcement, and no testimony from First Nations leaders anywhere in the Ministry’s materials. Aroland First Nation has already come out in opposition to the announcement. This suggests to me that very little progress has been made on this front, and much difficult negotiation still lies ahead.”

Bartolucci announced plans to begin discussions on a new all-season road to the mining sites, but offered no details as to who would build, finance, or own the road. He expressed a hope that the federal government would make contributions, but no federal representative attended the announcement.

NEWS RELEASE: Aroland First Nation raises questions about ethics of Ontario Mining Minister – after months of ignoring First Nations, Ontario attempts last-minute “Buy off” of Ring of Fire First Nations

May 9, 2012

For Immediate Release

Thunder Bay (May 9, 2012) – Today, the Chief of the Aroland First Nation raised serious questions about the ethics of Ontario Mining Minister Rick Bartolucci and MPP for Sudbury. The Minister, in a last ditch effort of questionable morality, arranged a secret meeting late yesterday (May 8th) between the Aroland Chief, the Marten Falls Chief and Ontario officials. The goal of the meeting was to head off growing First Nation opposition to the Cliffs chromite mine and refinery.

“After ignoring First Nations for months, Ontario thought they could divide and conquer us by holding an 11th hour meeting and making a few promises without our fellow Matawa Chiefs present,” said Chief Sonny Gagnon. “Ontario needs to deal with First Nations first rather than simply taking orders from Cliffs. We want the refinery in Aroland territory and we want the highest standard of environmental review for the project.”

“We asked the Minister to pause the Cliffs announcement on the refinery, but Bartolucci said he had no control over Cliffs, “said Gagnon. “Who is really running this Province? Our elected officials or an American mining company?”

NEWS RELEASE: Webequie First Nation`s Response to Ring of Fire Announcements

May 9, 2012

May 9, 2012

Responding to Ring of Fire announcements made by Cliffs Natural Resources and Ontario today, Webequie First Nation has issued the following statement:

“Webequie First Nation acknowledges Ontario’s commitment to support the directly impacted First Nations and to engage the Federal Government in the trilateral process. It is important for all levels of Government, including local impacted First Nations Governments, to work together towards a cooperative framework.

While acknowledging this new regional commitment, Webequie First Nation will continue to dialogue and pursue future assurances from both levels of Government and industry partners for the continued examination of the feasibility of an optional utility corridor. This optional utility corridor will ensure that the community infrastructure needs of Webequie First Nation and other regionally impacted First Nations are responsibly incorporated into northern development plans.

The members of Webequie First Nation reaffirm the need of all stakeholders to uphold and respect the environmental integrity of our traditional homelands as a priority consideration of any major infrastructure development in the region.