The chief of Fort William First Nation says a group that went to Cleveland to visit with Cliff’s Natural Resources did everything it could to convince the company to put its smelter in Thunder Bay.
Chief Peter Collins, Thunder Bay mayor Keith Hobbs and a host of other local leaders and administrators flew to Cliff’s headquarters to pitch the city as the company’s best case for a ferrochrome processor, expected to bring up to 500 jobs with it.
I think that we did everything we possibly could do as a group,” Collins said Wednesday afternoon just after getting off of the plane.
“At the end of the day they’ll make their mind up… but I think we opened their eyes and their ears.”
Hobbs said the presentation focused on leadership, showing the alliance between the city, Fort William First Nation, Thunder Bay Hydro and Thunder Bay Port Authority. But the area does have setbacks, mainly energy prices and transportation.
“They’re looking for cheap energy and we’ve known that all along and the transportation piece I mean that’s one of our weaknesses that Kinghorn (railway) line got torn up,” Hobbs said.
“Ultimately it’s the power that’s the issue,” Collins said. “That will be the decision maker I guess.”
Land was also discussed.
“As we flew in we looked at the perfect site and it’s in the city of Thunder Bay” Collins said.
Whether or not the facility comes to Thunder Bay, both leaders said the trip could allow for other opportunities.
“There’s no down side to this if we don’t get this ferrochrome processor we’ve put ourselves on the map we’ve told cliffs in no uncertain terms and mining communities in general that we want mining here. We want industry here. We want jobs for our people,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs and Collins also agree that Northwestern Ontario, not the company’s base-case of Sudbury, needs this processor. A meeting is being set up with Greenstone to maybe set up an alliance between the First Nation commutnies and municipalities in the region.
“If we’re not the first choice we’d prefer that Greenstone be that first choice,” Collins said.
“There’s going to be no benefit for this area if the project goes to Sudbury,” Hobbs said
