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 Barrick Hemlo Mines is providing opportunities for residents of two nearby First Nations, Pic River and Pic Mobert, in Northwestern Ontario.  In 2009, the original 1992 agreement between Hemlo and these First Nations was broadened.  It creates a framework to train First Nations people in skills for present and future mining employment, to support business development and to include involvement in environmental stewardship programs.

“The agreement helps build capacity in First Nation communities to ensure that they benefit from mining,” said Roger Souckey, Superintendent of Employee Relations at Hemlo Mines.  “About  50 First Nations people work at Hemlo Mines, or about 10% of the workforce.  The mine is a benefit to the area.”

The Hemlo Operations of Barrick include the Williams and David Bell gold mines.  The mines purchased goods and services worth $35 million in Ontario in 2010 and $147 million in Canada.  In 2010, Hemlo Mines paid taxes and royalties of $8 million and contributed a further $800,000 in a variety of donations to local communities. Read the rest of this entry »

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 St Andrew Goldfields (SAS) has taken a fresh approach to help promote the So You Think You Know Mining high school video competition.  The gold producer has spread the word through internal communications and on-line social media offering high school aged children of its employees an opportunity to win extra cash prizes by entering a video on the benefits of mining.

Any video produced by children of SAS employees will be entered into a random draw for a $500 prize.  Students are requested to show proof of entry in the SYTYKM competition and submit a copy of their video to the company by March 31, 2012.  The deadline for the fourth annual SYTYKM competition itself is March 15, 2012.

In the true spirit of SYTYKM, SAS is employing video and a social media platform that is popular with young people to support the OMA’s high school video competition.  You can see a promotional video on YouTube featuring Geoff Ramey, Human Resources Director at SAS.  You can also check out the OMA’s YouTube channel, which is used to support SYTYKM and to share messages in these videos with a wider audience. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

The Ontario Mining Association supports the bid of Vancouver to host the prestigious International Geological Congress in 2020.  This event is held in Olympian style once every four years.  This group got off the ground in 1876 and held its first event dedicated to the advancement of global Earth science in 1878 in Paris, France.

In a letter to council members of the IGC and the International Union of Geological Sciences, OMA President Chris Hodgson said “Canada is a mining nation and the foundation of this industry and its future success is based on geoscience.”

“The OMA strongly supports the efforts of Vancouver, British Columbia, to host the 36th International Geological Congress in 2020.  This major Canadian city is a major mining centre in a mining province, which would be an ideal location for your event,” he added.  “The world will be welcome.  All of Canada will be there.” Read the rest of this entry »

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.

A Memorandum of Understanding between Ontario Mining Association member Quadra FNX and the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation strengthens relationships among mining companies and First Nations in the province.  The MOU is designed to serve as a foundation for a working relationship between both parties concerning Quadra FNX’s advanced exploration program on the Victoria Project in Sudbury.

Quadra FNX and the Sagamok First Nation will work towards a full Impact Benefits Agreement.  The company is proceeding with efforts to gain environmental permitting for the project.  The MOU was signed in Sudbury by Chief Paul Eshkakogan of the Sagamok First Nation and Michael Winship, Chief Operating Officer of Quadra FNX.

“This MOU will facilitate open and timely dialogue between Quadra FNX and our First Nation as it relates to the company’s activities to develop the Victoria Advanced Exploration project,” said Chief Eshkakogan.  “We look forward to negotiating an IBA that will provide benefits for our members and ensure the environment and our traditional territories are protected.” Read the rest of this entry »

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.

The Ontario Mining Association is joining forces with Cambrian College in Sudbury to run a video production workshop for high school students.  The one-day course, which can accommodate up to 30 students, will be held on January 21, 2012 at Cambrian.  This workshop, with the OMA and Cambrian as partners, is designed to promote the OMA’s “So You Think You Know Mining” video competition.

Participants will be provided with an opportunity to learn the basics of video production, use Cambrian’s modern facilities and film equipment and benefit from the experience of college staff.  The workshop is being facilitated by Dan Maslakewycz from CTV. 

The OMA’s “So You Think You Know Mining” high school video competition is now in its fourth year.  This year $33,500 in prize money is up for grabs.  The deadline for submitting two to three minute videos on any aspect of the benefits of mining is March 15, 2012.  There is also a new category this year for short commercials. The SYTYKM awards gala will be held June 5, 2012 at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Are you ready for this?  The 2011-2012 Ross Petty pantomime at the Elgin Theatre featured a mining motif.  It is not often that mining takes a bow on stage but the new rendition of the “The Wizard of Oz” not only had miners doing a song and dance routine to “Macho Man” and other numbers but Donnie, one of the main characters was a miner.  Never mind that the Wicked Witch threatens to turn him into “a heap of scrap metal.”

Ross Petty has been producing a Christmas pantomime for 16 years and it has become a popular fixture on Toronto’s theatre scene.  Past productions have included “Peter Pan,” “Cinderella” (who can forget Celine and Shania as the evil step sisters?),”Robin Hood,” “Snow White,” “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Aladdin,” which featured renowned wrestler Bret The Hitman Hart. 

The pantomimes are in the tradition of the old British shows, which included a lot of physical humour and music along with witty social commentary and criticism.  Audience interaction is encouraged and regular ad libbing by all the actors ensures no two performances are exactly alike.  The farce reigns supreme. “The Wizard of Oz” included some good shots at Toronto’s professional hockey team, bicycle paths, libraries and the city’s municipal leadership among others. Read the rest of this entry »

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

Giving power to municipalities will make it harder to invest in new jobs

Jean-François Minardi is associate director of the Global Natural Resource Policy Centre with the Fraser Institute.

Until recently, Quebec was seen by mining executives around the world as having the best policy environment for investment, mainly thanks to a predictable regulatory environment, the absence of territorial claims in northern Quebec, high quality geo-scientific data easily accessible to miners, good infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and an attractive mining-tax system.

But with the introduction May 12 of Bill 14, to amend Quebec’s Mining Act, the province is now poised to introduce a high level of uncertainty that may scare investors away and seriously damage the policy attractiveness of Quebec to mining investment.

Bill 14 gives additional power to municipalities to control mining activities on their territory, something municipalities clamoured for during the heated debates over regulating the shale gas industry. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Since 1976, Ontario mining industry’s lost time injury rate has improved by 96%.  The path may have been filled with both pot holes and speed bumps but this steady improvement in safety performance in Ontario’s mining industry is no accident.

In moving forward in time and using the lost time injury rate as a yardstick, numbers indicate the mining sector’s record has been safer by 81% since 1989 and by 73% since 1993.  The lost time injury rate was more than 12 per 200,000 hours worked in 1976 and it has been reduced to the 0.5 range today.  The industry-wide goal is to reach a frequency of zero by 2015.

Mining safety statistics are moving in the right direction because of personal diligence and concern for one’s self and one’s colleagues. There are a number of initiatives and institutions supporting this progress.  OMA programs, the Internal Responsibility System, inspections and programs from the Ministry of Labour, regulatory changes and adjustments to Common Core skills training along with the role of the sectoral safety group Workplace Safety North and unions have played strong parts in these gains. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

The art and science of leading mineral companies has taken a step forward with York University’s Schulich School of Business launching a Masters of Business Administration specializing in Global Mining Management.  The program aims to develop and mentor the next generation of business leaders in the mining sector.  The program will be fully available starting in September 2012.
 
“Canada continues to play a critical role in the global mining sector and Canadian mining companies are key players in responding to the unprecedented growth in demand for metals and minerals,” said Dezso Horvath, Dean of the Schulich School of Business.  “An MBA specializing in mining is long overdue in preparing future business leaders for a key industry in Canada and around the world.”
 
Richard Ross, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inmet Mining, is the Executive-in-Residence for the program.  Mr. Ross is a chartered accountant with a long and successful history in the mining sector.  He was with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse earlier in his career before working for gold miner Placer Dome.  He held a number of positions at Inmet from 1989 to 2009.  Mr. Ross also serves on the boards of Ontario Mining Association members Osisko Mining and Cliffs Natural Resources. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Barrick Gold’s Hemlo Operation in Northwestern Ontario was presented with the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Leadership Award at a Mining Day on the Hill event in Ottawa last month.  Other Ontario Mining Association members to receive TSM accolades were De Beers Canada, Teck Resources and Xstrata.

“Whether in Canada or abroad, Barrick strives to meet high standards for corporate social responsibility,” said Kelvin Dushnisky, Barrick Executive Vice President Corporate and Legal Affairs.  “We are proud to see our Hemlo Operation recognized as a leader in responsible mining by Canada’s mining industry and congratulate everyone involved in this great achievement.”

“Barrick is only the second company to win a Leadership Award since the TSM Awards were inaugurated in 2006,” said MAC President Pierre Gratton.  “We are honoured to be receiving this special award,” said Roger Souckey, Superintendent of Employee Relations at Hemlo.  “At Hemlo, we place great value on our relationships with First Nations, local communities and on environmental stewardship.”  Mr. Souckey has been a member of the OMA Education and Outreach Committee since its inception in 2006. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

By all yardsticks, there was a record turnout of more than 200 delegates for the Ontario Mining Association’s Meet the Miners reception last week.   Large contingents of MPPs, political staff, public service employees from key ministries and mining company representatives were on hand to celebrate the success of mining in Ontario and its contribution to the society and economy of this province.

The reception, which was held at the Sutton Place Hotel near Queen’s Park, followed a day of activities, which included an OMA board of directors meeting, a presentation by Ring of Fire Coordinator Christine Kaszycki, an address by Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci and team meetings with several Cabinet Ministers and Opposition Leaders.
 
An improved understanding of mining’s important role in the future of Ontario, both as a generator of employment and wealth and as a provider of key materials for building a greener future, appears to be growing.  For the second consecutive year mining received special attention in the Speech from the Throne at Queen’s Park.  Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Go to the Ontario Mining Association website www.oma.on.ca  and check out today’s launch of the popular high school video competition So You Think You Know Mining for the fourth year.  The 2012 competition is serving up opportunities to win $33,500 in prize money, an $8,000 increase of what was on the table last year.
 
The deadline for submitting two to three minute videos on the benefits of mining is midnight March 15, 2012.  To be eligible for the Early Bird prize of $500, entries must be received by March 1, 2012. 
 
Other key dates in 2012 are April 1 to 15 for the determination of nominees for the People’s Choice and OMA Academy Award, April 20 to June 3 which is the voting period for the People’s Choice Award and May 22 when winners will be determined and notified.  The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 5 in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum. Read the rest of this entry »

Stan Sudol is a Toronto, Canada-based communications consultant, mining columnist and blogger. stan.sudol@republicofmining.com

Biggest commodity super-cycle in the history of mankind

The future of mining has never been brighter, yet its image among the general population seems to have plunged lower than the famous Kidd Creek mine in Timmins, Ontario – the world’s deepest base metal operation. The largest rural to urban migration in the history of mankind is taking place in China. It has been often said, that China needs to build two cities the size of Toronto, Canada and Sydney, Australia to accommodate that growth, every year! Analysts estimate that China’s middle class is expanding so rapidly that it will soon overtake the current U.S. population of 312 million.

In October, 2011, the world’s population had passed the seven billion mark. India, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and many other developing countries are following China and urbanizing and industrializing their economies. Mining experts feel that over the next 25 years, we will need to dig out of the ground as many minerals as consumed since the beginning of mankind.

One of the biggest concerns is a shortage of skilled workers. In the next decade half the mining workforce in Canada is eligible to retire and there are significant difficulties attracting and engaging the digital generation.
According to the Ottawa-based Mining Industry Human Resource Council’s 2011 hiring report, the industry will need to hire betwee 75,280 to 141,540 new workers in Canada depending on the state of the global economy by 2021. Similar labour shortage issues exisit in other western mining jurisdicitions like Australia and the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Mining industry studies have helped Skills Canada Ontario and Women in Nuclear (WIN) produce a book designed to get more women involved into less traditional working roles.  “Women Working in the Skilled Trades and Technologies: Myths & Realities” debunks six false stereotypes about women in the trades.

Getting more females into skilled trades and technology careers is seen as being crucial to support Canada’s economy and infrastructure.  “The crisis associated with critical shortages of skilled workers makes it imperative that government, educators and industry work together as partners and utilize a cohesive approach in solving the problem of skilled worker shortages and do everything possible to attract women to the skilled trades and technologies,” said Gail Smyth, Executive Director of Skills Canada Ontario.

Women comprise 47.4% of the total Canadian workforce.  Mining knows females will need to have a larger role in the industry.  Currently, females make up 14.4% to the total mining workforce and there is a major role for women to play in the mineral sector as it works to solve its own skilled trades shortage. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

The second annual Mining Film Festival run by IDNR-TV will salute two Ontario mining community leaders and several Quebec officials to emphasize the mineral sector links and shared geology between Northeastern Ontario and Northwestern Quebec. This event is being held on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at the Cinema du Parc in Montreal. 

The festival’s aim is to act as a platform on which mining and natural resource industries can be viewed objectively and realistically and to raise awareness of one of Canada’s most important industries. Films will highlight major changes taking place in the sector, technological innovations and sustainable mining practices. 

Vic Power, who was Mayor of Timmins from 1980 to 2000 and from 2003 to 2006, will be presented with a tribute trophy for his positive influence on the growth and development of his city and region. Also, Tom Laughren, the current Mayor of Timmins, will receive a certificate of recognition. “IDNR-TV and Arcelor Mittal Canada Mines wish to acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by these regional leaders in building bridges and fostering cooperation between the francophone and anglophone communities that are central to the development of natural resources and the local mining industry.”  Read the rest of this entry »