China North: Canada’s resources and China’s Arctic long game – by James Munson (iPolitics.ca – December 31, 2012)

http://www.ipolitics.ca/

China’s designs for a greater role in the Arctic could be built on Canadian resources.

Chinese firms have invested over $400 million in northern Canada through various mineral and petroleum projects, while the Chinese government tries to simultaneously edge its way into the region’s key governance body, the Arctic Council.

While most of these deals are small, the resource sector is intiminately linked to the larger policy questions facing Arctic nations, which range from environmental protection to shipping corridors. If China gains influence in Artic affairs in the coming years, the impacts could be felt in Canada’s northern backyard.

“They have demonstrated that they will play hardball politics in terms of their interests,” said Rob Hubert, an associate professor at the University of Calgary who tracks China’s economic and strategic creep into the Arctic.

Ottawa enacted new restrictions on the foreign ownership of oilsands and other sectors in early December, signalling that the Asian powerhouse’s interest aren’t always concurrent with Canada’s.

Yet the two countries are engaged in a “strategic partnership,” an economic relationship that has a don’t-ask, don’t-tell approach to issues with more friction like human rights and foreign policy.

It’s a balancing act in constant evolution and the North — filled with oil, gas and minerals that could one day be feeding Chinese homes — is one place where the relationship could one day get icy.

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Absolutism in the Church of Green [Resource opposition] – by Gordon Gibson (Globe and Mail – December 31, 2012)

Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

We either responsibly exploit our natural resources or settle for less health care, 
education and lower pensions. A choice of automatic opposition to resource development
is one option, if that’s what we collectively want. But that choice should be understood
as a public policy question with consequences, not as a religious one of no cost.
(Gordon Gibson – December 31, 2012)

Society has “invented a new religion.” Thus spoke former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard recently. He described that as the belief that man is wrecking the planet and that the world should return to a more natural state.

Mr. Bouchard was speaking with some frustration of widespread and almost knee-jerk opposition to developing natural resources. Bingo! He’s on to something. The Church of Green?

Religions have certain characteristics. They consist of a body of belief based on faith (as, for example, in God). This faith is not to be challenged, distinguishing religions from other belief sets. Scientific theories, for a counterexample, must always be questioned. Not so with religion. Unwavering faith is the hallmark.

Religions of the sort decried by Mr. Bouchard have high priests who can speak ex cathedra and gain immediate belief. David Suzuki, Al Gore and Amory Lovins, among others, have this otherworldly gravitas. They have their religious orders. Just as there are Jesuits and Benedictines, there are Greenpeace and the Sierra Club.

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Gold in 2013: climb, consolidate or collapse? – by Lawrence Williams (Mineweb.com – December 31, 2012)

http://www.mineweb.com/

While fundamentals seem to favour much stronger gold and silver prices this year, strange goings-on in the markets, should they continue, could see price rises fall short of expectations.

LONDON (MINEWEB) – Yes – its annual stick your neck out time for precious metals commentators as we try and foretell what will happen in the markets over the coming year – and precious metals price forecasting is an invidious business.

Once you go on record with a prediction it’s there for all to see – and, if you’re unlucky, to refer back to should your crystal ball prove to be wildly incorrect. So, firstly, what is this writer’s track record in predicting the gold price? Well, in 2012 not great, although far less inaccurate than most.

My prediction for the year-end gold price was $1875 – well above the final London close for the year of $1664, indeed a little more than $200 (or 12%) out. Perhaps not too bad, when one considers that in January, $2,000 was a fairly common year-end target and even the more conservative analysts were mostly predicting better things for the gold price.

For 2011, I was also rather over-optimistic with a year-end price prediction of $1760 against a final London close of $1574, despite gold soaring to well above this predicted level earlier in the year. Timing is everything in the gold price prediction game. This was 10.6% above the final figure – and even so, far closer than many were predicting.

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[Ontario] Mines on gem-laden path to 2013 – (Timmins Daily Press – December 30, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

 TIMMINS – With the real status of the Canadian economy checkered with question marks, mining remains a diamond in the rough and a driving force for industry in Ontario.

That’s according to an in-depth study performed by a research team at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and released by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA) in early December.

“What the study really shows is that, while some other sectors may be having troubles right now, mining is a winner,” said Peter McBride, the OMA’s manager of communications. “Mining is dependable, and it certainly is a dynamic part of the economy right now, and it will be for the future.”

The OMA is one of the longest-serving trade organizations in Canada. Formed in 1920, it currently represents over 75 mineral producers in the province.

Highlighted in the University of Toronto study is the fact that, since 2002, Ontario’s overall international goods trade deficit has more than quadrupled. Mining, however, has moved in the opposite direction over the past decade, with the trade surplus for mineral products growing to more than $12 billion and remaining positive throughout.

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[Timmins] City boom continues in 2013 – by Benjamin Aubé (Timmins Daily Press – December 28, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – For the past few years, the City of Timmins has focused on both increasing industry in the traditional sectors of mining and forestry, as well as seeking out new economic and industrial opportunity.

With a new airline (Porter) coming to town in 2012, along with the development of a diversified economy, Mayor Tom Laughren and city council will be looking to keep up with a city that is growing in more ways than one.

“I think Timmins will continue to see the building boom happening for the next couple of years,” said Laughren, previewing the challenges and opportunities 2013 is promising to offer. “I think it will still be a very much the mix we have out there right now, which is industrial, commercial and residential.

“The numbers are way up there, (construction) has been climbing, and with the price of gold, that’s going to continue.

“Having said that, one of the big challenges around that is going to be housing. The two biggest challenges I hear from local businesses when I visit them to talk about economic development are attracting workers, and then finding a place for them to live.”

With parts of Southwestern Ontario being hit hard by job losses, Laughren said that one of council’s priorities will be developing a housing strategy. The mayor said it “is easy to say, but will be tougher to do.

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Cuba closes oldest nickel processing plant – by Marc Frank (U.S. Reuters.com – December 28, 2012)

http://www.reuters.com/

HAVANA, Dec 28 (Reuters) – Cuba has closed the oldest of three nickel plants in the country, a local Communist Party leader said, a looming event that had become the talk of the mountain town of Nicaro, in eastern Holguin, where it is located.

Nickel is Cuba’s most important export and one of its top foreign exchange earners after technical services and tourism.

“This plant’s productive role is completed and now it will dedicate its efforts to services,” Jorge Cuevas Ramos, First Secretary of the Holguin Communist Party, said in an interview with the provincial television station on Thursday evening.

A local radio report earlier in the week had also indicated the plant was closed. “After the closing of the René Ramos Latourt plant, its director said only the mineral transportation system would be maintained so it is ready to be transferred to Moa or for a foreign company that might be interested in investing in the area,” the report said.

The Cuban nickel industry is cloaked in secrecy. National media and officials have yet to mention the plant’s closure after operating for around 70 years.

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Attawapiskat: Why don’t they just leave? – by Raveena Aulakh (Toronto Star – December 30, 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.

ATTAWAPISKAT, ONT.—If she had a magic wand, Rosie Koostachin would change many things in her community. There would be better housing, health care and education. There would be more jobs and there would be no drug and alcohol abuse. Oh, and the reserve would be better run.

But there is no magic wand. Neither is one on its way. Koostachin, the wise 42-year-old mother of four and grandmother of one, knows that.

“Attawapiskat hasn’t changed in decades … I don’t think it ever will. It can’t. I was born here, I was raised here and I have raised all my kids here. The problems I saw four decades ago … they are problems we still face.”

Health care and education will always be a challenge. The dropout rate at the local high school will stay at more than 50 per cent. So will poverty. There will be no employment opportunities. Entertainment will at best be non-existent except around Christmas. The local cost of living will always be expensive (a single red pepper costs $3.99 and half dozen bananas $2.89).

It is the truth. Koostachin is not the only one who says so. She may be brave enough to talk openly about it but others say the same thing privately: Attawapiskat, home to about 1,900 people, can likely never be fixed. In the long run it is unsustainable.

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The end of an era Dalton McGuinty’s sudden resignation announcement was the biggest story in a wild year for Ontario politics, writes Steve Paikin. – by Steve Paikin (Ottawa Citizen – December 26, 2012)

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/index.html

Dalton McGuinty had just completed his press conference, explaining why, after 22 years in public life, 16 of them as leader of the Ontario Liberals, and nine of them as premier of Ontario, he was stepping down.

As he walked jacketless from the Government Caucus Room toward his office at the opposite end of the second floor of the Ontario Parliament Buildings, he hugged his wife Terri and watched a phalanx of photographers blast him with their flashes.

After the flashes died down, I sidled up to the premier.

“You surprised?” he asked me.

“Nope,” I responded. “Absolutely shocked.”

“Good,” he said. “That’s what I was going for.”

The timing of Dalton McGuinty’s departure, announced at a hastily called caucus meeting this past October, was one of the best kept secrets in Ontario political history. Almost everyone seemed to be caught off guard.

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The award for the worst politician of the year goes to … [Dalton McGuinty] – by Rex Murphy (National Post – December 29, 2012)

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

All hail Emperor Dalton

The year past, much like the years before it, has been marked by frequent lamentations that democracy is at peril in Canada, that the federal government in particular is increasingly remote, unresponsive, and in certain areas even reaching towards the imperious.

Those whose calling it is to savage the Harper government agree almost to a phrase that its failings and the Prime Minister’s are “contempt” for democracy, a highhanded “American-style” of governance, and a brutal unresponsiveness to critics or citizens.

There is more than a little truth to elements of these charges. But as is the case with matters Harper, those who oppose him do so with an intensity in excess of its object. Much Harper criticism has long since gone Pavlonian — say his name and the barking begins.

The Harper government has been called, in turn, vindictive, stubborn, deliberately secretive and withdrawn, utterly unwilling to co-operate with the opposition. These are valid criticisms. But I see in them a great echo of a former government, which never really took the same heat. Mr. Harper follows — not with total fidelity, but close enough — the Jean Chrétien style of government.

But on the bigger, dramatic charge that his government is “undemocratic,” that it actively seeks to diminish democracy, to shut its critics down and muzzle the electorate, and that it harbours that old fascist instinct — those charges are hyped overkill, a vast overreach.

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NEWS RELEASE: AURCREST CLOSES FIRST TRANCHE OF FINANCING INCLUDING INVESTMENT BY LAC SEUL FIRST NATION

DECEMBER 21, 2012

TSXV Symbol: AGO

AurCrest Gold Inc. (the “Company” or “AurCrest”) (TSX-V: AGO) is very pleased to announce that it has placed 3,100,000 working capital units of the Company at a price of $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of $155,000.00. Each working capital unit (a “WC Unit”) consists of one (1) common share of the Company and one (1) share purchase warrant (a “WC Warrant”).

Each WC Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional common share at the price of $0.15 per share until December 21, 2013 and thereafter at the price of $0.25 per share until December 21, 2014. The securities are legended and restricted from trading until April 22, 2013. Lac Seul First Nation (“LSFN”) subscribed for 1,500,000 WC Units for $75,000. Insiders of AurCrest subscribed for 1,500,000 WC Units for $75,000 in this private placement.

Ian Brodie-Brown, President and CEO of AurCrest, commented, “The relationship that AurCrest Gold has established with the Lac Seul First Nation is unprecedented within the junior mining industry. We are very pleased that they have continued their support of the Company through this investment. We look forward to working closely with the Lac Seul First Nation and look forward to exploring for Gold assets in their Traditional territory, known to be one of Canada’s great gold camps, namely Red Lake and East Red Lake.”

Chief Clifford Bull of the Lac Seul First Nation stated, “The Band Council of Lac Seul First Nation is pleased to have acquired these shares with AurCrest. It reflects the mutual respect that has developed between us and we look forward to building a strong relationship to realize the benefits and opportunities from the mineral exploration industry in our territory. This modern Exploration Company model is a reflection of our community’s interest to work with industry.”

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‘Rugged’ first year as MPP [Vic Fedeli Northern Ontario issues] – by Gord Young (North Bay Nugget – December 29, 2012)

http://www.nugget.ca/

The ongoing saga of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission will remain this riding’s top issue in the new year, says Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.

In a year-end interview, Fedeli said he believes rail will likely be the next division to be sold after Ontera, the ONTC’s telecommunications division.

“I think they’re scrambling to sell Ontera as quickly as possible,” said Fedeli, noting the provincial Conservatives have called for the rail freight division to remain public, plus a strategic review of the remainder of the Crown agency.

A request for proposals was issued Dec. 17 for the purchase of Ontera to firms that pre-qualified as potential buyers in October; and the province has said the successful bidder will be announced in the spring. The province has also indicated it hopes to complete rest of the divestment process by spring as well.

Fedeli said it’s difficult to say what the strategic review his party has promised would involve because it’s unclear what ONTC assets will be left by the time there’s a provincial election.

He said the Conservatives would also move the ONTC from under the Ministry of Northern Development to the Ministry of Transportation. In addition, Fedeli said he signed a petition supporting the proposed New Deal to revitalize the ONTC involving the creation of federal ports authority because it involves keeping the rail freight division in public hands, as well as the transporting of ore from the Ring of Fire chromite find in the James Bay area via rail.

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Vale Is Staring At A Q4 Loss On Impairments And Additional Tax Charges – by Trefis Team (December 27, 2012)

http://www.trefis.com/?from=link

Vale (NYSE:VALE) seems all but certain to report a loss in the fourth quarter of the ongoing financial year. The company has suffered two major setbacks in the last few days. Firstly, it announced that it will book a $4.2 billion fourth-quarter pretax charge after lowering the valuation of a nickel mine and its stake in aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA. Also, last week the company announced tax losses of nearly $483 million relating to cases in Brazil and Switzerland. Of this, $451 million will be booked in the balance sheet for Q4 and the rest of the amount will be adjusted in the next financial year. [1]

These two setbacks are only recent additions to a long list. Tumbling iron ore prices on a weak demand outlook, failure to begin docking Valemax ships in China due to permission issues, and the shelving of the Simandou project in Guinea due to an uncertain and adverse operating environment are some issues which have been highlighted frequently in the past. The company has been forced to contract its capital expenditure plans for next year and announce sale of non-core assets in order to reduce costs and improve efficiency. However, any gains due to these are certain to be negated due to the latest charges as far as earnings are concerned. [2]

What Is The Reason For A Writedown In The Nickel Business?

Vale will take a $2.85 billion pretax writedown on its Brazilian nickel project Onca Puma. The problems in its nickel business have been festering for some time.

As reported in its third quarter earnings results, lackluster performance of the nickel segment has been one of the largest drags on profit. Vale has been trying to diversify away from iron ore and hopes that nickel would reduce its dependence on iron ore.

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Mining, forestry on MPPs’ agendas for 2013 – by CBC Radio Sudbury (December 28, 2012)

http://www.cbc.ca/sudbury/

Area members of provincial parliament want to expand northern Ontario economy

Northern members of provincial parliament are setting their agendas for 2013, but many MPPs don’t seem to be on the same page. For Sudbury Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci, the coming year needs to focus on promoting mining in northern Ontario.

“If you’re a mining company, this is where you want to be, because it’s booming,” he said. New Democrat France Gelinas said she wants to see a stimulated economy that will produce better paying jobs.

The Nickel Belt MPP said “way too many people can’t make ends meet. There are some jobs that we have recovered since the recession, but a lot of those jobs are precarious.”

Growing forestry

Over in Nipissing, Vic Fedeli said forestry is at the top of his agenda. The conservative MPP said he wants to re-introduce his private member’s bill to allow buildings taller than two stories to be built with wood — a bill that was lost after prorogation.

“All it needed was to come to the floor for one minute and have a vote and we would have had six-storey wood building in Ontario,” Fedeli said.

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Attawapiskat: No end in sight to problems of inadequate housing, unemployment, drug addiction – by Raveena Aulakh (Toronto Star – December 29, 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.

ATTAWAPISKAT, ONT. — Many years ago, Helen Kataquapit lived in a house. A real house that was warm, had a bedroom, a kitchen with a stove and a washroom with running water. That memory is fast fading.

The 52-year-old grandmother — who lives in a room not much larger than a walk-in closet in two trailers shared by dozens of others in one forlorn corner of Attawapiskat — knows she may never live in a house again.

“I submitted my name years ago and they kept saying there will be a house, but I am single and at the bottom of their list,” Kataquapit says with a sigh. “This place has gotten worse over the years, don’t know if anything will change it. It makes me sad, what’s happening here.”

A year ago, few could place this remote Cree reserve on Canada’s map. Then, in the middle of a desolate winter, came the news of the housing crisis and the community became the poster child of native neglect. Waves of journalists arrived on the reserve with its deplorable housing, wrote heartbreaking stories and left. So yes, this is an anniversary of sorts.

But an anniversary means nothing here. It is a place where time stands still. Nothing has changed in the past year, except for 22 new trailer-homes that some lucky families moved into. Everything else is the same: poverty and dependence, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, substandard education and health care, inadequate housing and questionable governance.

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Mining industry workers ‘need more than 3 days’ training – CBC News Sudbury (December 28, 2012)

http://www.cbc.ca/sudbury/

Mining companies both embrace and reject Ontario’s shortened underground training standards

Some mining schools in northern Ontario are choosing not to offer the new shorter training program approved by the province. A year ago, the required training to work underground was shortened from several weeks to three days.

However, some people — like Bob Mack at Northern College — say they’re hearing the opposite from the mining industry.

Mack said gold mining companies in Timmins and Dubreuilville are thrilled with Northern’s 12-week training program and don’t want to see it changed. “The underground setting is not necessarily dangerous,” he said.

“But, certainly, I think you need more than three days to get those skills and abilities to work in that setting.” Other schools do offer the shorter course, and some mining companies run new employees through it as well.

Mine mill union president Richard Paquin lobbied for the province to make the change.

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