The Ford government is creating a Mining Working Group to expand the industry in Ontario.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says the Working Group will help reduce red tape the industry is now saddled with.
He says with fewer impediments to mining, the industry can grow which is good news for the 66 mine manufactures in North Bay.
Fedeli says North Bay is home to a variety of mine manufacturers that meet the needs of the industry.
“When you have exploration happening, North Bay is one of the centres of exploration products in the world,” he said.
“When you need mines built, (North Bay) has two of the best mining engineering firms. When you need drill bits and drill rods, we have dozens of companies that make those products and ship around the world.”
Fedeli says Ontario once led the world in mining but is now ranked 23rd after 15 years of Ontario Liberal governments.
“That’s not acceptable,” Fedeli said.
“We’re not afraid to tell people of Ontario that we’re in the mining business. We want to wave that flag of job creation.”
The Progressive Conservative government made the Mining Working Group announcement at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention which wraps up in Toronto today.
About 110 mining companies from Northern Ontario are at the annual event and Fedeli says that includes dozens of companies from North Bay.
Among them are Resolution Machining, a North Bay business in operation for 30 years that provides a variety of support services to the industry including welding.
PDAC has grown over the years and now ranks as one of the world’s leading mineral and exploration trade shows.
The event attracts 25,000 people from 135 countries.
