May 6, 2011 – Republic of Mining

The Sudbury Star, the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. This article was published on May 6, 2011. hcarmichael@thesudburystar.com

The immediate future looks good for the Northern Ontario and Greater Sudbury economies, the chief economist of BMO Bank of Montreal said Thursday.

“I’m going to say roughly 3% growth, continued strong growth,” said Sherry Cooper. “I wouldn’t make too much of the recent decline in commodity prices, especially for the base metals. It’s the precious metals, actually, that have taken most of the hit.

“So, from a perspective of copper, nickel and other base metals, we will not see substantial change. If anything, the prices are likely to jump up further.” Cooper said global demand for metals is strong and appears poised to stay that way.

“Much of that global demand is coming from the emerging markets. The emerging market growth is a longer-term fundamental. It’s certainly here to stay for the next decade, at least.”

The Sudbury Star, the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. This column was published on May 6, 2011.

Julee Boan is Boreal program manager at Ontario Nature, and Justin Duncan is a staff lawyer with EcoJustice.

The Ring of Fire represents a huge economic opportunity for Ontario. But more surprisingly, it also represents a big environmental opportunity.

As perhaps one of the world’s most valuable chromite deposits, the area represents a chance to open up a whole new field for the Canadian mining industry. With global demand for minerals soaring, there’s a tremendous opportunity in the Ring of Fire to create new jobs and economic opportunities after some hard years in Northern Ontario.

The environmental opportunity is less well-known. Ring of Fire is located in the heart of one of the largest remaining intact ecosystems left on the planet. That’s a pretty astounding statement and sounds like something you would more likely hear about the Amazon.

But careful mapping of the world’s intact forests has zeroed in on the boreal forests and lowlands of Ontario’s far North as one of our last chances to protect a natural system where all the pieces are still in place and working; from wolves and caribou to millions of nesting birds and lakes jumping with fish.

Expect strong growth, [in Northern Ontario] say bank officials – by Harold Carmichael (Sudbury Star – May 6, 2011)

Ring of Fire needs ecosystem planning – by Julee Boan and Justin Duncan (Sudbury Star – May 6, 2011)