Future Of Mining Bright; Hurdles Remain

A report on the future of mining in the area has been unveiled.
The strategy was presented at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference yesterday in Thunder Bay.
The analysis indicates that there will be considerable opportunities for suppliers to support the potential mining projects in the north.
The mining sector is expected to create 10,000 full-time jobs over the next decade and bring in up to $1.7-billion in overall economic revenue each year over the same period.
However, the report indicates everyone has a lot of work to do to prepare for the boom.
Issues include energy needs, housing shortages, aging roads and sewers and worker training.
The study warns that upgrades to the province’s electricity transmission system may not be completed in time to foster completion of planned mining projects.
The forecast is based on 10 new mines or major expansions, nine of which are in the advanced stage of exploration, including the Ring of Fire and Goldcorp’s Channel Gold project at Red Lake.