Timmins – Page 23 – Republic of Mining

NEWS RELEASE: OMA member profile: Brigus Gold — expanding quantity and quality of reserves

August 6, 2013

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.

While the price of gold has slid recently, this doesn’t mean that precious metals explorers and developers have been operating in a holding pattern waiting for a price rebound. Companies have been making adjustments, striving to control costs, advancing projects and building reserves. They know vagaries of gold price movements can be volatile both in going up and tumbling down.

The second quarter of 2013 saw a 13% decrease in average gold prices to US$1,414 per ounce. This marks the largest quarterly decline in gold prices since 1980. During that period, Brigus Gold stayed on course for its exploration program, announcing increases in the quantity and quality of its ore reserves, and production targets.

The company recently updated the resource estimated of its Grey Fox discovery, which was first identified in December 2011. It announced a 31% increase in open pit indicated grade and a 14% improvement in its underground indicated grade. This increase in ounces of gold in the ground enhances the prospects of future production.

[Timmins] Shortage sparks wave of multi-plex homes – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – July 25, 2013)

July 26, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Timmins is seeing an influx in multi-unit residential developments. City building officials say this appears to be in response to the community’s housing shortage and the cries for more residential units.

“We’ve got the four four-plexes on Sixth Avenue, you’ve got the old GV Hotel, you’ve got the eight-plex in South Porcupine and a few others that are proposed,” said Esa Saarela, Timmins’ chief building official.

The old GV Hotel, which is kitty-corner to the four-plexes on Sixth, is being converted into a 34-unit apartment. The eight-plex being developed in South Porcupine is on Bruce Avenue. “It just really started about two or three years ago when we had a couple of four-plexes constructed,” said Saarela.

“It’s been very encouraging to see.” Cindy Welsh, the city’s planning manager, said there are several more of these types of multi-residential developments on the horizon. Among those is the 30-unit condominium-style townhouse development on MacLean Drive which city council recently approved for rezoning. She said there are others in which “serious enquiries” have been made but are still at an early planning stage.

Politis lobbying for Spring Bear Hunt return – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – June 21, 2013)

June 21, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Another week, another close-call with a curious black bear. A woman in Sudbury was among the latest to report such an encounter this week, rushing the children she was watching over indoors after spotting a stray bear cub roaming the neighbourhood.

It has become a theme in cities across Northern Ontario for a number of years. Many are pointing to the Ontario government’s 1999 cancellation of the Spring Bear Hunt, saying it’s no coincidence bear sightings within city limits seem to keep increasing more than a decade later.

Cochrane Mayor Peter Politis, the Progressive Conservative candidate for Temiskaming-Cochrane riding in the next provincial election, spoke to The Daily Press about the issue. He said something needs to be done soon.

“I’ve been doing a lobby effort to change the way wildlife is managed here in the area, particularly larger animals like bears, which can be fatal to people,” said Politis. “The Spring Bear Hunt is definitely part of that.

“It’s a part of the problem, I really believe that. It’s not the solution, and it’s not the issue causing the problem by itself, but certainly a well-managed hunt is part of creating balance in the ecosystem.

ONTC sale not certain – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – June 12, 2013)

June 13, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – The sale of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission is no longer a sure thing for the provincial Liberals. The party, which announced in March 2012 plans to divest the ONTC of its assets, has softened its position on the proposed sale.

“On the surface, it’s better than what we had in the past which was a fist in the face,” said Cochrane Mayor Peter Politis, who is also the Progressive Conservative candidate for Temiskaming-Cochrane. However, Politis remains sceptical.

“Where I’m a little fatigued as a mayor is listening to the government drop a few seeds of hope” and then proceeding to disappoint Northerners, said Politis. “If the party in power was serious about other options, why haven’t they stopped the divestment process while we explore these other options?

“They haven’t changed anything … Bids are still being accepted and analyzed. Sure the discussion is more cordial but the facts concerning divestment of the ONTC remain the same.” Politis told The Daily Press he has told the PC leadership, “As an elected member, I would push to stop the divestment of the ONTC immediately.”

However, MPP Gilles Bisson (NDP – Timmins-James Bay) suggested the Tories are more committed to forcing an election they think they can win, than trying to derail the sale of the ONTC.

New [Timmins] mine, smelter to create hundreds of jobs – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – June 11, 2013)

June 12, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – The head of a proposed talc and magnesium mine anticipates creating hundreds of jobs in Timmins within the next two years.

General Magnesium Corp. is looking at three potential sites within Timmins to build a smelter. That facility alone would provide 500 jobs, said William Quesnel, the company’s chief executive, who was born in Moonbeam and raised in Timmins. And it’s not just the prospect of a new mine but potentially an end-user company establishing itself here as well.

“We’ve brought companies up to talk with the city and look at our site,” Quesnel told The Daily Press Monday. “We could be delivering molten metal to a party beside us who is making parts for vehicles or something like that. So, this story doesn’t stop at our project. It will form a base for what the City of Timmins is looking for which is other end users to come in.”

Quesnel said they are targeting a startup by the middle of 2014, “once we have definitive agreements in place.” The mine itself would be an open-pit operation employing an additional 40 to 45 people. It would be located approximately 12 kilometres west of the Kidd metallurgical site.

“We’re going to produce both talc and magnesite concentrate,” said Quesnel. “Initially we’re going to produce just talc to get cash flow in place, to partially fund further expansions.”

Right decision, finally, on Endangered Species Act – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – June 4, 2013)

June 5, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Environmental lobby groups would have you believe the government has given free rein to the forest industry and that endangered species are now at risk of extinction.

The outcry by environmental groups over the province’s decision to harmonize requirements under the Endangered Species Act and the Crown Forest Sustainability Act should come as no surprise.

After all, special interest groups had a free hand in drafting the original ESA. In fact, environmental groups boasted in an Ivey Foundation report about how effective they were in limiting the industry’s input.

Credit the Ontario government for recognizing the redundancies and myopic slant of the regulations that ignored impacts on resource industry-dependent communities.

Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with forest management process knows the industry does not have the free rein to clearcut and destroy wildlife habitat. Despite environmentalists’ claims, there are Crown forests that have seen substantial reductions in available fibre due largely to caribou conservation efforts. These have all been implemented through a conventional forest management planning process.

ESA changes end caribou battle – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – June 4, 2013)

June 4, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Forestry and municipal officials are hailing a provincial decision which they say finally balances the needs of both environment and industry. “After fighting all these years, this sounds too good to be true,” said John Kapel, sawmill operator and owner of John Kapel Enterprises in Timmins.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources announced Friday it will harmonize requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Crown Forest Sustainability Act. which will reduce red tape and eliminate overlapping regulations.

This is a move the Ontario Forest Industries Association has been asking the government to do for the last six years. The change comes into effect July 1.

Jamie Lim, OFIA’s chief executive, told The Daily Press, “The changes that are being made are based on the recommendations that were brought forward by the ESA panel in January,” which was made up of a varied range of stakeholders. “It will certainly assist in simplifying the rules not only for forestry but also municipalities and other sectors.”

Not everybody is happy. Immediately following the announcement, environmental lobby groups jointly issued a press release decrying the government’s decision.

Gowest looks to employ 50 at new mine – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – June 3, 2013)

June 3, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Greg Romain’s involvement with Gowest Gold reconnects him with the city he was born and raised in. The Timmins native, who still has close family here, is the president and chief executive of the company which owns the Frankfield deposit which is about 15 kilometres northeast of the Kidd Creek mine.

Last week, Gowest announced it had signed a “non-binding letter of intent” to process its ore and produce high-grade gold concentrate at Glencore Xstrata’s metallurgical site. The deal is expected to be finalized later this year.

“They have allowed us to come in and use that line which is the old Montcalm circuit,” Romain told The Daily Press. He said there is about $10 million in work and installations required to convert the line for gold ore processing.

The upshot is that it eliminates the need to build a new facility. As a result, Gowest can begin full production two or three years earlier than originally planned. Gowest is looking at starting commercial production in 2015. “If we were doing this from scratch, you’d be talking 2018,” said Romain.

Oddly enough, Romain worked at the very same Kidd metallurgical site for about six or seven summers when he was a student. He worked primarily in the zinc plant, back when it was owned by Texas Gulf.

Up front negotiations vital [between First Nations and miners] – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – May 30, 2013)

May 31, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – It is believed there are enough mineral wealth within the Ring of Fire to boost the Northeastern economy for decades to come. However, any excitement from the mining industry has been tempered by a sense of impending conflict with First Nation communities in the region.

Phil Fontaine, former national chief of Assembly of First Nations, suggested conflicts are inevitable if mining companies play by the “old rules” and try imposing their will onto First Nation communities.

“Resource interests should strive to negotiate with First Nations up front instead of the way it was done in the past, as an afterthought,” said Fontaine, who was a keynote speaker at the Big Event mining expo in Timmins Thursday.

He stressed the importance of gaining an understanding and appreciation of the history and values of the people within the communities in which mining companies are proposing to work.

Fontaine noted when the discovery of the Ring of Fire was initially announced, there was “great excitement” about the “significant possibilities” for this region.

Biggest Big Event so far [Timmins mining tradeshow] – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – May 30, 2013)

May 31, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – If anyone needed evidence the success of this year’s Big Event mining expo, the lineup of parked cars on both sides of highway near the McIntyre Arena should have been indicative enough.

This fifth-annual Big Event proved to be its biggest ever. “We keep saying the Big Event can’t get any bigger, but then each year we find a way to get in more people and make it bigger than the last year,” said Jay Cornelsen, national marketing director for the event.

To accommodate everyone who wanted to put up a display this year, Cornelsen said they extended the area of outdoor exhibits further up along the Prospectors Trail leading towards the McIntyre Mine headframe.

This year’s Big Event saw about 450 exhibitors from across Canada and the United States. Some came from as far away as California and Utah, said Cornelsen. He added there were about 50 exhibitors from Sudbury alone.

Guy Lamarche, manager of tourism, events and communications for the City of Timmins, said the number of visitors to this event provided a major economic boost to the community.

Thousands attend Big [Timmins Mining] Event – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – May 30, 2013)

May 30, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Surrounded by haul trucks, wheel loaders and other mining machines, a group of elementary students wander around the parking lot at the McIntyre Arena in awe as if they’re in the Land of the Giants.

While the Big Event mining expo is essentially a massive trade show for the industry, Doug McPhail, who teaches Schumacher Public School, said the event offers great educational value for his class of Grade 4 and 5 students

“It’s a wonderful show, it’s right here in our backyard,” said McPhail, who has brought students to the annual event over the past four years. “The kids always have a great day and they write a little report on their trip and what they learned.”

This year’s Big Event has about 450 exhibitors from across Canada and the United States. In addition to companies displaying and demonstrating products, there is a lot of information sharing and networking going on at the expo. This year features a large delegation of First Nation representatives.

Brian Davey is the executive director of the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund which is the main sponsor and organizer of the Aboriginal Pavilion at the expo.

Battle for [Timmins] king — and queen — of the drill – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – May 30, 2013)

May 30, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Three large rocks riddled with holes lay defeated outside of the McIntyre Arena at The Big Event, Canada’s largest annual mining expo. The weapon of choice at this grisly crime scene? A frighteningly powerful Secan S-250 Jackleg drill.

If you weren’t a giant rock getting holes drilled into you, though, the expo’s Jackleg Drilling Competition was actually a very cool place to be on Wednesday. “I was a driller for 25 years,” yelled organizer Moe Denis over the loud water and air pumps powering the jackleg. “It’s a way of life, it’s the Northern way of life up here.”

Three separate contests were held, including a competition between regional mayors, a women’s division, and finally a matchup between some of the North’s top pros.

In the mayoral heat, Tom Laughren had the City with a Heart of Gold behind him as he went up against Kapuskasing mayor Al Spacek, and Cochrane Coun. Rey Brisson. “I think we’re going to give the win to Spacek,” said Laughren with a sly smile. “That was the decision in the end.

“You know what, to be very honest, all the guys do good. At the same time, it’s about promotion, it’s great for the region. To get those guys in here promoting the industry, it’s big.”

Big Event draws big names in mining – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – May 29, 2013)

May 29, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – Everything’s bigger in Timmins. OK, maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes. But for this week anyway, it rings true.

True to its name, The Big Event, being held this weekend at the McIntyre Community Centre, has grown to become Canada’s largest annual mining expo.

“It’s a big deal,” said Mark Utting, Lake Shore Gold’s vice-president of investor relations, as the McIntyre Ballroom began to fill up prior to the opening banquet on Tuesday evening. “It started about five years ago around the centennial celebration for the city. It’s great, and this room will be packed. It’s been packed every year.”

Utting was just one of the guest speakers representing some of the more exciting gold mining projects in the region. “It puts a very bright light on the community for a few days,” said Utting. “People outside of Timmins know about it, and it’s just become part of the city.

“I go literally around the world meeting investors and stuff. The first time I ever went to Switzerland, I brought a map to show where Timmins is. They all know where Timmins is. It’s one of the best-known gold camps in the world. It has that reputation anyways, but to have a show like this just puts an exclamation point on it.”

Good reasons to celebrate mining – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – May 29, 2013)

May 29, 2013

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – This is a week of celebration in Timmins. No, there hasn’t been a new stat holiday added to the calendar. But there are plenty of reasons for Northerners to show pride.

The Big Event Mining Expo takes over the McIntyre Community Centre and will be the highlight of Mining Week in Timmins.

While cosmopolitan urbanites in southern Ontario may scoff, there are plenty of reasons for the mining community to blow its own horn. While other economic sectors have struggled in recent years, the mining industry has been growing by leaps and bounds.

Consider the follow data provided by the Ontario Mining Association:

• In 2011, mining was a $10.7-billion industry in Ontario, up from $5.9 billion in 2002, representing growth of 80%.

• In 2011, there were more than 330 companies actively exploring minerals in Ontario, spending an estimated $5.4 billion.

• The sector is a big plus for exporting. About 72% of Ontario mining customers are located outside the province. Conversely, the sector is great for local suppliers. An estimated 74% of Ontario’s mine suppliers are based in the province.