Dolphin,

Post says: "AND we don't want to ship raw ore out of the country!"

Agreed, the preference would be to have the value-added stuff processed here in Canada/Ontario, but we may want to keep all options open for shipment of DSO chromite and other heavy stuff that would require train and big ships. An extra port in the James Bay area, e.g. Moosonee, would be handy (the railhead for the ONR is already there).

Perhaps Canada should build a couple heavy duty icebreakers to keep the NW Passage open throughout the year. May be 3 ships would be better, for redundancy during maintenance of one of them. There has been talk about a seaport in Rankin Inlet as well. Setting up a shipyard (at least one for ship maintenance) at the new port (Port of Moosonee) would provide employment opportunities for Canadians.

This is a good way to exert Canada sovereignty in the North (PM Harper would go along with that). As the saying goes: If you don't use it you lose it. What would be better than having icebreakers flying Canadian flags escorting international cargo ships to Europe and Asia (of course, to the west side of North and South America...quite a few days would be saved if the ships don't have to go through the Panama Canal).

goldhunter