By: Northern Ontario Business staff

Northeastern Ontario mayors are angling for the processing of the 'Ring of Fire' chromite ore to be located within the region.

North Bay Mayor Vic Fedeli said an April 25 meeting in Ottawa with federal Industry Minister Tony Clement was only aimed at discussing priorities and concerns for the development in Northern Ontario regarding the long-term outlook for resources industries.

Also attending the meeting were mayors Tom Laughren of Timmins, John Rodriguez from Sudbury and John Rowswell from Sault Ste. Marie. Absent from the meeting was Thunder Bay's Lynn Peterson.

All are members of the Northern Ontario Large Urban Municipalities (NOLUM) group.

Among the issues raised in a "frank exchange of ideas" were short line railways, polar air cargo and mineral development by Canada Chrome in the Ring of Fire region of the James Bay Lowlands.

Fedeli said North Bay is already an established base for mining suppliers and engineering while there is also considerable expertise in Sudbury as well as an existing Xstrata smelter in Timmins which will be shut down.

He said the mayors were not asking for any federal funds or specific government policy direction, but merely to keep Clement appraised of these issues.

Fedeli admitted he would like to see the Ontario Northland Railway be the vehicle that hauls McFaulds Lake ore into northeastern Ontario via Hearst, but said he has no knowledge if those discussions are taking place.

Northeastern Ontario mayors are angling for the processing of the 'Ring of Fire' chromite ore to be located within the region.
North Bay Mayor Vic Fedeli said an April 25 meeting in Ottawa with federal Industry Minister Tony Clement was only aimed at discussing priorities and concerns for the development in Northern Ontario regarding the long-term outlook for resources industries.
Also attending the meeting were mayors Tom Laughren of Timmins, John Rodriguez from Sudbury and John Rowswell from Sault Ste. Marie. Absent from the meeting was Thunder Bay's Lynn Peterson.
All are members of the Northern Ontario Large Urban Municipalities (NOLUM) group.
Among the issues raised in a "frank exchange of ideas" were short line railways, polar air cargo and mineral development by Canada Chrome in the Ring of Fire region of the James Bay Lowlands.
Fedeli said North Bay is already an established base for mining suppliers and engineering while there is also considerable expertise in Sudbury as well as an existing Xstrata smelter in Timmins which will be shut down.
He said the mayors were not asking for any federal funds or specific government policy direction, but merely to keep Clement appraised of these issues.
Fedeli admitted he would like to see the Ontario Northland Railway be the vehicle that hauls McFaulds Lake ore into northeastern Ontario via Hearst, but said he has no knowledge if those discussions are taking place.