(Queen’s Park) Norm Miller MPP for Parry Sound – Muskoka and Northern Development and Mines Critic for the PC Party rose in the Ontario Legislature today to express his concerns with the government’s proposed Mining Amendment Act, 2009.
“I and the PC Caucus are supportive of modernizing the act,” said Norm Miller, “but there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the details of the bill. We won’t know if this legislation will have a positive or negative impact on all stakeholders involved until the regulations are drafted.”
The Mining Amendment Act was introduced at the end of April and seeks to modernize the 100 year old piece of legislation through incorporating aboriginal consultation, environmental considerations, and implementing a map staking process in the province of Ontario. If passed, the bill would set out different rules for southern and northern Ontario. In southern Ontario, the bill would withdraw mining rights where surface rights are privately held. Whereas private land owners north of the French River, Lake Nipissing, and the Mattawa River, could apply for such withdrawals. However, before requests can be approved the mineral potential of the land would have to be evaluated.
Overall, the response to the bill has been quite mixed. Stan Beardy, Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski First Nations states, “Our primary concern is that NAN First Nations must have free, prior and informed consent before any activity can take place in their homelands. That’s the standard expressed in Article 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and that’s the standard we expect.” With the new legislation, First Nations will only be notified and consulted after a claim is staked.
In addition, the Canadian Mining Journal’s online poll reports that only 5% of poll participants wholeheartedly support the proposed changes to the Ontario Mining Act.
“I strongly encourage the McGuinty government to continue to consult with all stakeholders when the regulations are being drafted, to ensure that the legislation will be as balanced as possible in practice,” concluded Miller.
The Hansard transcript follows:
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2009
MINING AMMENDEMENT ACT, 2009
Mr. Norm Miller: It’s my pleasure this morning to get an opportunity to comment on Bill 173, which is the Mining Amendment Act, 2009. I would like to start out my comments by simply saying that I recognize, and the PC Party recognizes, just how important mining is to the province of Ontario. Mineral production in 2008 was some $9.6 billion. On the Toronto Stock Exchange—Toronto certainly being a centre for mine financing capital—fifty seven percent of the world’s mining companies are listed on the Toronto stock exchange. Mining is important for development of the far north, for sure. It’s one of the opportunities for economic activity in the far north. It’s important for jobs in the south, as well.
I think back to just a couple years ago, I had the pleasure of touring the new mine being developed in Sudbury, the Nickel Rim Mine, with our past leader John Tory. When I was touring that mine, they spent about $1 billion at that stage sinking the shaft into the ground down a considerable distance and the mine hadn’t started producing yet. When we were touring the property and looking at the various equipment being installed in the mine, it was pointed out that most of it came from southern Ontario and was produced in the Toronto area and various places in southern Ontario where there was the big winches and all kinds of different pieces of equipment. There is obviously a real importance of mining for the economy of southern Ontario, not just the north and not just the far north.
Of course, mining is very important for aboriginal communities. In fact, mining is the biggest employer for aboriginal communities. It’s quite significant. There are high-paying jobs and jobs that require a lot of skill. It provides opportunity for aboriginal communities. The newly opened diamond mine in Attawapiskat is certainly a mine that is employing many of the people in the—
L150-0925-13 follows
(Mr. Norm Miller)
… opportunity for aboriginal communities. The newly opened diamond mine in Attawapiskat is a mine that is employing many of the people in the Attawapiskat neighbourhood, and First Nations people, so that’s a positive thing.
But there are also conflicts in mining. Those sorts of conflicts are, in southern Ontario, the conflicts between surface property owners who don’t have ownership of the mineral rights, where the crown still owns the mineral rights. There have been some conflicts, particularly in eastern Ontario. And of course there are concerns about the environmental effect of mining as well.
I note that the government has done a pretty good job of getting the major stakeholders onside in terms of supporting the provisions of this legislation. They have groups like the Ontario Mining Association, and Chris Hodgson. They have the head of the prospectors’ association making positive comments about the changes proposed. They have some environmental groups supporting the legislation, and some of the aboriginal groups. They had John Beaucage, grand chief of Anishinabek First Nation, and regional chief Angus Toulouse also making supportive comments.
I would say that I’m generally supportive of what is being proposed in the modernization of the Mining Act, but it is my job as the opposition to point out those that are not 100% supportive of the proposed changes, and also to make suggestions for improvement to the Mining Act. So I will try to get on the record some of the concerns that have been raised with me, as the Northern Development and Mines critic.
For a full transcript visit the Ontario Legislative Assembly website and view the Hansard Transcript.
