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  • Pages
  • Editions
01 Cover
02 Welcome Letter / Sections
03 Article & Interview Directory
04 Section 1: Introduction
05 Introduction to Mining in Ontario
06 Government of Ontario Interview
07 Ontario Mining Association (OMA) Interview
08 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Interview
09 Navigating Uncertainty
10 Ormston List Frawley LLP Interview
11 PDAC Interview
12 Section 2: Production and Development in Ontario
13 Production in Ontario
14 Map of Ontario Mines
15 Newmont Interview
16 Barrick Gold Interview
17 Wesdome Gold Mines Interview
18 Alamos Gold Interview
19 Evolution Mining Interview
20 A New Wave of Ontario Gold Mines
21 Argonaut Gold Interview
22 Equinox Gold Interview
23 Industry Thoughts: Production and Development in Ontario
24 Section 3: Mining Finance
25 Mining Finance and Investment
26 Insights from the Toronto Stock Exchange
27 PearTree Securities Interview
28 Triple Flag Interview
29 Red Cloud Securities Interview
30 IBK Capital Interview
31 Stifel Interview
32 Roth Canada Interview
33 Industry Thoughts: Mining Finance Trends
34 Section 4: Toronto's Global Reach
35 Toronto’s Global Reach
36 Toronto's Global Reach Map
37 Rupert Resources Interview
38 Eloro Resources Interview
39 Industry Thoughts: Global Operations Based in Ontario
40 Eyes on Latin America
41 Torex Gold Resources Interview
42 Minera Alamos Interview
43 Sable Resources Interview
44 Section 5: Junior Exploration
45 Junior Exploration
46 Great Bear Resources Interview
47 Exploring Across Canada
48 O3 Mining Interview
49 Purepoint Uranium Group Interview
50 ALX Resources Interview
51 Industry Thoughts: Gold Juniors Have Their Say
52 Gold Juniors Replacing Depleting Resources
53 Moneta Gold Interview
54 Goldshore Resources Interview
55 Galleon Gold Interview
56 Element79 Gold Interview
57 Signature Resources Interview
58 Section 6: ESG and the Battery Materials Supply Chain
59 Transition Metals on the Rise
60 Conquest Resources Interview
61 Generation Mining Interview
62 Inventus Mining Interview
63 Noble Mineral Exploration Interview
64 The Move to Combat Climate Change Gathers Pace
65 Insights from Onyen Corporation
66 Thorn Associates Interview
67 Leading the Charge
68 Electra Battery Materials Interview
69 Frontier Lithium Interview
70 Industry Thoughts: Entering The Transition Economy
71 The Battery Material Supply Chain
72 ION Energy Interview
73 Clean Air Metals Interview
74 Section 7: Services, Technology and Innovation
75 Engineering, Construction & Consultancies
76 Ausenco Interview
77 Cementation Americas Interview
78 PCL Construction Interview
79 Redpath Mining Interview
80 Technological Advancements & Innovation
81 Industry Thoughts: Canadian Associations
82 EY Interview
83 Maestro Digital Mine Interview
84 Centric Mining Systems Interview
85 Industry Thoughts: OEMs Have Their Say
86 Drone Delivery Canada Interview
87 Sofvie Interview
88 Novamera Interview
89 Industry Thoughts: Paving the Way for ESG Reporting
90 Section 8: Company Profiles
91 Wesdome Company Profile
92 ION Energy Company Profile
93 PearTree Securities Company Profile
94 Ormston List Frawley Company Profile
95 Maestro Digital Mine Company Profile
96 Sofvie Company Profile
97 Credits

Chris Hodgson, President,

ONTARIO MINING ASSOCIATION (OMA)

"The rise of the green economy and digitization rests on the mining industry’s success, and we need to ensure the cycle is complete by producing essential minerals and metals in an environmentally friendly manner."

What have been OMA’s key highlights and milestones over the last year?

OMA is excited to be celebrating our 100th anniversary this May (the 2020 celebration was delayed due to the pandemic). We also have our first female chair, which is another milestone worthy of celebration. Safety remains paramount to the industry, and Ontario is one of the safest jurisdictions in the world for mining. We achieved a 96% improvement in lost time injury frequency over 30 years. When Covid-19 struck, we applied our expertise to ensure safety across all operations.

How have you seen ESG progress in Ontario’s mining industry?

ESG is a framework that helps us balance benefits to people and the planet, while delivering profits and helping the economy. The rise of the green economy and digitization rests on the mining industry’s success, and we need to ensure the cycle is complete by producing essential minerals and metals in an environmentally friendly manner. In Ontario, our electrical grid is essentially carbon-free, giving us a considerable advantage on GHG emissions. The whole supply chain must be green to achieve green inputs in operations and our association has been focused on delivering on Target Zero+ goals: that is, mining with zero harm to workers, zero carbon and zero waste, while improving productivity. Using electric vehicles underground is an example of a practice that is good for the environment, and also makes our operations more profitable, since other equipment would require more frequent repairs due to a high number of moving parts. There are 40 operational mines in Ontario and they are implementing new technologies where it is feasible and economically viable.

How has the OMA adapted to Covid-19?

Due to the public health hazards in meeting face-to-face, we now hold our meetings and workshops remotely using online platforms. Our current working mode allows us to pull together hundreds of participants quickly, and makes it easier for them to attend. In general, the pandemic was a time to re-think many standard approaches.

When major safety incidents happen, how would you describe the ripple effect on the industry and what support do you provide?

Every one of these incidents is a learning tool. One of these very rare events, which made the news recently, was a mine shaft becoming compromised at Vale’s Totten mine, necessitating the rescue of 39 miners who were stuck underground. Fortunately, all the miners were brought up to the surface quickly and no one was injured. There will be lessons learned from this experience, as well as reports and investigations, that will inform future preventative practices. Every operating mine relies on their local team, which is assisted by the provincial team. Even though mines in Ontario go deeper than 1,200 m in many cases, there is always a safe frame, ventilation and communication – including WIFI, which the miners at Totten used to watch videos, relieving tension as they waited for the rescue teams to arrive. There are also alternative exits. The infrastructure is solid and stable, and the safety protocols that rely on safe rooms and rescue teams ensure that no harm is done to workers.

What is being done to mitigate the risk of skilled labour shortage?

The OMA created the “This Is Mining” campaign to educate millennials on the importance of mining and to make them excited about joining the mining workforce. We encourage your readers to listen to This Is Mining: The Podcast, winner of Outstanding Branded Series at the 2021 Canadian Podcast Awards, to get a flavour of the campaign. We plan to continue our outreach activities to help young people recognize the exciting career and lifestyle opportunities that mining offers. The average weekly wage in Ontario mining is 70% higher than the average industrial wage in the province, so that is one thing that should help us attract skilled labour. But we need to do more collectively to reach into the school system and promote careers in mining to women, since they are underrepresented in the industry, and to youth overall.

Next:

Interview: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)