Republic of Mining

Canada, home to the suicide capital of the world [Pikangikum FN] – by Martin Patriquin (Maclean’s Magazine – March 30, 2012)

March 31, 2012

Maclean’s is the largest circulation weekly news magazine in Canada, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.

In Pikangikum, gas sniffing is rampant and young people are taking their own lives at a shocking rate.

Randy Keeper is sick of building coffins. A wiry fellow who looks younger than his 49 years, Keeper is proud of his job as a carpenter and crew leader, saying he’s built 25 houses from scratch over 17 years in Pikangikum, the reserve in northwestern Ontario where he has lived his whole life. But when it comes to the wooden boxes he builds for Pikangikum’s dead, he draws a blank. “I don’t count them,” he says from his daughter’s dining room table. He remembers the last ones, though. They were in December. “I had to make two in one day, one for an elder and one for a younger person.”

The dreams started a couple of weeks after that. In one, he’s lying face up in a freshly dug grave, watching as a cofﬁn is slowly lowered toward him. He doesn’t know if there’s anyone inside, but he recognizes his handiwork: 100 lb. of plywood, treated pine and nails, a simple enough thing that takes him no more than 90 minutes to build. In the dream he’s alive but can’t move as it comes down on his chest, smothering him. Then he wakes up. “The elders told me to stop making them,” he says, “but I have no choice because I work for the band. I get nervous, shaky. Once the dreams happened I’d say yes out of respect for chief and council, but sometimes I don’t show up.”

NEWS RELEASE: KI CALLS FOR RESUMPTION OF GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT TALKS

March 30, 2012

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 29, 2012

KI is calling for resumption of government to government talks in the month of June in the wake of the Ontario buyout of God’s Lake Resources mining claims and leases in the KI sacred landscape at Sherman Lake.

“The decision is bittersweet,” said Chief Donny Morris. “KI has a sacred duty under KI Law to assert its jurisdiction, care for the land and protect and honour sacred landscapes and graves of our ancestors. That is why we went to jail in the past and that is why we will defend our lands in the future.” he said.

“KI is pleased that Ontario has acted to protect the KI sacred landscape but disappointed that GLR was able to apparently unjustly enrich themselves at the hands of tax payers,” said Chief Morris.

KI had warned Ontario officials that they were repeating mistakes made when taxpayers paid $5 million to mining exploration company Platinex in 2008 to buy out the company’s claims and leases following a dispute with KI over unwanted drilling and mining exploration.

[State capitalism] Is it a rival to market capitalism? And how does it affect the natural resources industries? – by Keith Campbell (MiningWeekly.com – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 2012

www.miningweekly.com

Since the start of the current global economic crisis in 2008, there has been renewed interest in the concept of ‘State capitalism’, as distinct from ‘market capitalism’. (The term ‘liberal capitalism’ is shorthand for ‘liberal democracy plus market capitalism’.)

This interest is centred on China more than any other country, in part because of the country’s ability (so far) to ride out the crisis, in part because of the key role it has played in keeping the global economy running while the developed West has been stagnating and in part because China is, unlike India or Brazil or South Korea, not a democracy. This last factor creates the impression of a ‘Chinese model’ of autocracy plus State capitalism that can be compared and contrasted with the ‘Western model’ of liberal capitalism.

There has been considerable debate about the rival merits of these ‘models’ in recent times. Thus, renowned British historian Niall Ferguson, who teaches at Harvard University, in the US, had a recent article on State capitalism in the US academic journal Foreign Policy. In late January, The Economist, of London, had a cover and special report devoted to State capitalism. The topic has also been addressed in the past couple of months by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Businessweek. And these are only some, albeit prominent, examples.

Outlook 2012: [Sudbury] Welcome to KGHM Ltd. – by Jenn Lamothe (Sudbury Star – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 2012

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

On Feb. 20, Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. security holders approved the plan of arrangement with KGHM Polska Mied_ S.A. in which a subsidiary of KGHM would acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Quadra FNX.

The March 5 closing date brought a name change for the third largest mining company in Sudbury — now operating under the name KGHM International Ltd — and will focus on growth in copper and other metals.

KGHM International is a Polish company and the world’s ninth largest producer of copper and third largest silver producer; it operates mines in Canada, the USA and Chile and is currently constructing the Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum project in Chile. They are also actively advancing the Victoria project, the newest discovery here in Sudbury.

Outlook 2012: We’re a mining hotspot [Sudbury] – by Heather Campbell (Sudbury Star – March 29, 2012)

September 7, 2018March 30, 2012

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

According to SAMSSA source, Stan Sudol, the demand for resources in developing
nations, like China, will continue to place upward pressure on commodity prices,
and Canada is the top country in the world for mining project development. It is
estimated that over the next 25 years, we will need to dig out of the ground as
many minerals as has consumed since the beginning of time.
(Stan Sudol, Mining Analysist)

The booming mining sector has the suppliers and service companies scrambling to keep up with the demand and opportunities.

Dick Destefano, Executive Director, Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA), said the group has switched gears from connecting his members with work to helping them meet the overwhelming demand.

The organization represents the interests of 115 members providing the largest concentration of expertise in mining supply/products and services from within the most recognized centre of excellence worldwide. For the past nine years SAMSSA has been monitoring the mining sector and Destefano predicts that we are not even close to finishing the super cycle.

Outlook 2012: Merger [Xstrata/Glencore] creates world’s largest resource company – by Jenn Lamothe (Sudbury Star – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 2012

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

“But, let’s remember, Sudbury still has enormous geological potential, is
polymetallic — copper, platinum group metals, cobalt and others — in addition
to nickel, has established mining infrastructure, skilled workforce and is
one of the top, politically risk-free and mine-friendly jurisdictions in a
resource-starved world.” (Stan Sudol – Mining Analyst/Columnist/Blogger)

Though the talks of a merger between two enormous mining giants has been going on for many years in secret, it wasn’t until Feb. 7 that mining company Xstrata and commodities dealer Glencore agreed to a $90B US merger that will create the world’s fourth largest natural resources company.

The combined company will control a chain of businesses from mining to refining, storage and shipping of basic commodities like coal, copper and corn.

Under the terms of the deal, Xstrata shareholders would receive 2.8 Glencore shares for each of their shares. That represents a premium of 15.2% based on recent closing prices. Glencore already had a 34% stake in Xstrata.

The merger is projected to yield cost savings of $500 million in the first full year, primarily in marketing. It will also give the combined company greater leverage to borrow money for its operations — a key advantage in the high-volume, low-margin commodities business.

Andrée Cazabon: A street kid turned filmmaker on a mission [Third World Canada – KI First Nation] – by Sarah Hampson (Globe and Mail – December 9, 2010)

April 5, 2015March 30, 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.

OTTAWA— “It’s annoying,” Andrée Cazabon says as she screws up her pretty face. “It happened almost 25 years ago. Isn’t someone allowed to move on?”

Her new, heart-wrenching film, Third World Canada, tells the story of eight children who are orphaned when three parents commit suicide in the fly-in native community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, or K.I. for short, in Northern Ontario. Such is the disturbing portrayal of the social and psychological fabric in the community that all the Canadian broadcasters Ms. Cazabon has approached have turned it down. One of the boys in the film regularly acts out his father’s hanging because he was locked in the room with him when he committed suicide. But she refuses to consider changing it.

Despite her fierce commitment to bringing awareness to the plight of aboriginal children – the film was screened at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa last week as a fundraising event that coincided with a meeting of the Assembly of First Nations – her own story as a former street kid is the one she is often asked about.

Ottawa to eases pipeline rules in bid to boost oil exports to Asia – by Claudia Cattaneo and Peter Koven (National Post – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 2012

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

The federal government gave a boost to oil sands exports to Asia by streamlining the environmental review process and making it more difficult for environmental groups to mount an opposition.

In its budget brought down Thursday, Ottawa said it will propose legislation aimed at having “one project, one review” that establishes clear timelines for approval of big resource and industrial projects, reduces duplication and regulatory burdens, and focuses resources on the largest projects with the biggest environmental impacts.

Most of Canada’s oil is now exported to the United States, where it is heavily discounted because of pipeline bottlenecks.

Canadian governments and industry have been pushing for market diversification in Asia by way of new pipelines to the West Coast, but have run into opposition from the environmental movement and First Nations that are targeting regulatory reviews to delay the projects.

Ottawa betting on the West for economic prosperity – by Adam Radwanski (Globe and Mail – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 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.

OTTAWA — With an increased focus on the resource sector that fits neatly with its efforts to shrink Ottawa’s footprint, the federal government is accelerating the westward shift of economic opportunity – at least for now.

Federal officials insisted on Thursday that helping mining and other developments by reducing the regulatory burden will have nationwide benefits – and will ultimately help Ontario rebuild its struggling economy. But in the short term, it’s oil-rich Alberta, and to a significant extent neighbouring British Columbia and Saskatchewan as well, that are celebrating.

Swift and positive responses from the Western provinces reflected that reality, with Alberta Premier Alison Redford taking a break from campaigning to enthuse that there’s “much good news” in the budget that will make her province even more competitive, and B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon saying it “struck the balance between some modest spending discipline without going overboard.”

Ontario junior gets C$3.5m settlement to cede controversial claims – by Matthew Hill (MiningWeekly.com – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 2012

www.miningweekly.com

TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Against a backdrop of simmering tensions between aboriginal communities and exploration companies in Ontario, the government announced on Thursday it reached a C$3.5-million settlement with God’s Lake Resources, whereby the company agreed to cede its claims over a contentious area.

The move evokes memories of the 2008 stand-off between the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation north of Red Lake, government and a junior called Platinex, which saw the company receiving a similar $5-million payment.

“The government, it seems, has capitulated and has expropriated these claims and compensated God’s Lake for that,” Fasken Martineau DuMoulin lawyer Neal Smitheman said in an interview.

God’s Lake had bumped heads with the KI over its right to explore its exploration claim, located some 130 km north of the community.

Proposed 2012 Canadian budget extends 15% mineral exploration tax credit – by Dorothy Kosich (Mineweb.com – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 2012

www.mineweb.com

The Canadian government announced it will streamline the permitting process for major Canadian mining projects, using the proposed “one project, one review” legislation.

RENO (MINEWEB) – Finance Minister Jim Flaherty Thursday presented a Canadian federal budget which streamlines the nation’s environmental review process, extends a 15% mineral exploration tax credit for junior explorers, accelerates job growth, and enhances Canada’s international competitiveness in mining.

In his budget presentation, Flaherty noted Canada’s oil and gas, mining and forestry sectors directly employ more than 750,000 Canadians. “Canada’s resource industries offer huge potential to create even more jobs and growth, now and over the next generation. This potential exists in every region of the country-natural gas in British Columbia, oil and minerals on the Prairies, the Ring of Fire in Ontario, Plan Nord in Quebec, hydro power in Atlantic Canada, and mining in Canada’s North.”

“We will implement responsible resource development and smart regulation for major economic projects, respecting provincial jurisdiction and maintaining the highest standards of environmental protection,” he stressed.

Ottawa clears hurdles to resource development – by Shawn McCarthy (Globe and Mail – March 30, 2012)

March 30, 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.

OTTAWA— The Harper government is putting new muscle to its ambitious natural resource strategy, clearing away regulatory hurdles to drive Canada’s energy and mineral development and expand exports to Asia.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget Thursday included an announcement that the government is speeding up environmental reviews of major resource projects, including the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline that will bring oil sands bitumen to Kitimat, B.C., for export to Asia.

Ottawa is also stepping up its battle with oil industry opponents by ordering the Canada Revenue Agency to increase monitoring of environmental charities that engage in political advocacy, a move critics say is an attempt to cow activists into silence.

Mr. Flaherty said the government was responding to complaints that environmental groups may be abusing their charitable status, in part by accepting foreign donations for campaigns that oppose pipeline construction and oil sands development.