Media on Mining Act RdShow, Lovelace Confident Supreme Ct Will Vindicate Decision

Mining Act

August 29, 2008

THE PROVINCIAL MINISTRY OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINING WAS IN KINGSTON LAST NIGHT TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE UPDATES TO ONTARIO'S MINING ACT.

IT IS THE FOURTH STOP ON A FIVE CITY TOUR.

PROTESTORS CONCERNED ABOUT URANIUM EXPLORATION WERE ALSO THERE.

NEWSWATCH'S DARRYN DAVIS REPORTS.

ONTARIO'S MINING ACT IS OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND IN THE OPINION OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IT'S TIME TO UPDATE AN OUTDATED SYSTEM.

A LARGE GROUP OF RESIDENTS FROM SHARBOT LAKE ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE ARDOCH ALGONQUINS FIRST NATIONS GATHERED AT OUTSIDE THE RADISSON HOTEL WHERE PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON THE MINING ACT ARE BEING HELD.

THEY'RE PROTESTING URANIUM EXPLORATION THAT'S OCCURRING IN THEIR AREA.

BOB LOVELACE SPENT OVER THREE MONTHS IN JAIL FOR PROTESTING WHERE FRONTENAC VENTURES IS EXPLORING FOR URANIUM ON LAND THE ARDOCH ALGONQUINS HAVE AN UNSETTLED LAND DISPUTE ON.

THE MINING EXPLORATION COMPANY IS NOW APPEALING THE DECISION THAT SAW LOVELACE RELEASED FROM PRISON.

BOB LOVELACE

"FRANKLY WE'RE ACTUALLY PLEASED THAT IT'S GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE THE APPELLANT COURT DECISIONS WERE SOUND AND THEY REMINDED PEOPLE THAT PUBLIC DECENT AND ABORIGINAL LAW IS A PART OF CANADA AND A PART OF THIS DEMOCRACY."

PROTESTORS SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORATORIUM ON URANIUM MINING AND EXPLORATION.

WHILE THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MINISTRY OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINING SAY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AS MUCH PUBLIC INPUT AS THEY CAN GET AT THEIR PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING.

KATHY NOSSICH

"THE MINING ACT DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TYPES OF MINERALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLORATION SO IF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT URANIUM EXPLORATION INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THEN WE WELCOME HEARING THOSE CONCERNS."

BUT WILL EXPRESSING THOSE CONCERNS AT THE MEETING HAVE ANY EFFECT?

ROB MATHESON A KINGSTON CITY COUNCILLOR RECENTLY MET WITH THE MINISTER FOR NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINING AT A MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF ONTARIO.

ROB MATHESON

"THE PROVINCE IS GOING AHEAD WITH THEIR NUCLEAR AGENDA SO TO SPEAK AT THIS POINT WHICH I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY'LL RECONSIDER, GIVEN THE AVAILABLE RENEWABLES AVAILABLE THAT WE KNOW CAN WORK THAT IT WOULD BASICALLY BE HYPOCRITICAL TO PUT A MORATORIUM ON URANIUM MINING AT THIS POINT."

THE RESULTS OF OF THE PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS WILL BECOME MORE CLEAR IN DECEMBER, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO TABLE IT'S MODERNIZED MINING ACT.

DARRYN DAVIS CKWS NEWXSWATCH KINGSTON.