One project, one review — one controversy – by Scott Simpson (Vancouver Sun – May 11, 2012)

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html
 
Federal commitment to streamline the environmental review process gets mixed reviews

Federal commitments to streamline environmental reviews of major resource projects sit well with the mining industry, but not so well with environmentalists, scientists and many other notable Canadians.
 
Miners have been a leading voice in calling on the Harper Conservatives to amend the review process to remove what they believe are needless delays in getting projects vetted by federal regulators.
 
They want duplication of paperwork eliminated, and they want Ottawa to commit its bureaucracy to fixed time limits for reviewing projects and rendering a verdict.
 
That could mean faster turnaround times on projects that typically take a decade to develop from early drilling investigations to operating mines.

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NEWS RELEASE: B.C.’s responsible resource growth to help Canada maintain its reign as a global mining powerhouse

Kamloops region is particularly poised for growth from new projects and expansions
 
KAMLOOPS, BC, May 10, 2012 /CNW/ – British Columbia’s robust and responsible resource sector will help propel the $140 billion in new mining investment expected across Canada over the next five years, says the Mining Association of Canada (MAC). MAC estimates that B.C. has the potential to see more than $30 billion in investment from 30 projects over the next 10 years.
 
“As the third-largest mining jurisdiction in the country, B.C. will be a major contributor to the overall strength of the mining industry, which we expect to remain steady for years to come. That will bring numerous economic benefits and opportunities to British Columbians, while at the same time, help Canada maintain its status as a global mining superpower,” Pierre Gratton, MAC President and CEO, said during a speech in Kamloops on Thursday to celebrate Mining Week in the B.C.-interior city.
 
The City of Kamloops declared May 6-12 Mining Week alongside other celebrations taking place across the province in May to recognize the importance of the industry to the B.C. economy.
 
The mineral exploration, development and mining industry generated $8.9 billion in economic activity in B.C. in 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).  The industry generated more than 21,000 direct jobs, 8,200 of which were at operating mines across the province and paid average salaries of more than $100,000 annually.

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Cliffs may export 40% of chromite from Ontario Ring of Fire for processing – by Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press (Canadian Business Magazine – May 10, 2012)

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-publishing business magazine in Canada.

TORONTO – Ontario will likely give Cliffs Natural Resources an exemption from the Mining Act to process a large amount of the chromite it takes out of the Ring of Fire offshore, Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested Thursday.

The New Democrats want as much of the ore as possible smelted and refined in Ontario, and say more processing facilities should be built to make sure the jobs stay in the province as well.

Cliffs announced Wednesday it plans to invest $3.3 billion to develop a chromite mine in the far north, a transportation corridor and a $1.8-billion smelter near Sudbury.

In the legislature, the NDP released testimony from Cliffs’ vice-president Bill Boor before a Commons committee in February showing the company plans to export up to 40 per cent of the chromite offshore for processing into a key ingredient of stainless steel.

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Mining is reshaping Thunder Bay’s economy – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – May 2012)

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North. Ian Ross is the editor of Northern Ontario Business ianross@nob.on.ca.

Primed for the boom

When northwestern Ontario’s forest industry began taking a dive during the last decade, Grant Brodeur could see the writing on the wall. The CEO of Secure Store is now among more than 100 companies in the Thunder Bay area that have changed gears, restocked their parts rooms, and transitioned from catering exclusively to forestry over to the mining sector.
 
His company provides modular housing and logistical support for exploration and mining camp sites, serving clients such as Goldcorp-Musselwhite, Magma Metals and Osisko. Brodeur was displaying his services at the Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium in Thunder Bay in early April.
 
“Those skills are transferrable,” said Brodeur, who began working in Secure Store’s predecessor company, Broland Reforestation, as a tree planter. “Many of us have worked in fire suppression so we know emergency logistics and can set up in the middle of nowhere.”

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Ring of Fire opportunities still available, business and political leaders say – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 10, 2012)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Regional business and political leaders continue to be disappointed by Cliffs’ decision to setup a processor in Sudbury, but say they look forward to other opportunities area mining could bring.

Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Harold Wilson said he shared a lot of the same concerns that First Nation and municipal leaders had Wednesday when Cliffs announced it would build a $1.8 billion ferrochrome processor near Sudbury.

He was also disappointed that the province made no announcements to coincide with the company’s $3.3 billion announcement that would also include an all-weather road north of Nakina.

“Show us where that’s going to be.  How is that going to link up to First Nations communities that can greatly benefit from that? How much are they (Ontario) investing into it and how can we turn that into other economic opportunities?” Wilson said.

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[Northern Ontario] Chromite mine talks could ‘devolve into conflict’ – by CBC Radio Thunder Bay (CBC.ca – May 10, 2012)

http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/
 
First Nations involvment in Ring of Fire project will come after province and First Nations talk, Kathleen Wynne says
 
Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is asking First Nations near the Ring of Fire to be patient. First Nations leaders are upset Cliffs is locating its chromite smelter — and 450 jobs — in Sudbury, rather than in northwestern Ontario.

Kathleen Wynne said the mining project will benefit aboriginal communities, but she doesn’t have the details.
 
“Those have not been finalized,” she said. “We were not announcing those today because we couldn’t. There’s no way we could announce those today because we haven’t had the conversation with you.”
 
Wynne said she hopes First Nations and the province can sit down and have meaningful discussions, and not end up with a conflict.

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Time for [First Nation Ring of Fire] action? – by Jamie Smith (tbnewswatch.com – May 10, 2012)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Raymond Ferris thinks it might soon be time for action over the Ring of Fire. As Matawa’s Ring of Fire co-ordinator, Ferris said he was disappointed but not surprised by Cliffs Natural Resources’ decision to build a $1.8 billion ferrochrome processor near Sudbury instead of somewhere in Northwestern Ontario.

It’s the latest example of governments and industry moving ahead with initiatives without taking any First Nations recommendations into consideration he said.

“Whether the smelter was a good thing or not is something that we wanted to conduct as a study for ourselves so that our membership can be well informed then they can make a decision on their own,” Ferris said Thursday afternoon. “We never had that opportunity.”

Ferris said a smelter in the region could have had countless economic spinoffs for First Nations communities if they were tied to the grid. Communities around Lake Nipigon have everything from solar to wind projects that are just waiting to be tied to the hydro grid, something that could have happened with the arrival of the processor.

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Cliffs confident in its decision – by Sudbury Northern Life Staff (Sudbury Northern Life – May 10, 2012)

This article came from Northern Life, Sudbury’s biweekly newspaper.

Representatives visit Sudbury

There were a lot of complicated factors, but Cliffs Natural Resources is confident that Sudbury is the right spot to build its ferrochrome smelter, the company’s president and CEO said.

Hot on the heels of its announcement on May 9, Cliffs representatives, including Joseph Carrabba, braved a thunderstorm en route from Toronto to Sudbury to pay a visit to the Nickel Capital.

It was a whirlwind tour, and while Cliffs representatives weren’t in town for very long, they “felt it most appropriate and respectful to be in the community and introduce ourselves to the mayor and everyone else who has been so helpful in the process just so people will be able to put a face to the name,” Carrabba said.

Cliffs received approval May 8 from its board to move into the feasibility stage. This move will see the eventual construction of a $1.8-billion ferrochrome processing plant north of Capreol, as well further work on the development of Cliffs’ Black Thor chromite deposit, an open-pit operation 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay that will eventually lead into an underground operation once it becomes necessary to extract the ore from greater depths.

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[Northern Ontario] Chromite mine may carry hidden costs, critics charge – by Tanya Talaga (Toronto Star – May 11, 2012)

The Toronto Star, has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Questions are being raised about how much taxpayers are on the hook for as a U.S. mining giant attempts to develop of an ecologically sensitive area in northern Ontario.

The Ontario government announced Wednesday it had reached an initial agreement with Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. to develop a chromite mine at the remote Ring of Fire region.

Cliffs is expected to invest $3.3 billion into building a mine, nearly 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, a smelter in the Sudbury area and a transportation corridor to move the ore between the two facilities.

Sources tell the Star the Liberal government is negotiating a deal on electricity subsidies in order to keep the smelter in the province. Also on the table is said to be construction of a transportation corridor to move the chromite south. On Thursday, Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci refused to talk about any possible subsidy.

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Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines – Cliffs Sudbury Ferrochrome Smelter Announcement (Sudbury – March 9, 2012)

Today it is my pleasure to share news with you that is exciting and historic in nature…  Ontario is blessed with an abundance of natural resources at a time when the world is developing faster than ever, and demanding these resources.

The increasing demand is why mining is experiencing unprecedented growth.  It is driving economies and progress around the world. We must take advantage of the incredible opportunity for jobs and prosperity that this sector presents for northern Ontario – including our First Nations communities, and our province as a whole.

And today, I’m happy to say that this boom is again being demonstrated right here in Sudbury, and across the north.

Ring of Fire – Chromite

The Ring of Fire, located over 500 km North of Thunder Bay, is the only substantial deposit of chromite in North America…  In fact, it is estimated that it will yield an estimated 2.3 million tonnes of chromite per year over a 30-year mine life.

What makes this massive discovery of chromite exciting is that it is a key component in the manufacture of stainless steel…

…A material needed around the world, and used in basically most things we use in the course of our day to day lives.

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Alberta may be tight oil hot spot – by Claudia Cattaneo (National Post – May 11, 2012)

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

CALGARY — Athabasca Oil Sands Corp.’s name change Thursday to Athabasca Oil Corp. reflects its new focus on tight oil – and industry’s rush to the new technologyintensive play type that could see Alberta emerge as another North American hot spot.
 
Only two years after expanding into tight oil in Alberta, the former oil sands pure play has been so successful unlocking oil from shale and sandstone formations it expects them to produce as much as 10,000 barrels a day by the end of the year – while its oil sands projects are still under development. 

Sveinung Svarte, president and CEO of Athabasca, said he sees huge tight oil potential in Alberta, where the geology is similar to prolific tight oil plays such as the Bakken in North Dakota and the Eagle Ford in Texas.
 
“The Duvernay, the Montney and the Nordegg are probably going to be one of the most active development areas in Canada, similar to activities in the Bakken, with similar results,” Mr. Svarte said after addressing the company’s annual meeting in Calgary.

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Industry quiet as public concern grows over China’s energy influence in Canada – by Jameson Berkow (National Post – May 10, 2012)

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

China’s growing influence in oil sands development might be the most important issue facing Canada’s energy sector that nobody is talking about.
 
Canadian companies have happily accepted billions of dollars in investments from Chinese state-owned enterprises in recent years on the basis that the energy-hungry emerging Asian superpower will soon be their best customer.
 
Meanwhile, as the public grows increasingly concerned about the potential importation into Canada of questionable Chinese corporate practices and opposition politicians raise questions of possible interference with Canada’s national interests, industry associations, environmental groups and the government of Canada itself have stayed mute.

“Any enterprise that is owned by another nation state raises sovereignty issues, but in the case of China the security advisors to the government of Canada for a long time have expressed particular concern about Chinese influence,” Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, said in an interview this week.

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[Northern Ontario] Mayors fed up – by By Gord Young, QMI Agency (Timmins Daily Press – May 11, 2012)

 The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Frustration boils over at FONOM conference

Frustration turned to anger Thursday as municipal politicians from across Northern Ontario screamed outrage over the provincial government’s silence regarding the divestment of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

Municipalities and chambers of commerce from across the North were urged to lower their Ontario flags to half mast as disenfranchised and fed up mayors demanded a new deal for Ontario Northland.

“You have ignored the North for too long. You have taken us for granted. And we won’t stand for it any longer,” said North Bay Mayor Al McDonald, during a news conference involving politicians and business leaders representing just about every community in Northern Ontario.

The event, held in the midst of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) conference in North Bay, saw mayor after mayor slam the provincial government for leaving Northerners out of its decisions.

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NDP wants answers on Cliffs – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – May 11, 2012)

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

Cliffs Natural Resources’ $3.3- billion investment in Northern Ontario is good news, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says, but the province should demand more.

The massive mine, transportation network and ferrochrome smelter designed to take ore from the Ring of Fire in northwestern Ontario and process it in Sudbury was announced by Cliffs on Wednesday. Those announcements, however, left the NDP with more questions than answers, Horwath said.

At Queen’s Park on Thursday, Horwath released details of Cliffs’ testimony before a federal Standing Committee on Natural Resources in which Cliffs officials said up to 40% of the ore produced in Ontario might be shipped out of province for processing.

While the company is committing to building a $1.8-billion smelter at a brownfield site just north of Capreol, the NDP want to know how much more investment in the North would be possible if all the ore it generates is processed here.

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Cliffs Chromite Project: Answers Needed Before Decisions are Made – by Steve May (SudburySteve.blogspot.com – May 10, 2012)

http://sudburysteve.blogspot.ca/

Steve May is the CEO of the Sudbury Federal Green Party Association (Opinions expressed in this blog are my own, and should not be interpreted as being consistent with the views of the Green Party of Canada – Steve May)

I read with interest today a number of news reports related to the announcement that Cliffs Natural Resources will be investing approximately $3.3 billion in Ontario, to build a chromite mine in the Ring of Fire, and a ferrochrome processing facility in my city, the City of Greater Sudbury. That Cliffs has been pushing ahead with developing the Black Thor deposit in the Ring of Fire has been no secret. What was up in the air, however, was the selection of a community to host the prized ferrochrome processing facility (smelter), which is expected to generate approximately 400 operational jobs, and an additional 400 construction jobs.

Today’s announcement identifying the Moose Mountain site outside of the Capreol community in the City of Greater Sudbury as the new home for the smelter was one of the worst-kept secrets in Northern Ontario. While the communities of Greenstone, Thunder Bay and Timmins were also in the running, Cliffs has been proceeding since the fall of 2011 with an Environmental Assessment process based on a “base case scenario” which identified Moose Mountain as the site of the smelter, and media has since reported that Cliffs has actually purchased the Moose Mountain site.

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