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OPEN SOURCE INFORMATION Ring of Fire Date 13 Apr 12

12 Apr 12

Details/source "Isolation often takes the blame as the source of many problems on remote reserves. But Chief Pierre Morriseau has decidedly mixed feelings about that. His Oji-Cree community 320 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout, Ont., is definitely remote. During the winter, an ice road connects North Caribou Lake to other communities in the lake-soaked terrain of northwestern Ontario. The rest of the year, it's fly-in only. But the Musselwhite gold mine nearby flies many of the local residents in and out every two weeks. On paper, that means jobs, decent pay and training. So even though official statistics show only 10 per cent of the population has graduated from high school, the band only relies on government money for 30 per cent of its revenue. "There's lots of people working. It gives people some hope," says Mike Jeremiah, home for a couple of weeks from before heading back to the mine for another two-week stint. But in practice, much of that money these days is spent on financing a prescription drug addiction that has affected up to half of the community's adults. They are addicted mainly to opioids such as OxyContin and Percocet. The prices are far higher than in the city, selling for about $150 for just one of the weakest pills, and up to $800 for the most powerful pills. Petty crime is rising. Children are missing school because their parents can't get up in the morning. The sparse nursing staff at the health centre is overwhelmed. "They (addicts) broke into my house a couple times," says Linda Kanate, whose son is an addict. "They have to have it." For Morriseau, the world of globalization, money and people leaving the reserve on a regular basis have led to the end of a way of life. "I have very mixed feelings about the mining," Morriseau says during a break from meetings in the band office, choosing his words carefully. He was speaking to reporters, federal MP Carolyn Bennett and Stan Beardy, the grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which advocates on behalf of many first Nations in northern Ontario ...." http://ca.news.yahoo.com/decidedly-mixed-blessing-mining-jobs-near-remote-first-080017346.html "Treaty 3 has cautiously agreed to speak with 60 junior mining outfits who make up Miners United, provided the companies leave “racist” attitudes behind. Last week’s resolution at Grand Council voted the companies “will not be tolerated” in Treaty 3 territory, due to media reports describing their “revolt” against First Nations consultation. Following a conversation with the Ontario Prospector’s Association, Treaty 3 Grand Chief Diane Kelly said defiant and ignorant approaches to consultation would not be tolerated. “Those kinds of attitudes are not going to be tolerated by anybody. We’re not just wandering around in the bush looking for blueberries,” Kelly said, pointing to Miners United members’ public statements regarding unwillingness to look for arrowheads on behalf of First Nations communities. “It’s just fuelling the fire when there’s comments like that in their press release,” she explained. “We’re not against economic activity, we just want to make sure our rights are respected and we’re part of it.” First Nation consultation is a part of proposed modifications to the provincial Mining Act. Treaty 3 has its own Resource Law and Kelly urged companies to contact her offices to determine which communities could have interests. “We have rights and responsibilities to this land,” she said. “There’s very little input from First Nations with these regulations. I haven’t seen them yet. There has to be more of a partnership here because otherwise, we get situations like KI (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation) and that’s not going to go away.” Garry Clark is the executive director of the Ontario Prospector’s Association and said he aspires to meet with Kelly face-to-face in the coming months after speaking with her on Tuesday. Clark was pleased to learn

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Treaty 3 was willing to serve as a point of contact for mineral explorers, who are exasperated from the uncertain provincial parameters of consultation and limited relationships with First Nations communities. “Part of what we’ve asked the government for is to give us an idea of what is consultation,” he said. “How do we meet consultation? We haven’t been given a guideline or an understanding of what meets consultation requirements. We’re talking about a bunch of entrepreneurial people who are used to working out of the book and on their own terms. If they’re not given the terms, we don’t know where to go.” First People’s Law released a statement Wednesday that the proposed regulations “contradict the fundamental principles of the duty to consult,” “deny (First Nations) constitutional rights,” and “would codify the state of affairs in the province.” Lawyer Bruce McIvor said the province is currently delegating consultation to mining companies, meeting with the First Nation afterward to ask if there are outstanding concerns and whether consultation has been achieved. He argued that violates the constitution. Instead of taking a government-to-government approach like those that have provided success and predictability in British Columbia and Manitoba, McIvor argued the proposed changes will perpetuate the status quo in Ontario. “What Ontario appears to do based on my experience, and what they seem to be intending to do based on the proposed regulations, is not engage in that government-togovernment process,” he said. “It’s not that there’s no role for the proponent to play. They have a critical role to play but it’s not to assume the responsibility to discharge the Crown’s responsibility to consult.” " http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3531791 "In the aftermath of Ontario’s decision to buy out the mining claims of God’s Lake Resources for $3.5 million, NDP MPP Sarah Campbell came up with one of the occasion’s more memorable quotes. “Ontario may be the only province in Canada where you can make a substantial profit in mining without having to break ground,” Campbell said. Forget her obvious political bias, and the fact that Campbell was looking to score points off a political hot potato that the Liberals were forced to deal with. What Campbell pointed out – that a mining company had been able to make a substantial profit without breaking ground – may be the most longlasting and harmful precedent to come out of the whole ordeal. Since Ontario’s decision to pay GLR to give up its claims, a number of mining industry pundits have expressed concerns that because of the decision, First Nations will be increasingly emboldened to oppose development on traditional lands. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin lawyer Neal Smitheman told Mining News Weekly that it seemed Ontario had “capitulated” to KI’s demands. A different mining industry source, who remained unnamed, told the same reporter that it is going to be “a wild west out there, when it comes to mining companies that have a bounty on their head.” But those kinds of comments miss the point. KI was not the one who profited from its battle with GLR. The First Nation spent months of its own time and resources dealing with the controversy, and in the end its only victory was a retreat to the way things were before GLR showed up on its lands, uninvited and unannounced. Meanwhile the company walked away from the Sherman Lake claims – its only mining claim – with $3.5 million, despite having done limited exploration work. The odds are good that GLR made a sizeable profit in the deal with Ontario. The real worry with the outcome of the KI – GLR conflict is not that First Nations will start opposing more projects. Some First Nation opposition is inevitable when the current system continues to grant leases on traditional lands before any consultation work is done. The real worry with Ontario’s buy out of GLR is that small, rogue mining companies start to consider claim-staking a profitable exercise in and of itself. If conflicts between small companies and First Nations over mining claims continue to result in multi-million dollar payouts to the company in question, the economics of those conflicts start to look pretty good. That really would make northern Ontario start to look like the wild west. And meanwhile all the good, hard work on consultation and development with First Nations done by the many responsible mining companies working across the North would go out the window. The implications for the entire Ontario mining sector of Ontario’s buy out of

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11 Apr 12

GLR are vast. The mining industry pundits who worry about conflict are right, in a way. But it is not First Nations who will lead future conflicts. Irresponsible mining companies are much more likely to spark a fire. That is what the Ontario government should be concerned about. That is why phase two of the new Ontario Mining Act, set to be implemented later this year, has to get it right. Ontario cannot continue to leave the responsibility for consultation of First Nations in the hands of industry. It has to take its own responsibility to consult and accommodate seriously. It has to put a consultation framework in place that clearly sets out obligations and responsibilities. And it has to start consulting with First Nations prior to granting leases to industry on traditional lands. Otherwise, conflicts like the one between KI and GLR will keep on happening ...." http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2012/4/12/what-does-ontario-s-buy-out-god-s-lake-really-mean_22645 “@NorontResources Join Noront's team of experts at the Nibinamik Education Centre for our Open House today 1-4pm | #Mining #FirstNation http://pic.twitter.com/hHFBKcq9 “ https://twitter.com/#!/NorontResources/status/190459758036271104 "@NorontResources Congratulations to Daryl Wabasse in Nibinamk #FirstNation on the all time lowest Scoop Tram simulator score! http://pic.twitter.com/1SFB39JQ " https://twitter.com/#!/NorontResources/status/190513616204738561 "The consensus among Greater Sudbury's northern rivals is the nickel city has -- as expected -- won the marathon to host Cliffs Natural Resources' prized ferrochrome smelter. Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs made clear last week that Cliffs officials told him the company, long leaning toward the northeast, is now entirely focused on Sudbury. Cleveland-based Cliffs is the principal in the development of the Ring of Fire deposit in the James Bay Lowlands and plans to spend close to $3 billion to get its chromite project into production. About $1.8 billion of that is to build a ferrochrome processing plant. In addition to Sudbury and Thunder Bay, Timmins and Greenstone, the town closest to the minesite, were considered possible locations for the plant. In 2010, Cliffs announced its base-case smelter locatiwon was Moose Mountain Mine north of Capreol because of proximity to rail and hydro corridors and Sudbury's large, experienced workforce. The CBC reports Cliffs purchased the property last year. Hobbs predicts Sudbury will be made the official location this spring. Thunder Bay lobbied Cliffs hard for the smelter last fall, trumpeting its shipping advantages. However, Hobbs told www.thbnewswatch.com last week he expects Cliffs to give the nod to Sudbury in a matter of weeks. "I talked to Ron Nelson from NOMA and we both got the impression that Sudbury was going to be it," Hobbs said. "But you know, we still have to wait for these things, you still have to put your best case forward." Andrew Mitchell, a director of development for Cliffs Chromite Ontario Inc., told Thunder Bay Television the final decision will come down to electricity. "The key driver in the ferrochrome is power costs," Mitchell said. "That is one of the most significant operating cost components and it's also one of the things that takes the most in-depth negotiation with the suppliers." In Timmins, consensus is the eminent sale of the Ontario Northland Railway will sink that city's chances of attracting Cliffs' smelter. Greenstone, meanwhile, which has native leaders in the northwest of the province onside, can meet none of Cliffs' electricity, transportation or workforce needs ...." http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3529963 "Bold Ventures Inc. is pleased to advise that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Attawapiskat First Nation ("ATFN") to cover the initial drilling program of its Area 52,53,54 and 56 claim groups located within 100 kilometres of the area dubbed "The Ring of Fire" northern Ontario. The MOU allows for Bold's initial drill program in that area to commence while respecting the environment and the traditional activities of the local people and addresses benefits for the local economy and job creation. The initial diamond drilling program will consist of approximately 2000 metres of NQ sized core drilling. In late 2010 the Company staked the Area 52, 53, 54 and 56 claims to cover a number of high potential VTEM anomalies. Numerous anomalies were encountered with at least ten that are recommended for follow up drill testing. Three separate VTEM anomalies are

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favourably compared to the anomaly at Noront Resources Eagle One Ni-Cu-PGM discovery. Mr. Scott Hogg, a consultant and advisor to the Board of Bold concluded in his report dated November 23rd 2010 (which may be accessed by visiting the Company's new web site) that: "In general, anomalies within the Ring of Fire Area that have a significant time constant have proven to be associated with sulphide mineralization. The Eagle One nickel deposit had an associated time constant of just under 4 milliseconds ("msec") ...." https://secure.marketwatch.com/story/bold-ventures-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-withattawapiskat-first-nation-plans-to-drill-2012-04-11-83190 "There is a renewed sense of optimism about the economic future of our region which to a large degree is being driven by a flurry of activity in the mining and exploration sector, especially talk of large-scale mineral deposits in the Ring of Fire about 550 km north of Thunder Bay. Given the demise of the forest industry and the thousand of jobs that have been lost there, one would view these emerging new job opportunities with a sense of relief. However, surprisingly enough there is already talk of shortages of skilled labour. So, what is the reality behind the mining jobs? In order to answer this question, the North Superior Workforce Planning Board has commissioned a study by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) to forecast the number of jobs expected to be created in this sector over the next 10 years. Since the fortunes of the mining and exploration sectors are heavily dependent on the world market price of minerals, contraction or expansion in the global economy would have a significant impact on the level of activity including the number of jobs expected to be created. The forecast then looked at the jobs under three different scenarios: contraction (downturn in the mining industry), base-line (static growth projection) and expansion (positive growth projection). MIHR has done many such forecasts across Canada and the various provinces but a regional/district study was a first. This required them to take into consideration the expected higher level of mining activity in the region (between 3 and 8 major mining projects are expected to come into construction and production over the next 2-5 years), the highly mobile workforce (many skilled trades working in Alberta and other provinces), and local demographics/retirement age (average age in the region is about 3% points higher than the provincial average). To further strengthen their forecast, MiHR also conducted surveys with local employers and interviews with key industry informants. Taking all of the region-specific factors into account, the projected number of direct jobs that would be created over the next 10 years would be 1,100 under the contradictory scenario, 2,840 under the baseline and 4,150 under the expansionary one. The study results indicate that even under a good case scenario (no downturn in the mining industry), the number of jobs being created every year would be around 300-400. The occupations in highest demand will include trades and production occupations such as underground miners, millwrights, mineral processors, heavy equipment operators and electricians. This is not surprising given that many current projects are expected to move into production. Because of the older age structure of the workforce in the Thunder Bay District, employers will face challenges in replacing the significant loss of skills due to the large number of experienced workers that will be retiring. Of particular concern will also be the managerial and supervisory roles which require extensive working experience. In conclusion, the MiHR study provides decision makers in the Thunder Bay District with a better understanding of the emerging mining job opportunities but also the challenges inherent with matching the trained workforce required by a growing mining sector. I will cover the challenges in more details in future articles." http://netnewsledger.com/2012/04/11/where-will-the-mining-jobs-come-from-a-forecast-of-mining-opportunities-in-the-thunderbay-district/ "Custom Labour Market Report – Thunder Bay District Mining Industry" (34 page PDF)

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http://www.nswpb.ca/assets/files/CustomLabourMarketReport-ThunderBayDistrictMiningIndustry.pdf "Thunder Bay's Lakehead University is laying the groundwork to develop a centre of excellence in mineral exploration. With the mining scene booming in northwestern Ontario and Thunder Bay positioning itself as an industry service hub, university president Brian Stevenson said the time is right to academically support this rapidly growing sector. “We're building a case to establish a centre of excellence for mineral exploration and mining sustainability.” Though still in the discussion stage internally, Stevenson said it will combine the university's strengths in exploration and environmental studies with other elements to create an interdisciplinary program .... At its core is its popular geology department, but the program curriculum will involve input from faculty in engineering, business, health sciences, natural resources management and Aboriginal studies. “All around the mining industry there are a lot of secondary and academic programs that aren't just about extraction, but about exploration, environmental assessment and reaching out to Aboriginal people; the social and economics side of it,” said Stevenson. “We want to build a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary centre of excellence that brings all of our researchers together. That's the role the university can play in filling the gap between the Aboriginal communities and the mining industry.” Stevenson said he was engaged in similar initiative at the University of Alberta in supporting that province's energy sector. He cautioned that it's a mistake to assume that Lakehead intends to directly compete with other Canadian universities and start pumping out mining engineers. “We're not into the extraction part here, that's what Laurentian (University in Sudbury) does. The idea is that we should be complementing each other. Our goal is to listen to industry, the communities and develop the program within our expertise without trying to duplicate what other institutions in the country are doing.” He placed no timelines on how fast a program could be developed, but added it could come together “quite quickly.” “Whether we need support from industry or government, we'll know later on. But I think the province would expect us to take leadership on issues of supporting our economy in northwestern Ontario.” " http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Around-the-North/120409/Lakehead-stakes-a-claim-toexploration.aspx "While Ontario's mining sector booms, the provincial government continues to struggle to develop a coherent and legally sound legislative regime that meets its constitutional responsibilities to Aboriginal peoples. In the wake of Wahgoshig First Nation's successful injunction against Solid Gold Resources, Ontario's Ministry of Northern Development and Mines is touring the province trumpeting new Mining Acts regulations that, according to Ontario, will clarify and bolster the fulfullment of the Crown's duty to consult Aboriginal peoples. Rather than alleviate tension between First Nations and mining companies, the proposed regulations risk increasing disagreements bto the detriment of both. This is the because the proposed regulations contradict fundamental principles of the duty to consult. The regulations would codify the current state of affairs in Ontario: the province delegates consultation to mining companies, leaving it to play mainly a supervisory and final adjudicative role to determine whether the company adqueately with affected First Nations. This approach falls short of what the law requires. The substantive aspects of the duty to consult cannoe be delegated - they must be fulfilled by the Crown. Furthermore, First Nations have a right to directly engage with decision makers who have the power to substantially address Aboriginal concerns and interests. Ontario's proposed new Mining Act regulations would deny First Nations these basic entitlements that flow from their constitutional rights. They will force First Nations to deal solely with mining companies, many of whom lack either the interest or capacity to address Aboriginal concerns. Ontario should address this issue by publicly confirming that mining company consultation is not intended to substitute for direct consultation between Ontario and First Nations. Ontario should further confirm it will enter into direct government-togovernment consultation with First Nations with the intention of substantially addressing their concerns and nterests including

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10 Apr 12

5 Apr 12

revenue-sharing and shared decision-making. Unfortunately, to date Ontario has consistently refused to make these commitments. As long as Ontario continues to delegate its constitutional obligations to mining companies there is little prospect that its Mining Act modernization efforts will create greater legal certainty in Ontario's mining sector." http://p.twimg.com/AqNYJP1CAAAyXxP.jpg:large or http://ringoffirenews.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/first-peoples-law11apr12.pdf or http://bit.ly/HU4kbU "City officials in Sudbury continue to wait for an official announcement on the smelter for processing ore from the Ring of Fire. But CBC News has learned that Cliffs Natural Resources has a deal to buy the old Moose Mountain Mine site north of Capreol from Sudbury businessman Bruno Gervais. The agreement is for $330,000 and was signed almost a year ago. City councillor Dave Kilgour said it's another sign that Cliffs will bring its plant to Sudbury, and with it, hundreds of jobs. "We had fully expected some sort of announcement prior to the end of the first quarter of 2012, which would have been the end of March,” Kilgour said. “So we're anticipating something rather soon." Cliffs Natural Resources declined to comment on the land purchase agreement and said it is still considering several locations for its chromite smelter." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/story/2012/04/10/tby-cliffs-moose-mine-sale.html "Gorilla Resources Corp. is pleased to announce that it has executed a non binding Letter of Intent to conclude a Reverse Take Over (the "RTO") by acquiring 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of CNRP MINING Inc ("CNRP") a private company incorporated in British Columbia, the controlling shareholder of which is Danny Wettreich. It is a term of the RTO that CNRP acquire from Castle Resources Inc ("Castle") all rights, title and interest to an option agreement (the "Castle Option Agreement") executed between Castle and Stratabound Minerals Corp whereby Castle can acquire up to a 70% interest in their 100% owned New Brunswick based Elmtree Gold Property. A further term of the RTO is that CNRP acquire from Green Swan Capital Corp. ("Green Swan") the option agreement (the "Green Swan Option Agreement') executed between Green Swan and Melkior Resources Inc. ("Melkior") whereby Green Swan can acquire up to a 70% interest in the mining areas commonly known as the RiverBank and Broke Back claims from Melkior. The Claims are in the highly prospective Ring of Fire area, and are located approximately 10 kilometres north of Noront Resources Ltd.'s "Eagle's Nest', and 10 kilometers southeast of Cliffs Natural Resources claims. Prior to the closing of the RTO, Gorilla will spin off to its present shareholders all its interest in certain mining exploration properties in the Yukon (the "Yukon Properties") ...." http://secure.marketwatch.com/story/gorilla-to-acquire-cnrpmining-in-reverse-take-over-2012-04-10 “@NorontResources JOIN US this Thursday in Nibinamik #FirstNation for an Open House on our Eagle's Nest Project | #mining” http://twitter.com/#!/NorontResources/status/189404976349589504 “@NorontResources Noront Resources Wes Hanson presents at the 10th Annual Wall Street Analyst Conference in New York today at 12:50." http://twitter.com/#!/NorontResources/status/189746890240303105 "@NorontResources JOIN US this Friday in Attawapiskat #FirstNation for an Open House on our Eagle's Nest Project | #mining" http://twitter.com/#!/NorontResources/status/189760901166014465 "The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, today highlighted in a speech to the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce the Harper Government's commitment to supporting jobs and economic growth by streamlining the review process for major economic projects. "The Harper Government is focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity," said Minister Oliver. "Major economic projects in Canada are currently subject to long, unpredictable and potentially endless delays because of a needlessly complex and duplicative approval process. Streamlining this process for major economic projects will result in the

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creation of good, skilled, well-paying jobs." Economic Action Plan 2012 will provide fixed timelines for project reviews and assessments: -- Panel Reviews - 24 months -- National Energy Board Hearings - 18 months -- Standard Environmental Assessments - 12 months "Our Government recognizes that the existing system needs comprehensive reform," said Minister Oliver. "We will bring forward legislation to implement system-wide improvements to achieve the goal of 'one project, one review' in a clearly defined time period." ...." http://www.marketwatch.com/story/harper-government-is-committed-to-responsibleresource-development-2012-04-05 "A group of concerned citizens say the federal government wants to trash the environmental process. But Canada’s Natural Resources Minister says changes will make it more effective. Minister Joe Oliver was in Thunder Bay Thursday to highlight the government’s economic action plan and the importance of natural resources. He also spoke about modernizing regulations as a way to stimulate that sector, which he says could generate $500 billion in the next decade. But around a dozen protesters outside of the Valhalla Inn weren’t buying it. “Of course mining and resource development is important for Canadians but pulling all the oil and all the tar and all the metals out of the ground as quick as we can and selling them to foreign entities, it’s not the best way to develop economically and it’s a disaster for the environment,” said Paul Berger. In a brief interview with local media, Oliver said creating one environmental process and capping it at two years of review is enough. And the federal government will ensure that the assessment is complete, independent and based on science ...." http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/201278/Environment-concerns "This notification is to announce the extension of the comment period on the Noront Eagle’s Nest Project Terms of Reference to May May 7, 2012. Please read below for further information about the Project. As part of the planning process for the Eagle’s Nest Project, a Terms of Reference was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for review as required under the Environmental Assessment Act. If approved, the Terms of Reference will serve as a framework for the preparation and review of the environmental assessment for the proposed undertaking ...." http://www.norontresources.com/Projects/getDocument/NoticeofExtensionofCommentPeriodforTermsofReference-2012-0405.pdf/194

4 Apr 12

“@NorontResources Notice of Extension of Comment Period for Terms of Reference, please visit: http://ow.ly/a6BPH” http://twitter.com/#!/NorontResources/status/187971158258360321 "Mayor Keith Hobbs said the writing’s been on the wall for a year or more, and the message probably isn’t a good one for Thunder Bay. Hobbs was reacting Monday to news that Cliffs Natural Resources’ suggestion the mining giant is still working with its best case scenario location for a much-sought after ferrochrome processing plant and it's likely Sudbury will be made the official location. A decision could come in a matter of weeks. Hobbs called the decision disappointing, though hasn’t entirely given up hope the project and 500 jobs can be salvaged for Thunder Bay. “We wouldn’t be surprised by that,” Hobbs said. “The Northwest, NOMA and the City of Thunder Bay, we were all prepared for that. “When we went to Cliffs last year in Cleveland and met with them, they told us that when they found out the Kinghorn (rail) line was gone, that we dropped from base case to maybe second base case. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if it went to Sudbury at all.” Andrew Mitchell, a director of development for Cliffs Chromite Ontario Inc., said the final decision will come down to one factor – energy. “The key driver in the ferrochrome is power costs,” Mitchell said. “That is one of the most significant operating cost components and it’s also one of the things that takes the

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most in-depth negotiation with the suppliers. “So that will probably be the key thing we key on. There are other things such as jurisdictions that will factor in as well.” Mitchell said it is his preference to house the plant, which could be operational by the end of 2015, in Ontario. He also said they’re looking to the province to contribute to the infrastructure costs needed to make the mine feasible. Hobbs is still holding out hope that the Ring of Fire as a whole can be profitable for the city, noting Noront still has to build a processing plant of its own and is interested in Thunder Bay, adding Cliffs has suggested it might build a runway at the Ring of Fire site and transport miners and other workers to and from Thunder Bay. “We’re looking at ways to be competitive, still,” Hobbs said. “We’re not giving up this fight. And it is a fight. Sudbury is well-situated, but we have the port, you know, and if that Kinghorn line can somehow get rebuilt, then we’re set.” The mayor said the first indication Thunder Bay might not be in the running for the processing plant – along with Greenstone, which appears to have been shut out as well – was a year ago when he says Energy Minister Brad Duguid said the province was working on getting 300 megawatts of power to the Sudbury area for the FPF “I talked to Ron Nelson from NOMA and we both got the impression that Sudbury was going to be it,” he said. “But you know, we still have to wait for these things, you still have to put your best case forward. If you didn’t put a case forward, of course we wouldn’t be in the running for it.” Mitchell told Thunder Bay Television on Wednesday the U.S.-based company is working hard at the logistics of the location of the ferrochrome processing facility, but they aren’t in a position to officially say anything just yet. “We’ll be proceeding with a definitive feasibility study … and that will probably take about a year,” Mitchell said ...." http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/200994/Sudbury-wins "Lakehead University is in the early stages of developing a centre focused on Mineral Exploration and Sustainable Mining Development. President Brian Stevenson said the university needs to support economic growth in Thunder Bay and the northwest. He said the program would differ from Laurentian University's existing Mining Innovation Centre. “What we're trying to do is train people for our region, research for the companies that are working in the Ring of Fire (in) northwestern Ontario,” Stevenson said. “[We also want] to complement what other institutions do, like Laurentian.” Stevenson said Lakehead's centre would bring faculty together to research mining and its implications from various perspectives, including geology, environmental studies, engineering, business, natural resource sciences and aboriginal studies. He said the centre would not only support the mining industry, but also communities affected by Ring of Fire development. "It's what kind of service and support we can provide to communities in northwestern Ontario ... in terms of social and cultural and historical (and) linguistic,” Stevenson said. “All the things that only a university can do in terms of research and ... training." He said he hopes to have a formal proposal for the centre ready by this fall." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/story/2012/04/04/tby-lakehead-mining-centre.html "Maintaining infrastructure commitments and the addition of new smaller investment programs made the recent national budget positive in the eyes of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). “We’re very happy to see that the government is sticking to its guns on ensuring its commitment to infrastructure continues, despite its effort to get its fiscal health in order,” said CCA president Michael Atkinson. Over the next two years, the federal government will spend nearly $12 billion to support provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure through existing initiatives. The new infrastructure programs include $150 million over two years to repair existing community infrastructure; $99.2 million over three years to help with flood containment from last year; approximately $275 million to First Nations bands for school construction; and $330.8 million over two years to build and renovate on-reserve water infrastructure. The Building Canada plan expires in 2014 and in this budget the government said it is taking steps to continue its commitment to work with provinces, territories, municipalities and stakeholders on the development of a longterm plan for public infrastructure. .... The budget proposes investments totalling $165 million over two years for responsible

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3 Apr 12

1 Apr 12

resource development to create jobs while protecting the environment. Natural resources opportunities are plentiful throughout the country, including natural gas in British Columbia, oil and minerals on the Prairies, the Ring of Fire in Ontario, Plan Nord in Quebec, hydro power in Atlantic Canada, and mining in Canada’s North ...." http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id49540/-cca-likes-what-it-sees-in-the-latest-federal-budget "Mining and exploration will not have any direction if the provincial budget doesn’t pass, says the executive director of Ontario Prospectors Association. Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan revealed the multi-billion dollar budget last week with the main goal to balance the books in five years. The budget will need some kind of support from outside of the Liberal party to pass. Garry Clark, executive director of Ontario Prospectors Association, said if the province heads into an election instead of passing a budget, then it the mining and exploration industry will be left without any direction. “If the provincial budget fails and if the leadership fails all that will do is cause some uncertainty in where we’re going next,” Clark said. “Our business is all certainty. We have to know that we can get on the land, we have to know where we can explore and we have to know eventually where we can mine. So certainty is the big thing for us.” The provincial budget also didn’t give much detail on what plans are being laid out for exploration, he said. The only mining project mentioned was the Ring of Fire. Clark said financially they rely more on what’s in the federal budget and the flow-through shares, which is a tax reduction that’s provided to companies for exploration. The program was extended another year in the federal budget ...." http://www.tbnewswatch.com/news/200678/Direction-needed,mining-and-exploration-officials-say Editorial: "IN their budgets this week Ontario and Ottawa placed much stock in the Ring of Fire mineral deposit here in Northern Ontario. The province is anxious for a big boost to an economy wasted by recession. The feds want business to drive the economy. Both singled out the Ring of Fire. But all is not well in the northern mining patch. First nations are demanding consultation. A legal “duty to consult” has failed in most cases to facilitate successful conclusions to aboriginal claims. Government can’t seem to break the logjam and while some companies have successfully negotiated agreements with neighbouring first nations, others are stymied — and annoyed. At the mining industry’s recent national conference in Toronto, a splinter group of some 60 junior companies called Miners United met. They are concerned about native demands for concessions and cash. Bands are charging for exploratory drilling and the price often tops $100,000. Junior firms say they cannot afford it. A new Ontario Mining Act would require exploration companies to file plans with the government and native groups, and seek permits before drilling. Many try talking but cannot make headway. Others say it’s up to government. Ontario paid one company $5 million to abandon its claim located far across a lake from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation, then withdrew 25,000 square kilometres there from development. Last week, it paid another company $3.5 million to leave its claim around a former gold mine near KI. Chief Donny Morris says he needs time to delineate a burial site he himself estimates is roughly a kilometre away. It’s been four years since the first company was paid to leave. Matawa First Nations demand the biggest Ring proposal be subject to public hearings rather than an environmental assessment. This is getting out of hand. Miners are frustrated, governments aren’t able to act as brokers and bands’ demands are all over the map. Governments foresee big things in Northern Ontario, but first they must solve this riddle." http://www.chroniclejournal.com/editorial/daily_editorial/2012-04-01/bands-stymiering-plans

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