"I don't think the Ont. govt. would ever give a permit to a chromium mine or a mine whose tailings leech chromium into the ground water."

You're exactly right. That's why permitting is done based on plans to make sure that processes are done properly, hence the need for a permit. Your statement is analagous to "We the fire department will not give campfire permits to those intending to build campfires because we have no safety rules or regulations" (If you know the fire dept., they have rules and regs. up the wazoo.)