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Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

Chiefs discuss Ring of Fire privately, choose not to make public statement – by Jeff Labine (tbnewswatch.com – March 20, 2013)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

First Nation chiefs meeting in the city to discuss the Ring of Fire development are not speaking to the media.

Delegates at the annual Matawa First Nations gathering at the Valhalla Inn met with Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle Wednesday. After attempting to speak to officials about the meeting, local media were told that none of the chiefs wished to talk publicly about what was discussed.

Following the meeting, Gravelle said he was glad to sit down and meet the chiefs but wouldn’t go into any specifics of what was discussed.

He did reveal that the meeting focused heavily on the Ring of Fire development. “I do not believe the project with all the economic opportunities that are there and all the potential job creation will move forward unless there’s an opportunity for First Nations to truly benefit from this,” he said.

“We are excited about the Ring of Fire project. It’s a question about doing it right.” Marten Falls First Nation chief Eli Moonias said on Tuesday that he had no confidence in the federal government’s environmental assessment process. He said he was worried that they would face the same environmental problems that Alberta has with the oil sands.

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Matawa chiefs ready to work with Ontario government on Ring of Fire – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – March 21, 2013)

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Matawa First Nations chiefs met with Ontario’s premier on March 6, in an effort to begin negotiations on working together to develop the Ring of Fire.

Following the meeting, Matawa Chiefs Council announced that it is “ready and willing” to enter into bilateral negotiations with Ontario, so long as the negotiations have a regional focus and are community-driven.

“We are not opposed to development, but we must be involved,” said Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias. “First Nation rights and inherent responsibilities to the land demand that we are full partners in discussions about exploration, ownership, participation in production and long-term sustainability of our environment, our communities and our futures.”

The meeting at Queen’s Park in Toronto took place less than one month since Kathleen Wynne was sworn in as Ontario’s new premier.

Wynne, the former minister of Aboriginal Affairs, has pledged to give the relationship with First Nations in Ontario improved prominence under her government. In a press release, Ontario said it recognizes the importance of collaborating with First Nations to get the Ring of Fire “right from the beginning.”

“I was honoured to meet with the Matawa chiefs and hear about their priorities and hopes. I look forward to ongoing work between my government and the chiefs and their communities to build a brighter future,” Wynne said.

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[Ring of Fire] Chiefs welcome judicial ruling – Star Staff (Sudbury star – March 20, 2013)

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

Matawa First Nations chiefs say they welcome the decision last week to deny motions filed by the federal government and Cliffs Natural Resources in the judicial review of the environmental assessment process in the Ring of Fire.

Nine First Nations launched a legal challenge in November 2011 to the federal environmental assessment process.

The Ring of Fire, located about 500 km northeast of Thunder Bay, is potentially the largest mining development in Northern Ontario, FedNor Minister Tony Clement told chamber officials.

The region has significant deposits of nickel and copper and represents North America’s single largest deposit of chromite, the main ingredient in stainless steel. With mineral content worth an estimated $30 to $50 billion, the Ring of Fire could create up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in Northern Ontario alone.

Cliffs Natural Resources of Cleveland — one of a number of companies looking to develop the Ring of Fire — wants to open a chromite mine in northwestern Ontario and ship the ore to a refinery near Capreol. That would create as many as 500 jobs in Sudbury.

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No Confidence [Federal EA for Ring of Fire] – by Jeff Labine (tbnewswatch.com – March 19, 2013)

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

Eli Moonias says he has no confidence in the federal government’s environmental review process.

The chief of Marten Falls First Nation said there appears to be no accountability for the damage caused by the Alberta oil sands and that’s why he doesn’t trust the federal government to do a thorough job in its assessment in the Ring of Fire.

“No one is accountable with what’s happening with the Athabasca River situation,” he said. “I’m told that the poisons that seep into the river are dangerous. It will destroy the river. It will destroy life there. I don’t have confidence in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. I don’t trust them at all.”

He said people have told him that some of the dangerous chemicals being used in the tar sands will also be used in the Ring of Fire.

Although Moonias didn’t know the specific dangerous the supposed chemicals, he said he wants to find out. Moonias was one of many delegates at the annual Matawa First Nations gathering at the Valhalla Inn Tuesday.

The three-day meeting gives elders, chiefs and community members a chance to meet to discuss strategies as well as celebrate successes.

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VIC FEDELI NEWS RELEASE: WYNNE TO CONTINUE ONTC FIRE SALE

QUEEN’S PARK – The Premier has confirmed in writing that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals plan to continue their fire sale of Ontario Northland, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.

In a letter to Fedeli dated March 14, 2013, Wynne writes “the ONTC divestment process will continue.”

“Despite the fact I have shown the government that there are no savings to be realized through their fire sale, and despite having the New Deal alternative on the table, the Liberals plan to forge ahead with their fire sale,” Fedeli said.

The letter also contains other signals that Ontario Northland is not a priority for the Liberals.

“The Premier mentions a pan-Northern and rural transportation strategy, but doesn’t specify that Ontario Northland will be part of that,” Fedeli said.

“She also indicates plans to push forward with the Liberals’ Growth Plan for Northern Ontario, which has never included the ONTC,” Fedeli added.

“The Liberals are once again prepared to say one thing to Northerners, and then do another. They’re not fooling anyone.”

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NEWS RELEASE: A WIN FOR MATAWA FIRST NATIONS CANADA AND CLIFFS LOSE DECISION ON MOTIONS IN LEGAL PROCEEDING

Chiefs Reiterate Their Demand For An Immediate Halt to the Current Environmental Assessment Process

THUNDER BAY, ON. MARCH 19, 2013. ‐ Matawa First Nations Chiefs welcome the decision by Madam Prothonotary Aronovitch of the Federal Court to deny motions filed by Canada and Cliffs in the Judicial Review (JR) proceeding that is examining the Environmental Assessment (EA) process in the Ring of Fire. The First Nations launched a legal challenge to the federal EA process for the Cliffs Chromite Project in early November 2011. Cliffs and Canada brought motions challenging some of the evidence of the First Nations in the case. On Friday March 15, 2013, Cliffs and Canada lost their motions on all counts. The Federal Court found that these motions caused “unnecessarily delay” in the proceeding. The court awarded costs to the First Nations, and set the case on an expedited schedule towards a hearing.

“Cliffs needs to halt the current EA process and negotiate an appropriate process with our First Nations. We believe the Court will agree with us on that too.” said Chief Roger Wesley of Constance Lake First Nation.

“What we have now is a paper-based EA process, run completely outside of the communities affected, with no meaningful involvement of First Nations, and is non-transparent. It needs to be made accessible, by holding hearings in the First Nations and using an independent panel. The First Nations have made it very clear that they are willing to negotiate the parameters for an effective EA process,” said Chief Sonny Gagnon of Aroland First Nation.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency decided on a Comprehensive Study EA process in 2011 for the Cliffs Chromite Project. The Matawa First Nations Chiefs have maintained that the process is on the wrong track and for two years have been demanding a better process.

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MINING WATCH CANADA NEWS RELEASE: Cliffs and Feds Causing Unnecessary Delays to Ring of Fire Court Case, Lose Bid to Exclude Expert Evidence

Monday, March 18, 2013 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://www.miningwatch.ca/

Ottawa – MiningWatch Canada was pleased to learn that on March 15 Cliffs Natural Resources and the federal government lost their bid to exclude expert evidence from a court challenge launched by Matawa Tribal Council. Matawa is challenging the federal government’s decision to conduct a bare-boned environmental review of Cliffs’ proposed open pit chromite mine, 350 km long access road into the Hudson Bay Lowlands and ferrochrome processing facility. Cliffs and the Attorney General of Canada took issue with affidavits from experts on wildlife, water quality and environmental assessment.

In November 2011 Matawa launched a legal challenge of the decision about how to review the massive project, arguing that the decision violated constitutional obligations to consult and accommodate the affected First Nations and that the federal government made errors in administrative law in making the decision.

MiningWatch has repeatedly echoed Matawa’s call for a negotiated joint review panel process that would give the project greater scrutiny, include greater First Nations and public participation and fully harmonise federal and provincial processes. Federal bureaucrats also recommended a different process but these recommendations also failed to sway decision makers.

The affidavits in question were from well respected experts in their fields. Professor Bob Gibson from the University of Waterloo is highly regarded for his publications and teaching about environmental assessment policy.

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Shiny space rocks catch the eye of miners instead of Ring of Fire – by Wendy Parker (In Support of Mining Blog – March 2013)

http://insupportofmining.wordpress.com/

It’s a funny old world, isn’t it?

Seems everyone’s agog these days with the prospect of mining in space. Asteroids, Mars, the moon, the farthest spinning rock in the universe – you name it, and someone, somewhere, wants to spend huge sums of money to launch drill rigs into space, to extract gold, nickel, rare earths or whatever for hungry Earth-bound customers.

At the same time, the mining world seems distinctly ho-hum about Ontario’s far northern Ring of Fire mineral zone. Mention the region’s tasty potential – for chromite, nickel, copper, PGMs and more — and you’ll probably get a yes-but response that includes the slap of a rapidly closing wallet.

It may be the opportunity of a generation, but the Ring seems to have earned a reputation as a daunting target. Not a place where you want to spend a lot of money. At least not now. Maybe later. Maybe after others have made tangible commitments. Maybe after some of the problems have been ironed out.

At first glance, it’s easy to see why. In a March 7, 2013 piece in the National Post, Peter Koven enumerated some of the “staggering challenges” that impede progress in Ontario’s remote region, including “infrastructure, First Nations agreements, environmental compliance, transportation and more.” No roads, no electricity and no consensus on how development should go forward.

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Firm deal from Ont. needed [for Ring of Fire]: Cliffs VP – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 18, 2013)

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

The point man for Cliffs Natural Resources’ holdings in the Ring of Fire understands a change of government can slow negotiations.

But Bill Boor is looking to sign a “definitive document” with the province soon so his company can begin developing its Black Thor deposit.

The senior vice-president of global ferroalloys for the Cleveland-based company says when Cliffs will begin mining ore from the Ring of Fire is really out of his control. The company had hoped to start production by 2015 and has moved that date back a year at least to 2016.

Boor said Cliffs president and chief executive officer Joseph Car rabba told investors in February it would be “speculative” to say when the company would begin mining “because the uncertainties we need to get through are not completely in our control right now. We need help.”

One of the first things Cliffs is waiting on is for a tribunal of the Mining and Lands Commissioner to approve its application so the Ministry of Natural Resources can grant the company an easement to build an all-seasons’ road over claims staked by Canada Chrome, a KWG Resources Inc. Subsidiary.

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Feud over Ring [of Fire transportation] link drags on – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – March 18, 2013)

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

Two companies with high stakes in the rich Ring of Fire are awaiting a decision from a two-person tribunal that’s likely months away — and which could set a precedent when it is delivered.

The tribunal from the Mining and Lands Commissioner sat for seven days of hearings last month, listening to arguments from three lawyers from each of Cliffs Natural Resources and Canada Chrome Corporation, a subsidiary of KWG Resources Inc.

The application from Cliffs seeks an order for the Ministry of Natural Resources to grant an easement to Clevelandbased Cliffs, under the Public Lands Act, to lands claimed by CCC.

The Canadian company won’t grant consent to Cliffs to build an all-seasons road on lands it claimed after the massive chromite deposits of the Ring of Fire were discovered in 2007.

Part-time business partners, KWG has a 30% interest in the Big Daddy chromite deposit in which Cliffs has a 70% interest. But other than sharing ownership of that resource, the companies don’t see eye to eye on much else. “It’s really a competition between two companies for a link to a chromite deposit, that’s what it is,” said Daniel Pascoe, registrar/mediator with the Office of the Mining and Lands Commissioner.

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Too many roadblocks for northern roads? – by Lou Smyrlis (Canadian Transportation and Logistics Blog – March 13, 2013)

http://blog.ctl.ca/

With more than 15 years of experience reporting on transportation issues, Lou Smyrlis is one of the more recognizable personalities in the industry. An award-winning writer well known for his insightful writing and meticulous market analysis, he is a leading authority on industry trends and statistics.

Attending the Transport Institute’s Northern Exposure 2 conference in Winnipeg recently proved an illuminating foray into the challenges of serving Canada’s northern communities – admittedly the kind of stuff those of us who live and work in more forgiving climates, terrains and transportation networks don’t think much about, but should.

Why should we? Because our once isolated northern communities will become increasingly more economically important and demanding of better freight transport services.

Mining and energy exploration and development combined with population growth are the new realities for the country’s traditionally isolated northern communities. For example, there is $130 billion worth of mining investments projected over the next five years for Canada, most of it in the north.

At the same time, the population of remote northern communities is growing at 4-5% while the rest of Canada is growing at about 2%. And these growing communities will be in need of goods just like the rest of us.

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First Nations can’t do worse than Queen’s Park – by John R. Hunt (North Bay Nugget – March 15, 2013)

http://www.nugget.ca/

What is Bob Rae cooking up in the political kitchen? The experts in Ottawa may know. Ottawa knows everything but very little about Northern Ontario. What Rae is doing or reported to be doing will likely have a profound impact upon the North country.

I have found it very difficult to like him. When he was the NDP premier of Ontario he sent a pet hatchet man to my neck of the woods supposedly to save money. This socialist paragon closed the New Liskeard agricultural college, closed the Temiskaming Testing Laboratory in Cobalt and euthanized plans to locate 200 civil servants at Haileybury.

As first responder to the federal Liberals’ near death, he has applied expert political first aid. Soon he may make the Trudeau coronation almost respectable.

It is reported that at least one First Nations’ chief wants Rae to advise or consult on the best way for First Nations to get a decent piece of the pie when the Ring of Fire mining area is developed.

It is an outrageous thought but the native groups and Bob Rae may plan better than Ontario has in the past. I remember when Temagami had three sawmills and a copper mine nearby. Then came the Sherman mine at Temagami and its sister the Adams mine near Kirkland Lake. Now they have all gone.

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Stainless steel production good fit for north: MPP – CBC News Thunder Bay (March 14, 2013)

http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/

Gilles Bisson says Ring of Fire deposit has all the makings to get into stainless steel production

The MPP for Timmins-James Bay continues to push for stainless steel production from future development in the Ring of Fire mineral region. Gilles Bisson said he’s been in talks with another northern MPP and with industry. All agree stainless steel is an obvious fit for the region,” he said.

“We have all of the makings in the Ring of Fire in order for us to get into stainless steel,” he said. “Stainless steel is made up what? Chromite. It’s made up of iron ore, it’s made up of nickel, all of which is in the Ring of Fire.”

Bisson also said the north could have a production advantage because those raw materials would be close to a potential processing plant.

He noted Canada is the only G8 country in the world that doesn’t make stainless steel and that Ontario’s energy policy should be overhauled to make stainless steel production more attractive to the private sector.

“There’s not hardly a jurisdiction in the world that has that advantage of … [having] everything nearby,” Bisson said. “We can bring it to one spot; we can melt it down once [and] save half the energy costs.”

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Canada sees decades of gains from Ring of Fire deposit – by Euan Rocha and Janet Guttsman (Reuters Canada – March 12, 2013)

http://ca.reuters.com/

TORONTO (Reuters) – Developing the Ring of Fire chromite deposit in northern Ontario could bring decades of economic benefits for the region and the rest of Canada, the federal government’s point man on the challenging and ambitious venture said on Monday.

“We understand the importance of developing this series of projects. We see how important it is not only to the region, but its significance ultimately to the province and the country,” Tony Clement, the minister responsible for leading the push to develop the region, told Reuters.

“We are talking about a 100 years of mining activity that will spin-off jobs and economic activity for generations,” he said in an interview in the government’s Toronto offices with views over Lake Ontario.

The Ring of Fire deposit, in the far north of Ontario some 1,000 miles northwest of Toronto, contains rich mineral resources that could transform the area much as the oil sands have transformed Alberta. But developing the deposit is fraught with challenges, given concerns with access, infrastructure, land rights and environmental issues.

The region will also need huge investments in power and transportation infrastructure to develop the deposit, and Clement insisted that business, rather than the cash-strapped federal government would have to take the lead.

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Chief sets out demands for Rae to negotiate – by Jody Porter (CBC News Thunder Bay – March 12, 2013)

 http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/

Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae considers representing First Nations in mining talks

The Chief of Neskantaga First Nation is already outlining what he wants Bob Rae to negotiate, even though the interim Liberal leader hasn’t officially declared he’s taking the job of representing northern Ontario First Nations in the Ring of Fire.

Chief Peter Moonias said he wants Rae’s help to convince the province of Ontario to respect the treaty rights of First Nations that will be affected by the massive mining development, 500 km northeast of Thunder Bay.

He added he wants to make sure his community isn’t any worse off than it is now, especially after the mine is built. There is no safe drinking water in Neskantaga, and a severe shortage of housing on the reserve, but people are able to rely on the land to hunt and fish and provide for their basic needs.

“We’re asking for a standard of living as good as anywhere in Ontario,” Moonias said. “Because [when the mine comes] we’re going to lose our way of life and we’re going to have to adjust to a new way of life.”

Moonias is among nine chiefs from the Matawa First Nations who have tapped Rae as their choice for lead negotiator if they can convince the province to engage in talks before the mining development proceeds.

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