ONTARIO CONSERVATIVE MPP NEWS RELEASE: RING OF FIRE ANNOUNCEMENT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 9, 2012

QUEEN’S PARK – In response to Minister Rick Bartolucci’s announcement that Cliff’s Natural Resources will be building a chromite processing facility near Sudbury, Northern Development and Mines Critic Norm Miller warned against celebrating too soon.

“I am pleased to see Cliff’s selecting a location in Ontario for their new smelter,” Miller explained. “However, I’m more interested in what the Minister didn’t say. I am suspicious of good news presented in vague terms.”

“There was no First Nations participation in the announcement, and no testimony from First Nations leaders anywhere in the Ministry’s materials. Aroland First Nation has already come out in opposition to the announcement. This suggests to me that very little progress has been made on this front, and much difficult negotiation still lies ahead.”

Bartolucci announced plans to begin discussions on a new all-season road to the mining sites, but offered no details as to who would build, finance, or own the road. He expressed a hope that the federal government would make contributions, but no federal representative attended the announcement.

“Today’s announcement offered some great soundbites, but came up short on details,” Miller said. “I’m not convinced that the mining landscape in the north is any different today than it was yesterday.”

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For more information, contact:
Norm Miller, MPP
416-325-1012