https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/new-timmins-mayor-elect-reaffirms-smelter-interest-1.4159336

Mining firm Noront Resources is still trying to decide between Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins as a location for a new $1 billion ferrochrome smelter.

On Wednesday, the newly elected mayor of Timmins, George Pirie, along with the local MP Charlie Angus and MPP Gilles Bisson met with Noront officials in Toronto.

“The purpose of our meeting was very simple. It was to make sure that they understand that the people in the City of Timmins are all working together, the mayor, council and myself and Charlie, towards what is hopefully a positive decision for Noront to site their new ferrochrome facility in Timmins. We have a lot of stuff going for us and we just wanted to make sure they understand we are all working together and whatever we can do to help, we will be there to stand behind the City of Timmins together in order to try to make this a reality.” said Bisson.

The smelter will provide hundreds of jobs in the construction phase, and an additional 450 permanent jobs after it's built.

Noront says it will make a decision on the location of the smelter by the end of 2018.