Obviously, I don't speak for KWG Resources but I think they would agree with my viewpoints.

I disagree with Jason Turnbull's Development in the Ring of Fire could put caribou at risk when he says the Ring of Fire will not be developed any-time soon.

I whole-heartily agree with Anna Baggio, Director, Conservation Planning, CPAWS-Wildlands League, on so many of her points about the need for regional development of Ontario's north-land boreal forest. This is why I append her outdated article "RoF: PAWS Wildlands League -Ontario Needs To Act Before It’s Too Late". The caribou are declining in the southern areas. Saving this endangered species and ourselves, means understanding "the Conservation-Matrix" and the "Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment" models. Linear structures are destructive and need use of both models.

Ms. Baggio should be encouraged because KWG has forced both governments to deal with The Ring of Fire in a more regional manner.

I remain an advocate for environmental sustainable resource mining using the Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment model, R-SEA , (not sanctioned in EA legislation nor regulations in Canada) with the integration of SEA-CEA into CEAA 2012, as outlined in "Conceptual and methodological challenges to integrating SEA and cumulative effects assessment" (page 9/15) by Dr. Jill Gunn, Ph.D., M.C.I.P.

Understanding, in layman's terms, the devil's detail of these two models is enjoyable. I have personally corresponded with Dr. Gunn on R-SEA.

R-SEA seems to be much too advanced a concept to understand for both the provincial and federal governments. Maybe a miracle will happen and the Liberals will adopt their own Ontario Far North Science Advisory Panel's recommendations. It's not rocket science when you focus on a few fundamental truisms. Setting aside large parks will not save the caribou, nor other boreal species, nor the ecosystem. Again, Anna Baggio understands the issues, "Proposed legislation to establish Canada’s first national urban park misses the mark". Both government do not.

Fast tracked, sustainable, economic mining can co-exist with environmental conservation!

True R-SEA, coupled with the Ontario Far North Science Advisory Panel's advise of adopting a "Conservation-Matrix Model" (outlined in chapter 4), can eliminate unforeseen adverse effects of mining and other development projects on our environment. Piecemeal planning and decision-making could be avoided. A comprehensive access plan into the northern boreal forest area at a regional scale should establish limits on road densities, and on water access and wetland incursion in advance of development, rather than relying on after-the-fact mitigation and decommissioning. - Laura Brown



RoF: PAWS Wildlands League -Ontario Needs To Act Before It’s Too Late

cpaws.org
By: Anna Baggio, Director, Conservation Planning, CPAWS-Wildlands League
September 11, 2012

Today there is a new development in the Ring of Fire campaign. We’ve launched a major ad campaign this week on the Toronto’s Metro News website to raise public awareness of our growing concerns with how mining development is proceeding in the Ring of Fire, approximately 500 km NE of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Our goal is to see the process of ad hoc, one-off development decisions replaced with a coordinated, thorough review of Cliffs Chromite Project, within the context of a broader strategic regional assessment in the area.

If you’re reading this blog, I hope you’ll take a minute right now to express YOUR views to the Ontario government about this issue.

We’re frustrated with the lack of progress made by Ontario over the last three years to come up with a long-term plan for this globally significant ecosystem. In the absence of such a plan, industry proponent Cliffs Natural Resources is moving ahead to shape the future of this region based on its own interests. We fear wild rivers, habitat for threatened species and carbon rich peatlands will get the short stick because so far Ontario hasn’t stepped up with a comprehensive planning process. It seems bent on repeating the mistakes of industrial resource extraction in other parts of Ontario and Canada.

We have long recommended that the province initiate a transparent, public, regional process where First Nations and stakeholders, including all affected companies, scientists, municipalities and citizens would have a say in determining the future of the region. But time is running out. The longer Ontario waits, the greater the risk that we won’t protect clean water, habitat for threatened species and carbon rich stores, in addition to taking advantage of the economic opportunity “of a century”.

We decided to run these ads because after years of submitting letters urging Ontario to keep its promise to “get it right” in the Ring of Fire and talking to many, many officials in government ministries, we felt a change was needed. And after hearing from you and scientists, and seeing a back room deal to be signed with Cliffs we knew we had to act quickly.

Someone needs to stand up for ecosystems. Someone needs to stand up in the public interest. Someone needs to stand up for wild rivers and caribou. And someone needs to stand with concerned First Nations worried about their traditional homelands. We hope these ads get Ontario’s attention. Your voice will certainly help! The stakes are too high. Let the province know it needs to act now, before it’s too late.