Republic of Mining

[Northern Ontario Heritage Party] NOHP learning candidates don’t grow on trees – by Wayne Snider (The Timmins Daily Press – July 26, 2011)

July 26, 2011

Wayne Snider is the city editor for The Daily Press, the city of Timmins newspaper. Contact the writer at news@thedailypress.ca.

About a year ago, the Northern Ontario Heritage Party was building momentum. NOHP president Ed Deibel was in the midst of getting the party officially registered. Support was growing. Plans were in the works to run NOHP candidates in all 11 Northern Ontario ridings during the provincial election.

Today, however, Deibel is struggling to get candidates. While he says there are three people on the verge of being confirmed as candidates in several ridings — including Cochrane-Temiskaming — as of this writing the Northern Ontario Heritage Party has nobody running.

Zero. Nada. Bupkis. Needless to say, Deibel is disappointed.

“We’re having problems getting candidates. I thought they would be lined up,” he said. “There is no question, by the support and comments we’ve been getting from Northerners, that the people of Northern Ontario are fed up.

Africa’s Emerging Partners [China, Brazil and India]: Friend or foe? by Nicholas Norbrook and Marshall Van Valen (The Africa Report – June 2011)

July 25, 2011

The Africa Report: An insight into Africa, an outlook on the world.

Land grabs and exploited workers dominate the headlines, but Africa’s relationship with emerging partners is more complex and will boost the continent – if states negotiate wisely.

Fact or fiction? African mineworkers toil for peanuts, under the watchful eye of the gun-toting Chinese overseers. Guinea’s green savannah is etched ragged with intensive palm-oil plantations. Madagascan communities are pushed off their land as South Korean land merchants order the island’s ancestral earth to be ploughed up for export crops. Asian banks rush to sign up African governments for new loans they can ill afford, in exchange for poorly constructed buildings.

Indian gem merchants bribe politicians to gain access to huge diamond reserves, with profits spirited out of the country via anonymous Mauritian front companies. Taxes avoided, workers exploited, environments despoiled, resources bled, countries indebted. The dream deferred.

 The bogeymen raised by the advance of Africa’s emerging partners are projections of post-colonial guilt. After decades of achieving little for Africa, the West has been shaken by the arrival of powerful emerging economies on the continent. Self-appointed Africa saviour Sir Bob Geldof says: “China is engaged in an entirely mercantilist expedition in Africa. They are driving huge amounts of growth. But at what cost?” Chinese officials deny the charge. “For China to sustain its development, we need to have a stable supply of energy and minerals. I don’t think that is something bad, or something evil,” says Liu Guijin, China’s special representative for Sudan. Geldof is currently raising $1bn to launch a private equity fund aimed at Africa.  A new report from the OECD and the African Development Bank (AfDB) is more measured. 

[Northern Ontario] First Nation chief stays behind as community flees forest fire – by Tanya Talaga (Toronto Star – July 24, 2011)

July 24, 2011

Tanya Talaga is a Queen’s Park reporter with the Toronto Star, which has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on Canada’s federal and provincial politics as well as shaping public opinion.

THUNDER BAY, ONT.—A steady stream of 20 Hercules flights have evacuated 2,800 people from Sandy Lake First Nation but Chief Adam Fiddler refuses to leave.

A relentless forest fire has crept within 9 kilometres of Sandy Lake, a community more than 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay along the Manitoba border. “I have to stay,” the 38-year-old Oji-Cree chief told the Star from his band office.

“I have an obligation. A traditional role and a personal one, to keep everyone and the community safe,” said the married father of three. As of Saturday, there were 117 forest fires burning through 500,000 hectares across northern Ontario and 3,951 people have been evacuated.

Fiddler is using untraditional means to stay in touch with Sandy Lake residents, who have been moved to 11 different areas as far south as Ottawa and Kitchener. Each day he uploads a progress report on YouTube in both English and Oji-Cree. He’s even posted online helicopter surveys of the fire and videos of hungry dogs on the reserve being fed.

Northern Ontario communities band together to help evacuees – by Carys Mills (Globe and Mail – July 23, 2011)

July 23, 2011

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous impact and influence on Canada’s political and business elite as well as the rest of the country’s print, radio and television media.

GREENSTONE, ONT.— In a cramped high-school kitchen on the Ginoogaming First Nation reserve, Krista Taylor fries bacon and toasts bread, making breakfast for close to 100 forest-fire evacuees.

She labours in the kitchen with two other women from the reserve who have worked the eight-hour shift that starts at 7 a.m. Some evacuees are asleep in nearby classrooms and the gym, while a few others chat by the school’s front doors.

Ginoogaming, with an on-reserve population of about 160 people, has stepped up to feed and house evacuees from the Sandy Lake First Nation, where forest fires rage. The community near Greenstone, Ont., about 250 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, opened its doors when more than 1,600 people were flown out of Sandy Lake this week, after the government deemed the level of smoke blowing from nearby fires was too treacherous.

For Ms. Taylor, the choice to help was simple. “I like cooking and it’s good to help these people,” she said, wearing a name tag on her T-shirt reading “cook.” It’s been about a decade since she worked at an evacuation this large in the area.

[Canada Mining Innovation] Council focused on improving Canada’s mineral reserve – by Tracy Hancock ( MiningWeekly.com – July 22, 2011)

July 22, 2011

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

Fledgling nonprofit organisation the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) aims to reverse the significant decline of Canada’s reserves through its exploration initiative.

Government department Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) reports a reduction exceeding 80% in lead, zinc and silver reserves, while copper and nickel declined by over half in the past 25 years. Gold reserves in 2008 were around half those recorded in 1995.

“Reserves in Canada have declined substantially and continue to do so; however, this can be countered by putting technologies in place to better identify new ore deposits, both in remote and covered locations, and in deeper locations near existing infrastructure,” says CMIC executive director Tom Hynes.

Canada’s mining industry is a signifi- cant contributor to Canadian prosperity as it employs 308 000 workers in minerals extraction, processing and manufacturing, says the Mining Association of Canada economic affairs VP Paul Stothart. There- fore, development is crucial.

Ring of Fire in Ontario of interest to miners but builders advised to look closer to current mines – by Saul Chernos (May 13, 2011)

July 22, 2011

Daily Commercial News and Construction Record website

Hot mineral exploration areas like the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario suggest significant construction down the road. But builders looking for more immediate work should focus on sites elsewhere in the province that are closer to actual mine activity, industry reps say.

Located in the James Bay Lowlands, hundreds of miles north of existing transportation and hydroelectric infrastructure, the Ring of Fire has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Mining prospectors and early-stage developers are hoping to tap what’s widely believed to be mammoth deposits of chromium, nickel, copper, platinum and palladium.

True, infrastructure such as an often-discussed $600-million railway line will be needed. However, actual development is years away at best. Although the Ontario government has announced its intention to open the area to growth, local Aboriginal populations are demanding treaty rights and environmental groups are worried new transportation corridors and mines will harm the fragile boreal forest.

“The Ring of Fire is a hot topic,” says Peter McBride, a spokesperson with the Ontario Mining Association. “It’s an area of incredible potential. Mines could be operating there for generations, but we’re not quite there yet. There’s lots more going on before it will come on stream.”

Updated Mining Marshall Plan for Northern Ontario – by Stan Sudol

October 6, 2011July 22, 2011

Stan Sudol is a Toronto-based communications consultant and strategist who writes extensively on the mining sector. stan.sudol@republicofmining.com

A version of this article was published in the August issue of Northern Ontario Business and the September issue of the Canadian Mining Journal.

What a difference a decade makes! Ten years ago, according to many in the Toronto media, mining was a sunset industry and a modern industrial country/province should not be in such a supposedly “low tech” sector. Some even thought we should let the industry die and allow lesser developed countries to be the primary suppliers of mineral commodities.

At that time, Ontario budgets were only a billion or two in the red, and its manufacturing sector was the cornerstone of a strong economy. Today, emerging markets like China, India are competing with the United States, Japan, South Korea and other developed nations for access to mineral resources around the world, the basic building blocks of any modern industrialized society. The mining sector has become one of the most strategic sectors of the global economy. And Ontario is a “have not” province, set to receive $2.2 billion in equalization transfers in the next fiscal year and run a $16.6 billion deficit.

Currently, Ontario faces a number of key economic problems including an aging workforce, crumbling infrastructure and provincial budget deficits that will not be able to sustain existing social programs. In addition, the South’s manufacturing might, which supported Ontario’s high standard of living since the 1950s, is under extreme stress due to globalization, a weak U.S. market – the destination of almost 90% of our manufactured goods – and high electricity costs.

NEWS RELEASE: CANADIAN MINES MINISTERS DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINING SECTOR

July 21, 2011

Natural Resources Canada

July 19, 2011

Canada’s Annual Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference

KANANASKIS, ALBERTA — Mines ministers reaffirmed the economic importance of Canada’s world class mining industry at their annual meeting today in Kananaskis. The meeting, which centred on opportunities for the Canadian mining sector in a changing global context, was co-chaired by the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Ron Liepert, Alberta Energy Minister.

“A strong and globally competitive mining industry is an important source of job creation and economic growth for Canada,” said Minister Oliver. “Mines ministers share a commitment to ensure that Canada remains a world leader in mining performance while maintaining the highest standards for environmental and social responsibility.”

The ministers acknowledged that the increasing importance of minerals and metals presents exciting new opportunities for the creation of high-paying jobs across Canada, particularly in remote and Aboriginal communities.

Timmins still in the race for Ring of Fire facility – (Timmins Daily Press – July 21, 2011)

July 21, 2011

The Daily Press is the newspaper of record for the city of Timmins

By The Daily Press

Timmins is still in the running to be the homebase for processing ore from Ontario’s biggest mineral discovery in the past century. Representatives of Cliffs Natural Resources recently visited the city. Cliffs is looking for a community to host its ferrochrome production facility — a key component in developing the Ring of Fire.

Massive deposits of chromite, copper, nickel, platinum, diamonds, palladium, gold and silver have been discovered in the Ring of Fire, west of James Bay. Officials with the Timmins Economic Development Corporation and the city recently met with representatives from Cliffs.

“We have been working with Cliffs Natural Resources for quite some time now,” said Dave McGirr, chairman of the TEDC. “We prepared a detailed background document describing why Timmins would be the logical choice for Cliffs’ ferrochrome facility.

A genuine emergency [Fire in northwestern Ontario] – (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Editorial – July 21, 2011)

July 21, 2011

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

A TELLING perception about evacuations from Northwestern Ontario’s fast-moving forest fire situation reportedly came from Grand Chief Stan Beardy. Gazing in disbelief Wednesday at a fire map dotted with more than 100 little red arrows representing fires licking close to some Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities, Beardy reportedly told Mayor Keith Hobbs that there’s a perception among evacuees that Thunder Bay doesn’t want to take in any more of them. Nothing could be further from the truth. But Hobbs said an absence of provincial co-ordination had left both men wondering who would take charge of a situation that’s been turning more desperate by the hour.

Thousands of people have been flown out of northern reserves on federal military aircraft headed for Thunder Bay and a number of other transfer points. Thunder Bay, at least, quickly turned into a pinch point because provincial aircraft that were expected to move them out to other communities haven’t been arriving in time.

Hobbs, Beardy and Thunder Bay Fire Chief John Hay were struggling Wednesday to deal with an emergency that hadn’t been declared. Beardy asked why the province hasn’t announced one while Hobbs and Hay were trying to coordinate evacuees pouring into the city with nowhere to go. All three men were calling provincial officials to step up co-ordination but they were getting nowhere.

Northern [Ontario] plans fail to hit the mark – by Brian MacLeod (Sudbury Star – July 21, 2011)

July 21, 2011

The Sudbury Star, the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. Brian MacLeod is the managing editor. brian.macleod@sunmedia.ca

When the Ontario Liberals unveiled the draft of their Growth Plan for Northern Ontario in 2010, some critics said it lacked plans for implementation, such as timing, funding and sufficient monitoring.

And they complained it didn’t protect resources, a sore point in the North, since two of the largest mining companies in the world — Inco and Falconbridge — were taken over by foreign companies.

Xstrata, which bought Falconbridge, shut down the Kidd Creek metallurgical plant in Timmins, and changes sought by Vale, which bought Inco, resulted in a year-long strike by the United Steelworkers.

Changebook North, the Progressive Conservatives’ attempt at showing love for Northern Ontario, whose 850,000 citizens have a hard time feeling amore from Queen’s Park, suffers from an even more glaring lack of details.

Of the two growth plans, the Liberals’, at 60 pages, is more complex and wide-ranging, but it’s not a blueprint — there’s too much wiggle room and too much left to interpretation.

Calls for [South African] nationalisation need to be debated, not dismissed – by Mark Cutifani (Business Day – July 13, 2011)

July 20, 2011

Business Day is South Africa’s most influential and respected daily newspaper, offering incisive coverage of business, politics, labour and other current affairs, written by the country’s top journalists.

Mark Cutifani is CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and vice-president of the South African Chamber of Mines.

HAVING worked in SA for only four years, I am always reticent to comment on the country’s internal affairs, as I am aware that I do not have a full understanding of local history. However, I do have some sense of what has worked in the economic frameworks of the 30 or so countries in which I have worked and developed new businesses. Where SA is concerned, I remain a great optimist about its future due to the desire in its people to create a truly democratic and egalitarian society.

In this context, the nationalisation issue is troubling, given the polarising nature of the discourse, which is having a divisive effect on our society as we scream and talk past each other. The nature of the debate is frightening domestic and international investors, threatening an important resource of funds needed to deliver on our 5-million jobs target.

We will not deal with these issues through business simply by shouting louder than the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. Young people are justified in calling for broad social change. The logic behind the call for nationalisation needs to be sensibly debated rather than angrily dismissed. However, only a balanced debate comparing the available options will help us find the right pathway to broad economic liberation.

CBC NEWS: In Depth – Rare earth metals (July 7, 2011)

July 20, 2011

http://www.cbc.ca/news/

A look at 17 chemical elements vital for gadgets of today, green technologies of tomorrow

What are they?

Rare earth elements, or REEs, are a group of 16 metals (or 17 if scandium is included) that share particular chemical and physical properties that make them indispensable to the manufacture of countless electronics, appliances, green technologies, weapons and medical devices. They are valued for their properties of luminescence, thermal and electrical conductivity, magnetism and ability to act as catalysts and polishing compounds.

They are considered vital not just for the many gadgets of today, such as cellphones, computers, stereos, flat-screen TVs and MRI machines but, perhaps more importantly, for the green technologies that many expect will define our future. They are a key component of manufacturers’ efforts to produce more efficient, less-polluting versions of their products, such as cars and light bulbs, and of the global fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the areas where REEs have made the greatest contribution is in the miniaturization of magnets used in the motors and generators that power electronics, electric cars and wind turbines. REE alloys reduce the weight of such magnets by up to 90 per cent and allow them to function at high temperatures.

Mining company, (Constance Lake) First Nation leadership end dispute – by Leith Dunick (tbnewswatch.com)

July 20, 2011

www.tbnewswatch.com

Aubrey Eveleigh, president and CEO of Zenyatta Ventures Ltd., points out an area of dispute, known as the Albanry Project. The company on Monday finalized an agreement with Constance Lake First Nation that will allow the junior mining firm’s exploration plans to go ahead. Prestige Limousine

A Thunder Bay-based junior mining company’s three-month dispute with Constance Lake First Nation is over. Aubrey Eveleigh, president and CEO of Zenyatta Ventures, said the agreement was finalized on Monday, a deal which will give his company the right to proceed with the Albany Project, a claim staked about 45 kilometres west of Hearst.

In return they’ve made concessions to the First Nation community of 1,400, including preferential consideration for job opportunities and contributions to a fund to benefit Constance Lake’s elders and youth.

“We’re quite happy that it’s over with now and we’re both moving forward to help explore in the area known as the Albany Project,” Eveleigh said.