irish,

Typical Gravelle's talk...just talk.

Just noticed this gem. I hope it was the reporter's error rather than the Minister's. If it's the latter then we all in trouble.

Gravelle was quoted by the reporter Daren MacDonald: [He said major mining projects routinely take a lot of time to get off the ground, pointing to the Victor Diamond Mine in Quebec, and even Tottem Mine in Sudbury.

“It often takes years before these projects come to fruition,” Gravelle said.]

- First, if it's Vale's mine in Sudbury then it's the Totten mine (not Tottem). This I would say it's the reporter's error, or just typing error.

- Second, Victor Diamond Mine is in Ontario (in fact not too far from the RoF). If this were the Minister's understanding that the Victor Mine is in Quebec then the RoF (and us all) are in real trouble. To give the Minister the benefit of the doubt I would attribute this error to the reporter as well.

As far as “It often takes years before these projects come to fruition," the Ministeris quite correct. It took 7 years for the Totten mine to be completed (no major infrasture was required). This includes a delay of 3 years due to various additional EA related work. The total cost was $760M (2014) compared to the estimate cost of approx 50% of that in 2011.

Gravelle's saying "it often takes years..." with major delays along the way is not a good thing to say to attract potential miners/investors to come to Ontario. He might as well put a sign up at the border (between Quebec and Ontario) saying "Welcome to Ontario, but beware "it takes years" to get mining projects going".

goldhunter