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News Archive

New news articles and items are posted on the OPA home page. This page is an archive of past news items that were previously featured on the home page.

Act Proposal Notice: Surface Rights August 2007

Please take a moment to review this posting titled: Potential changes to how claim staking and mineral exploration would be conducted on property where the mining rights and surface rights are held separately.

A Guide for Private Landowners Working with Ontario's Mineral Exploration Community August 2007

Please take a moment to review this brochure /pamphlet.

A Good Practices Guide for Staking and Exploration When Working With Private Surface Rights Owners August 2007

Please take a moment to review this brochure/ pamphlet.

New book by Michael Barnes, C.M. August 2007

A new book by Michael Barnes, C.M., author of eleven other industry related books More Than Free Gold - Mineral Exploration in Canada since WW II"

2006 OEGS Opening Address By Vivienne Coté, Dec.12.2006

Good day and welcome to Sudbury and the 2006 OEGS. Welcome to Deputy Minister Susan Herbert. Thanks to Susan Warren and Garry Clark and all the volunteers who have helped along the way.

What a great year the explorationists in Ontario are enjoying. The data generated by past geoscience initiatives has stimulated exploration and provided new targets for prospectors and mineral investors. In all parts of the province there are new discoveries and continued expansion of showings. Claim staking has reached record breaking numbers, and prospectors, geologists, and line cutters are in demand. In fact anyone having related skills should be able to find employment. Being a northerner I know how important it is to have hundreds of millions of dollars injected into local economies throughout the north. Presently a new co-operative project, the Atikokan Mineral Development Initiative is being planned to gather geoscience data which will spur exploration in the Atikokan area. It looks as if the 2006-2007 exploration season is going to be the busiest ever.
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Our theme this year is Open Minds, Open Mines. Every year new techniques and new ideas lead to the discovery of mineral deposits. The availability of data on the internet ranging from Sedar and company websites to the MNDM's geoportal and claim maps brings international attention to Ontario's potential mineral wealth. Over the past few years Ontario Juniors have been using the London and Frankfurt exchanges thereby increasing the international scope of mineral exploration plays. The internet has opened our minds to a wealth of information and continues to play an enormous roll in opening mines. Thanks to the many industry and government scientists who all help to make this happen.

The process beginning initial exploration is very often played out around a negotiating table which again involves open minds. Some of the greatest challenges the exploration industry faces are educating the public and environmental groups about the best practices.

Concern about Caribou and the destruction of the boreal forest has become the theme for environmental groups to stop exploration in Northern Ontario. One only has to look at the Nunavut diamond plays to realize that there has been minimal impact on the environment and that the economy in the region has had a tremendous boost. Exploration activities have also created issues on some Traditional Lands across Ontario. Consulting with the First Nations Groups is as we all know an integral step in transparent discussion regarding mineral development. Open and honest dialogue on both sides of the table is essential.

I need not remind you that we are not miners but prospectors. We must emphasize our role as explorationists in the mining cycle and strive to clear up any misunderstandings held by the general public. One of the tasks of the Ontario Prospectors Association is to open minds and our efforts will open the new mines of the future.

I know that the presenters at this symposium are all doing their best to open your minds and keep you abreast of what is happening around Ontario. I invite you to attend the talks and view the posters and visit the booths. I hope to see you at dinner this evening. The Deputy Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Susan Herbert will be in attendance. Our guest speaker is Mr. Joe Church whose speech is entitled "75 Years of INCO Exploration".

Thank you.

Illegal Access by Drilling Companies Nov 2006

Please take a moment to review this letter regarding exploratory drilling adjacent to provincial highways.