Sudbury Basin – Page 58 – Republic of Mining

McGuinty to defend his budget in the north – by Maria Babbage (National Post – June 23, 2012)

June 25, 2012June 25, 2012

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

“I wish we had a few more Sudburys around the province,” Mr. McGuinty said.
“Frankly, you’re doing so well and experiencing so much growth. So we’ll ask
ourselves what can we learn from the examples that are right in front of our
eyes here in Sudbury.”

SUDBURY – Premier Dalton McGuinty is in for a bumpy ride in northern Ontario this weekend in spite of his attempts to smooth over the budget crisis that pushed the province to the brink of an election, critics say.

Now that the budget has passed and an election is averted, Mr. McGuinty will have to appease northerners who are angry that he’s privatizing Ontario Northland rail service after promising not to do so, the New Democrats say.

He’ll also have to explain why his budget doesn’t do much to create jobs in the north, which has lost 9,000 jobs since the Oct. 6 election and where the unemployment rate is the highest in the province at 10.4%, said the Progressive Conservatives.

“The premier is here in northern Ontario where this budget did absolutely nothing for the 60 mills that are closed, the 10,000 resource-sector jobs that we lost, the skyrocketing hydro rates that caused Xstrata Copper to move from Timmins to Quebec and shed 670 jobs in a community of 45,000,” said Vic Fedeli, the party’s energy critic.

How will the city [Sudbury] capitalize on investment and growth? – by Brian MacLeod (Sudbury Star – June 23, 2012)

June 23, 2012

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

Click Here For the Speech: City of Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk “State of the City Address”

Mayor Marianne Matichuk’s State of the City address this week was more of a review than a visionary speech. There’s nothing wrong with that, so long as it captures what’s important on her agenda. But the speech spent a lot of time explaining how mining is important to the city — in case you were wondering — and why Sudbury is important to the mining world.

All speeches make room for reflection, but they also need to generate excitement and show what will come of all that potential.

Some of that potential was there, in the speech, but the buzz just wasn’t galvanized for a city that is expected to move into an expansion phase that it hasn’t seen for years. The mayor’s speech was sprinkled with affirmation phrases: “Sudbury is the epicentre of Canada’s hard-rock mining sector”; “there is an incredible sense of energy and prosperity in the air”; “Sudbury is an island of prosperity”; “no one in this entire country can begrudge our community its moment in the sun.”

NEWS RELEASE: VALE BREAKS GROUND ON HISTORIC $2 BILLION CLEAN AER PROJECT

June 23, 2012June 22, 2012

(L to R) David Pearson, Laurentian University Biology Professor; Kelly Strong, VP of Vale’s Mining and Milling, North Atlantic Operations, and General Manager of Ontario Operations; John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer of Vale Canada and Director of Vale’s North Atlantic Base Metals; Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP and Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines; Marianne Matichuk, City of Greater Sudbury Mayor; Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of the Environment; Dave Stefanuto, Vale Clean AER Project Director

For Immediate Release

SUDBURY, June 22, 2012 – Joined by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, government cabinet ministers, community leaders, local residents and employees, Vale today officially broke ground on its $2-billion “Clean AER Project”, one of the largest single environmental investments in Ontario’s history.

The Clean AER Project, where AER stands for ‘Atmospheric Emissions Reduction’, will see sulphur dioxide emissions at Vale’s smelter in Sudbury reduced by 70% from current levels, as well as dust and metals emissions reduced a further 35 to 40%. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

“This is an historic day for Vale and demonstrates the importance that Greater Sudbury plays in our global operations,” said John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer of Vale Canada Limited and Director of Vale’s North Atlantic Base Metals operations. “Starting today, we are building a lasting legacy for our employees, the community and future generations who will live and work in Greater Sudbury, and that is truly a reason to celebrate.”

Perfect opportunity to grow community, says [Sudbury] mayor – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – June 22, 2012)

June 22, 2012

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

In her State-of-the-City Address in 2011, Mayor Marianne Matichuk said the issue of deregulating store hours, which was a cornerstone of her campaign, was “not dead.”

“If we are the only municipality in Ontario that’s not open for business, it’s a shame,” she told reporters at the time. “We are promoting ourselves as the retail spot in northeastern Ontario … If you don’t want to do it, get out of the way.”

One year later, in her State-of- the-City Address for 2012, the store hours issue received nary a mention.

“The main priority … is building this community,” Matichuk said after this year’s address, held Thursday at the Caruso Club. “We have a huge opportunity here … with all the money that’s being pumped in — we’ve got to look at that. We’ve got to look at growing people, we’ve got to look at growing our community.”

Her speech maintained that positive outlook, focusing largely on opportunities in the mining sector. “I would like to start off with an amazing number: $6.3 billion,” she said at the beginning of her speech.

City of Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk “State of the City Address” – June 21, 2012

June 22, 2012June 22, 2012

Caruso Club, Sudbury, Ontario

Check Against Delivery

Good afternoon everyone. Bonjour tout le monde. This certainly has been an amazing few weeks in the mining capital of Canada with great investment news and scientific celebration.

Recently, in the span of about ten days we had the Cliffs decision to locate a $1.8 billion chromite smelter in our city, …the official opening of the internationally renowned SNOLAB research facility,

… and a provincial government announcement that Sudbury has been approved for a casino that may be built downtown, further contributing to the centre’s renewal.But first, I would like to start off with an amazing number: $6.3 Billion!

That is the current value of mining investment, confirmed or planned for Sudbury, over the next five years or so. This only includes capital projects by Vale, Cliffs, KGHM and Xstrata Nickel.

That six billion dollars does not include potential investments by the growing supply and service sector, government and
many other non-mining activities that will tap into these enormous projects.

Sudbury booming, but city’s image needs a makeover, mayor says – by Sudbury Northern Life Staff (Sudbury Northern Life – June 21, 2012)

June 22, 2012June 21, 2012

http://www.northernlife.ca/

State of the City address highlights economy, challenges

Without a doubt, Sudbury is booming. That was the main message Mayor Marianne Matichuk delivered during her State of the City address, June 21.

But even as the city’s economy is flourishing, skilled labour shortages abound as companies compete to attract workers. The problem for Sudbury, the mayor said in her speech at the Caruso Club, is the city’s image, which, according to Matichuk, isn’t good.

The “stereotypical ideas” of the city are apparently impacting companies’ abilities to attract workers here. “People still think of moonscape, pollution and low-tech mining,” she said. “They still think we have no culture except Sudbury Saturday Night drinking and bingo.”

One of council’s top priorities, Matichuk said, was to change that image. This will be achieved through improved communications and marketing, the redesigned tourism website, and soon-to-be-redesigned economic development sites. She also encouraged all Sudburians to be “ambassadors” for the city.

Vale moves forward on Victor-Capre project in Sudbury – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – June 2012)

June 15, 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.

Two-for-one mining

Vale is proposing a new nickel-copper-PGM mine in Sudbury that has the potential for a 10-year life with an estimated production of 5,000 tonnes per day, and a projected workforce of 500.

The Victor-Capre project, located 25 km northeast of Sudbury near the community of Skead, is comprised of two properties, Victor and Capre, which the company is looking to combine into one operation. The project, which is situated 2.5 km from Xstrata’s Nickel Rim South Mine, is currently in the pre-feasibility stage to determine the viability of an advanced exploration program. If the study results are favourable, advanced exploration development could begin as early as mid-2013.

“We have been doing exploration out here for quite a while, but now with copper prices the way they are and the outlook for copper quite positive, it makes the project more attractive,” said Angie Robson, manager of corporate affairs for Vale’s Ontario operations. “Vale as a whole wants to increase its copper output and so this is an important project for that.”

Trouble for [Ontario] human-bear relations – by Michael Commito (Toronto Star – June 15, 2012)

June 15, 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.

Michael Commito is a PhD candidate in the history department at McMaster University. His dissertation focuses on the history of big-game management, notably bears, deer and wolves, in Ontario and New York state.

The number of negative interactions between humans and black bears in Ontario has risen sharply this season, raising concerns about the management and welfare of the species across the province. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recently shifted its emphasis from an active bear management model to one focused on personal responsibility on the part of citizens.

These cuts most notably affect Bear Wise, the provincial body established in 2004 to oversee human-bear interaction in the province. These include a significant reduction in the number of bear technicians, cancelling the trapping and relocation of nuisance bears and on-site visits to landowners experiencing conflicts with bears. Recent incidents highlight the problem associated with trimming the province’s bear monitoring services while still trying to care for the animals’ welfare.

CMHC NEWS RELEASE: Sudbury Employment Growth to Fuel Housing Gains

June 15, 2012

June 14, 2012 08:15 ET

SUDBURY, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 14, 2012) – According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Spring Housing Market Outlook report for the Sudbury Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), both the resale market and new construction activity will be buoyed by vibrant employment growth in 2012 and again in 2013 in Greater Sudbury.

“Significant expenditures in mining infrastructure combined with a host of other construction projects will be key to increasing employment numbers that will support the housing industry on all fronts,” stated Warren Philp, CMHC Northern Ontario Market Analyst. After a solid year in 2011, MLS® sales are expected to increase nearly eight per cent reaching 2,700 units in 2012 and 2,800 units in 2013. Average MLS® prices should climb 5.5 per cent this year and a further 2.5 per cent next year,” said Philp.

Single-detached housing starts are forecast to grow three per cent to 330 units in 2012 and 370 units in 2013. Starts of semi-detached, row and apartment starts will subside only slightly to 240 units from the lofty 274 units last year.

Province open to mining inquiry: Lougheed – by Darren MacDonald (Sudbury Northern Life – June 13, 2012)

June 14, 2012

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Joins with former mayor to call for review of Ontario’s mining industry

Two heavyweights in Sudbury’s political life are putting politics aside to fight together for a provincial inquiry into Ontario’s mining industry. Jim Gordon, a former Sudbury mayor and Progressive Conservative MPP, and Gerry Lougheed Jr., a prominent Liberal supporter, are asking Sudburians to support a postcard campaign calling on Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey to launch the inquiry.

Lougheed said he believes the province will move forward if the public shows they support it. He has printed up 10,000 postcards and would love to print up 10,000 more.

“I’m very confident the minister is open to hearing all voices on this,” Lougheed said Wednesday morning. “In fact, I think they’re giving us this window to let the public show its support.”

It has been more than 30 years since the last inquiry, and Lougheed said mining has undergone huge changes since then, including radical changes in technology that has revolutionized the way miners work, as well as ownership changes. Both major mining operations – Vale and Xtstrata – are owned by huge, multinational corporations.

Sudbury mine life could be extended by ‘hundreds more years’ – CBC Radio Sudbury (June 11, 2012)

June 13, 2012

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

International mining conference focuses on mass mining techniques

A different style of mining could extend the life of nickel and copper mines in Sudbury — and companies are talking about it at a conference in the city this week. Mass mining is a method of extraction that accesses low grade ore directly below an open pit mine.

Greg Baiden, one of the conference organizers, said mass mining is cheaper than going underground and requires a much smaller workforce. It also extends the life of an existing open pit mine — something that’s definitely appealing to cost-conscious companies.

“It could make a huge difference,” Baiden said. “You know, you could be mining in Sudbury for hundreds more years with all the ore — all the stuff that’s currently not ore, that’s up there that’s low grade.”

The conference, considered one of the premier mining conferences in the international mining community, only takes place every four years. It is taking place at Laurentian University this week.

Sudbury plays host to world’s miners – by Heidi Ulrichsen – (Sudbury Northern Life – June 11, 2012)

June 12, 2012

http://www.northernlife.ca/

Mass mining makes low grade deposits profitable

The fact that Laurentian University is hosting the International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining June 10-14 is a pretty big deal, according to the chair of the conference.

“Getting this conference into Canada is a huge deal,” Greg Baiden, a Laurentian University engineering professor and the owner of a local mining technology firm called Penguin Automated Systems, said. “The fact that Sudbury and Laurentian got to host it is an even bigger deal. All the big mining schools were vying to get access to it.”

About 700 delegates and exhibitors from more than 30 countries are attending the conference, which is being held in Canada for the first time. Federal Minister of Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver was on hand to open the conference.

He highlighted the importance of the mining industry to Canada’s economic growth and long-term prosperity, adding that Greater Sudbury is a centre of job creation and innovation in the mining sector.

Sudbury needs to be aggressive: LU prof – by Harold Carmichael (Sudbury Star – June 9, 2012)

June 9, 2012

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

Sudbury is “drifting along” and needs to get more creative if it wants to take advantage of Northern Ontario’s resource boom, a Laurentian University economics professor said Friday. David Robinson said he came to that conclusion after comparing job growth so far this year in Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

Robinson pointed the finger directly at city councils of recent years for not being for ward-thinking enough. “We’re just drifting along,” he said. “There was a time in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, when the leaders in this community were very, very enthusiastic. (Now), they spend their time on tiny things that prevent them from dealing with the big picture.”

For example, Robinson said Greater Sudbury will be the last of the big cities in northeastern Ontario to get working on a transportation plan. He said the 20-minute drive out to the Greater Sudbury Airport from the city core doesn’t cut it when Thunder Bay’s airport is located next to hotels. “We are not competing with Thunder Bay for access to the North,” he said.