June 22, 2012 – Republic of Mining

MEDIA RELEASE: Chiefs Take Action and Prepare Eviction Notice to Mining Companies working in the Ring of Fire

June 22, 2012

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO, CANADA – JUNE 22, 2012: Six Northern Ontario First Nations who will be impacted by the proposed mines and infrastructure development in the Ring of Fire are in the final stages of issuing a 30-day eviction notice to all mining companies with exploration and development camps in the region. The forthcoming eviction notice for a moratorium on all Ring of Fire mining activity will come from the First Nation communities of Aroland, Constance Lake, Ginoogaming, Longlake #58, Neskantaga, and Nibinamik. Other First Nations in the area will also have the opportunity to sign on before it is distributed.

Chief Sonny Gagnon of Aroland First Nation said, “Cliffs, Noront and all the other mining companies active in the Ring of Fire will have thirty days from the time the eviction notice is served to pack up their bags and leave our lands.”

Chief Peter Moonias of Neskantaga First Nation said, “We are sending a strong message to Ontario and Canada that we need to negotiate a process for First Nation participation in the mining projects that will be changing our lives forever. Unless and until we have a table for government to government negotiations we will evict the intruders from our lands.”

Chief Johnny Yellowhead of Nibinamik First Nation said, “All the Memorandums of Cooperation in the world cannot hide the fact that there are no negotiations or agreements in place with Ontario and Canada to deliver First Nation decision making, a full and thorough regional environmental assessment with hearings in our communities and resource revenue sharing.

Media Release: New public opinion polling shows significant support for First Nations benefiting from Ring of Fire mineral development

June 22, 2012

Municipality of Greenstone and Aroland First Nation release polling results

(Greenstone, ON, June 22, 2012) Ontario-wide polling indicates that while there is a low level of awareness of the massive Ring of Fire mineral find, Ontarians believe that area First Nations have an important role in shaping the area’s future. The poll was undertaken in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Municipality of Greenstone and Aroland First Nation (a member of the Matawa Tribal Council).

The telephone poll of 1,000 randomly selected Ontarians was conducted June 8 – 13, 2012 by OraclePoll Research.

Greenstone Mayor, Renald Beaulieu observed, “This research was undertaken to better understand Ontarians’ opinion of the position that Greenstone supports – that, Ring of Fire resources should be processed in or smelted in the First Nation territory where they are found. The polling indicates that many more people support this position than oppose it.”

Aroland First Nation Chief, Sonny Gagnon commented, “We are extremely pleased with these research findings; they validate what we have known for a long time. It is important for us to know that the majority of Ontarians support the position that we the First Nations should not allow the mining to happen unless processing occurs in our territory.”

NEWS RELEASE: VALE BREAKS GROUND ON HISTORIC $2 BILLION CLEAN AER PROJECT

June 23, 2012June 22, 2012

(L to R) David Pearson, Laurentian University Biology Professor; Kelly Strong, VP of Vale’s Mining and Milling, North Atlantic Operations, and General Manager of Ontario Operations; John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer of Vale Canada and Director of Vale’s North Atlantic Base Metals; Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP and Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines; Marianne Matichuk, City of Greater Sudbury Mayor; Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of the Environment; Dave Stefanuto, Vale Clean AER Project Director

For Immediate Release

SUDBURY, June 22, 2012 – Joined by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, government cabinet ministers, community leaders, local residents and employees, Vale today officially broke ground on its $2-billion “Clean AER Project”, one of the largest single environmental investments in Ontario’s history.

The Clean AER Project, where AER stands for ‘Atmospheric Emissions Reduction’, will see sulphur dioxide emissions at Vale’s smelter in Sudbury reduced by 70% from current levels, as well as dust and metals emissions reduced a further 35 to 40%. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

“This is an historic day for Vale and demonstrates the importance that Greater Sudbury plays in our global operations,” said John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer of Vale Canada Limited and Director of Vale’s North Atlantic Base Metals operations. “Starting today, we are building a lasting legacy for our employees, the community and future generations who will live and work in Greater Sudbury, and that is truly a reason to celebrate.”

[Ontario Mines Minister] Bartolucci talks resource revenue sharing – by Rick Garrick (Wawatay News – June 21, 2012)

June 22, 2012

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Ontario is committed to discussing resource revenue sharing with First Nation communities. “As you know, Ontario has committed to our First Nations community to have that discussion in regards to resource revenue sharing,” said Rick Bartolucci, minister of Northern Development and Mines during the 2nd Annual Ontario Mining Forum, held June 19 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay.

“Ontario is also calling on the federal government for financial commitments to help share the costs associated with regional infrastructure and social economic supports for First Nation communities,” Bartolucci said.

Resource revenue sharing and social, economic and community supports were among the key issues addressed in the June 12 signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Ontario and Webequie.

“There were some key areas that (Webequie) Chief (Cornelius) Wabasse and his community wanted us to become involved in,” Bartolucci said. “Some of that was the regional environmental monitoring, regional infrastructure, the discussion about resource revenue sharing, the opportunity to bring the federal government to the table.”

Perfect opportunity to grow community, says [Sudbury] mayor – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – June 22, 2012)

June 22, 2012

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

In her State-of-the-City Address in 2011, Mayor Marianne Matichuk said the issue of deregulating store hours, which was a cornerstone of her campaign, was “not dead.”

“If we are the only municipality in Ontario that’s not open for business, it’s a shame,” she told reporters at the time. “We are promoting ourselves as the retail spot in northeastern Ontario … If you don’t want to do it, get out of the way.”

One year later, in her State-of- the-City Address for 2012, the store hours issue received nary a mention.

“The main priority … is building this community,” Matichuk said after this year’s address, held Thursday at the Caruso Club. “We have a huge opportunity here … with all the money that’s being pumped in — we’ve got to look at that. We’ve got to look at growing people, we’ve got to look at growing our community.”

Her speech maintained that positive outlook, focusing largely on opportunities in the mining sector. “I would like to start off with an amazing number: $6.3 billion,” she said at the beginning of her speech.

City of Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk “State of the City Address” – June 21, 2012

June 22, 2012June 22, 2012

Caruso Club, Sudbury, Ontario

Check Against Delivery

Good afternoon everyone. Bonjour tout le monde. This certainly has been an amazing few weeks in the mining capital of Canada with great investment news and scientific celebration.

Recently, in the span of about ten days we had the Cliffs decision to locate a $1.8 billion chromite smelter in our city, …the official opening of the internationally renowned SNOLAB research facility,

… and a provincial government announcement that Sudbury has been approved for a casino that may be built downtown, further contributing to the centre’s renewal.But first, I would like to start off with an amazing number: $6.3 Billion!

That is the current value of mining investment, confirmed or planned for Sudbury, over the next five years or so. This only includes capital projects by Vale, Cliffs, KGHM and Xstrata Nickel.

That six billion dollars does not include potential investments by the growing supply and service sector, government and
many other non-mining activities that will tap into these enormous projects.