Timmins looking pretty good.

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http://www.thesudburystar.com/2018/03/25/letter-smelter-decision-should-not-be-rushed

The city has identified the former smelter site in Coniston as the ideal place to host a ferrochrome smelter. (Gino Donato/Sudbury Star file photo)

I was in favour of a fact-finding mission to Finland to assess the pros and cons of a similar smelter for Sudbury. It seems that the people who undertook the trip lacked the necessary knowledge and experience to make an accurate analysis of the appropriateness of locating a chromite smelter in Coniston.

After reading the article in The Sudbury Star, it seems Tom Price should have gone along on the trip. His analysis indicates a lot more has to be considered than the conclusion of Mayor Brian Bigger (“No ‘weakness’ in city's bid,” March 4).

“Bigger said, following their trans-Atlantic trip, that he is convinced Sudbury should be home to Noront’s ferrochrome smelter. For one thing, the Outokumpu plant uses the same closed-furnace technology that Noront is proposing, which should prevent any hexavalent chromium from being released into the environment.”

I do not believe Mr. Price would agree. He is not convinced as the mayor is that Sudbury (Coniston) should be the home to the smelter. He also contradicts the notion expressed by the mayor that the technology proposed by Noront should prevent any hexavalent chromium from being released into the environment.

I hope that the mayor and council will read Mr. Price’s analysis carefully. The long-term impact of the smelter might not be as positive as Mr. Bigger imagines. Let’s not rush this decision along - -as seems to be the pattern with this council. Let’s take our time and make the right decision, which may very well be to take a pass on this smelter.

John Gaul

Sudbury