Joined by @juliamunropc, @OntMiningAssoc's Chris Hodgson, & @NorontResources Stephen Flewelling during Meet the Miners reception.

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http://www.ontla.on.ca/house-proceedings/transcripts/files_pdf/01-NOV-2017_L114.pdf

Mr. Ross Romano: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This government has taken mining for granted. During
the last provincial PC  government, Ontario was the
number-one-ranked mining jurisdiction in the world. The
member from Simcoe–Grey was then the Minister of
Northern Development and Mines. By 2015, we fell from
number one to number 23. I wonder if the Premier’s
policy people have advised her of that.
What caused our fall from grace? The failure to update
the common core, the Liberals’ complete disinterest in
northern Ontario and a total lack of action on the Ring of
Fire caused it. I went to the Ring of Fire and I saw firsthand the potential there. I visited the impacted First
Nation communities and I was told that this government
has negotiated in bad faith. It is embarrassing and it is
shameful that the Liberals sit on their hands and allow
Ontario’s potential to waste away.
Why does this Premier continue to ignore—

The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. When I
stand, you sit.
Minister?
Hon. David Zimmer:  Thank you again for that
question. You asked the same sort of question last week.
I know you were at the Ring of Fire, but I was at the Ring
of Fire also, with Minister Gravelle and Minister Mauro.
We met, as I said last week, with the chief executive
officer of Noront. We inspected the site. We got a
detailed briefing. I can tell you that this represents a
historic opportunity to develop the northern mining
sector. That’s going to provide jobs. It’s going to contribute tax dollars to our economy. It’s going to provide
opportunities for indigenous people.
This government is committed to that project. That’s
why we’ve got $1 billion on the table to develop an
access corridor to bring those metals out of the ground
into production. That’s going to mean jobs, jobs, jobs and
tax dollars.

MINING INDUSTRY
Hon. David Zimmer:  I’m very pleased today to
announce Meet the Miners Day. I would like to offer a
very warm welcome to the Ontario Mining Association,
their members and staff who will be joining us today.
There’s a reception at the end of the day.
For 39 years, representatives from industry and government have been meeting at Queen’s Park on Meet the
Miners Day. We share a common purpose, and that is to
build awareness about the importance of exploration in
mining to Ontario’s economy and to promote the mining
industry’s strong future in Ontario.
Ontario’s mineral resources offer a wealth of opportunity for international and homegrown mining companies. The numbers speak for themselves. In Canada, Ontario is a leading province, with $371 million in explora-

tion spending last year. So far, 2017 exploration spendings indicate a possible 31% increase; that is, potentially
$486 million for this year. Ontario is also a leading province in Canada, with a 26% share of the nation’s total
mineral production in 2016. For the past several years,
production figures have exceeded $10 billion. This
bounty is generated by 39 underground and surface
operations which are made up of 29 mineral mines and
10 non-metal mines.
In 2016, the value of Ontario’s mineral production
was generated 71% from mineral mining and 29% from
non-metal mining operations. Let me give you a couple
of recent examples: Noront Resources reports that potential  copper-zinc deposits at their McFaulds mining
property in the Ring of Fire is an exciting discovery. We
will continue to work closely, both individually and collectively, with First Nations in the Ring of Fire area on
work that will advance proposed developments and improve quality of life.
Kirkland Lake Gold expressed interest in 10 building
lots within the town in order to build homes for senior
staff. This demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to future development.
MacDonald Mines Exploration announced an MOU
with Michipicoten First Nation  and emphasized their
commitment to fostering respectful, mutually beneficial
relationships such as the Wawa-Holdsworth gold project
as it continues to advance.
The spring of 2017 marked a major milestone for
Detour Lake, which reached a record 150,000 ounces of
gold in quarterly production.
There are many more headlines affirming that mining
in Ontario is thriving.
We are committed to working closely with indigenous
partners on projects in the mining sector to ensure that indigenous communities can participate in and benefit from
responsible resource development opportunities in Ontario.
Ontario’s mineral development sector has established
our province as a top destination in North America for
mining industry capital investments. For the period of
2012 to 2016, Ontario’s average annual capital investment in mining was $1.9 billion.
We are internationally recognized as a mining
jurisdiction, a global mining hub. In 2016, the TSX and
the TSX Venture Exchange raised $9.4 billion in new
mining equity capital. That reflects a 38% increase over
the previous year.
Ontario continues to maintain a competitive mining
tax system, and works closely with industry to identify
challenges and opportunities facing the mining sector.
1530
Speaker, the Ministry of Northern Development and
Mines, in collaboration with the Ontario Mining Association and other industry partners, steadily promotes Ontario as a destination to potential capital investors. That
collective effort is vital to successfully advancing and
advocating the advantages of investing in Ontario’s exploration and mining sector

Let me give you a couple of further examples. Last
year, Ontario launched the first-ever Mining Innovation
Summit, held in northern Ontario. It was a very productive technology forum. It brought together representatives
from industry, indigenous communities, academia and
government.
Last month, we wrapped up the second annual Mines
and Money Americas. Ontario was once again a partner
this year. Mines and Money conferences are among the
world’s largest investment forums, connecting industry
experts and leading institutional investors with multilevel developers.
The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
organizes significant trade and investment missions and
attends key international exhibitions and conferences
throughout the world. These efforts have achieved significant results. They’ve generated almost $50 million in
new investment and trade sales.
We also work with the mining supply and services
sector to help them break into international markets. With
more than 900 supply and service companies operating in
Ontario, the estimated direct economic impact of this important sector is $6.6 billion. To date, more than 100 of
these companies have accessed over $2.6 million in provincial funding to enhance their export marketing capacity
and their global reach.
We’re also building success through innovation.
That’s why our province is committed to developing
partnerships that encourage cutting-edge industry research to foster future mineral discoveries. Ontario is the
destination that the entire world turns to for technological
innovations in mining. As a leading jurisdiction for mining exploration and production in Canada, Ontario consistently maintains its position as a major global player.
In conclusion, I do ask all members of the House to
join me in thanking the Ontario Mining Association for
their long-standing tradition of dedication and significant
contribution to the mining industry. At this time I do, as I
said earlier, invite all members of the House to attend this
evening’s Meet the Miners reception here in the Legislative Building. As always, it will be a fine evening of
conversation, refreshment and getting to know the mining sector

MINING INDUSTRY
Mr. Norm Miller: It’s my pleasure to respond to the
minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and
to welcome the Ontario Mining Association to Queen’s
Park for their annual Meet the Miners Day.
As critic for northern development and mines, I’ve
had the pleasure of meeting many miners during my
travels across northern Ontario. Most recently, this
summer I visited Goldcorp’s Borden mine site, where
Maarten van Koppen and JY Young showed me around
Ontario’s and the world’s first all-electric gold mine. It
was the day of the eclipse, and the folks at Borden lent
me a welding mask to check it out. Just as impressive as
the eclipse was the all-electric equipment that will be
used in the mine. Goldcorp have been working with their
suppliers, including MacLean Engineering of Collingwood, to develop the machinery they need to eliminate
diesel equipment underground. I have since toured
MacLean Engineering, and their success is a great

example of how a thriving mining sector in northern
Ontario can create jobs in southern Ontario.
Next week, I’m looking forward to visiting the
Glencore Nickel Rim South Mine in Sudbury.
Our leader, Patrick Brown, has spent a great deal of
time visiting northern Ontario and, of course, visiting
mines. He has been to Barrick Gold’s Hemlo mine near
Marathon, New Gold Inc.’s Rainy River mine project
north of Fort Frances, and Lake Shore Gold’s Bell Creek
mine near Timmins.
Our newest member, Ross Romano from Sault Ste.
Marie, has just returned from visiting the Matawa First
Nations communities around the Ring of Fire. Ten years
after the Ring of Fire was discovered, he found people in
need of much help. No wonder this government is having
difficulty negotiating with these communities. They have
been ignored for far too long. Mining the Ring of Fire
would bring jobs and investment to this area, but they
also need social services and infrastructure—things that
are the government’s responsibility, not that of the
mining companies.
So many industry and professional associations hold
lobby days, but I think this one is especially important,
Mr. Speaker. Most of us do not run into miners in our
day-to-day lives. It is important for us to come to this
reception to learn about the issues and challenges the
mining industry is facing and what the government can
do to help. I encourage all members of this Legislature to
take a break from the Speaker’s wine-tasting event to
attend the Ontario Mining Association reception and
meet the miners in room 228.
Sorry about that, Speaker.