Mining Readiness Strategy faces first public information meeting

The Mining Readiness Strategy received praise by some residents who say the city is moving in the right direction.

More than 50 people attended the first public meeting of the draft final report of the city’s mining strategy. The meeting, which was held at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Tuesday, allowed the public a chance to give some input into the strategy.

But most who spoke with Tbnewswatch.com say they attended to get more information about the strategy.

Bob Johnson, who is with Secure Store, has followed the updates on the mining strategy through the news. His company works with a number of the mining companies so he said he wanted look at what was being presented because he hopes to expand his business.

“I’m just looking for a little bit of information to see where it’s going and where we can position our company better so we can provide for the local mining companies,” he said. “I’m familiar with some ofthe players involved with the strategy and I think they are moving in the right direction.”

Johnson said the city is position itself to be a big player in the mining industry.

The strategy, which was released to the public last week, gave 50 recommendations the city needed to do to be prepared for the expected mining boom.

The strategy will act as a priority guide for the city as it attempts to meet the increasingly tight deadline in order to meet the demands for the hundreds of mining projects.

Johnson added he could hardly wait for the projects to get off the ground.

Bob Chataway, an exploration consultant, came to the meeting to support the city and look at ways of helping the strategy. He praised the city for stepping up to provide more information to the public.

“It sounds like it’s a good combination of getting the city involved and getting more word out to the public,” he said. “The mining industry has traditionally not been good with awareness and I think this is a good opportunity. With all the potential in the area this should be good.”

Even if only a few mines come online, Chataway believes there would still be thousands of new jobs available.

Lonna Beaulieu, the coordinator for the Marathon Economic Development Corporation, attended the meeting because she wanted to learn more about the city’s strategy as they plan to open a new mine soon.

“Any information is good information,” she said.

Atikokan mayor Dennis Brown also paid a visit to the meeting.

Since the plan affects the entire region, he explained whatever is good for Thunder Bay is good for Atikokan.

“We’re all working together and we’re all hopeful of the economic spin offs,” he said. “We’ve had approximately 15 consulting reports for developing land for housing. We’re well set to move forward but until the mine is announced or they’re going ahead with the mine, we’re just preparing the information.”

Mining readiness program manager Stephen Lindley said since the report is still a draft they can continue to receive more input from people.

The final report will be presented at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association meeting later this month.

Lindley admitted that it’s a tight deadline to meet but said even when the report is finalized for NOMA that won’t be the end of the process but the beginning.

“This is a strategy for Northwestern Ontario and the people of Northwestern Ontario have to see themselves in it,” he said.

“If we haven’t done a good job, if people don’t see themselves or understand the direction that the strategy is going to take them in addressing these opportunities in the mining sector then we got to make some changes.”

The next public meeting will be held at Fort William First Nation community hall. That meeting is expected to begin at 5:30 p.m. and wrap up around 9 p.m.