This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.
Ontario Mining Association member Noront Resources is the industry partner in a new alliance to provide training for future mining jobs to the people of Matawa First Nations. The Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance (RoFATA) has received $5.9 million from the federal government’s Skills and Partnership Fund to support that goal.
“Our government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity across the country and right here in Northern Ontario,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of State Responsible for the Ring of Fire. “It is important that all Canadians have the necessary skills and training they need to succeed.”
RoFATA was created through a partnership of Noront Resources, Matawa First Nations, Kikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS) and Confederation College in Thunder Bay. RoFATA’s key objective is to provide training-to-employment opportunities to support Matawa First Nations people. The Matawa First Nation encompasses nine communities.
The plan anticipates that approximately 260 trainees will take courses and about 200 of them will enter into employment through RoFATA. The length of training will vary from five to 20 weeks. Courses include pre-trades instruction carpentry, electrical, plumber, welder, heavy duty equipment mechanic and construction.
There will also be instruction in subjects such as mining essentials, environmental monitoring, security guard, underground diamond drill helper and basic line cutting. Some of these training programs will begin in October and they will be delivered at various locations in the Ring of Fire region.
“It is important to have training right here in our community,” said Chief Corneilius Wabasse of Webequie First Nation. “Our community members want to participate in the employment and business opportunities that will emerge because of development in the Ring of Fire. The partnership that KKETS has developed will ensure we can maximize training because it can happen right in our communities.”
“It is important to Noront that we have access to a local workforce for the employment opportunities that we will require as we develop and operate our Eagle’s Nest Project in the Ring of Fire,” said Paul Parisotto, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer for Noront. “This program is a step to achieve that very important goal.”
The federal government’s Skills and Partnership Fund was created in 2010. It encourages Aboriginal organizations to create partnerships with government, industry and community organizations to provide skills training and develop employment opportunities.
The Ring of Fire is located about 540 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. It covers about 5,000 square kilometres and the Ring of Fire is one the most promising mineral development opportunities in the country. Current estimates suggest the multi-generational potential of chromite production, as well as significant production of nickel, copper and platinum.
Noront Resources has its head office in Toronto. The company is focused on the advancement of its high-grade Eagle’s Nest nickel-copper-platinum-palladium deposit and the exploration and development of the Blackbird chromite discovery. The company holds a large land position in the Ring of Fire and is carrying out regional mineral exploration for additional deposits.