What do Galen Weston Jr. and George Clooney Have in Common?

What do Galen Weston Jr. and George Clooney Have in Common?

Canadian poll finds them to be the most gentlemanly, successful men in Canada, and the world; survey also says Canadians are more gentlemanly than Americans

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - Galen Weston Jr. and George Clooney are the epitome of modern gentlemen, according to Canadians surveyed in a recent poll. Of those surveyed, 35 percent thought Galen Weston Jr., executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited, was Canada's most gentlemanly, while actor and activist George Clooney was found to be the world's best modern-day example of a true gentleman, with 51 percent of votes.

The informal survey, conducted in Canada for the world-renowned Chivas Regal Scotch whisky, found that it's in good taste to be a modern gentleman. Canadians polled believed that true gentlemen enjoy more success and fulfillment from their careers (67 percent), their family life (89 percent) and their friendships (90 percent), than do other men. A resounding 91 percent of survey respondents also felt that true gentlemen are more attractive to the opposite sex.

RICK MERCER TO WRITE EXCLUSIVELY FOR MACLEAN'S

RICK MERCER TO WRITE EXCLUSIVELY FOR MACLEAN'S DURING 2011 FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - In 2000 Rick Mercer made international headlines when he persuaded then-presidential-candidate George W. Bush to answer his questions about Canadian Prime Minister Jean Poutine. Bush was not amused—but Canadians were.
So, as we gear-up for the election of a very real Prime Minister and federal government on May 2, the editors of Canada's weekly current affairs magazine are delighted to announce today that the country's best-known funnyman and political satirist will be writing an exclusive column for Maclean's.

Poised to invest in productivity gains and emerging market opportunities

CANADA'S BUSINESS SECTOR READY TO TAKE THE LEAD ON ECONOMIC GROWTH: CIBC

Poised to invest in productivity gains and emerging market opportunities
TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - Canadian businesses are poised to take the reins from government and consumers as the leading source of growth in the Canadian economy, finds a new report from CIBC World Markets Inc.
While governments, both federal and provincial, are now singing a tune of restraint and consumers are cutting back on spending growth, Canadian businesses are set to ramp up investments in new plant and equipment with a focus on expanding export opportunities.
"By any measure, the current recovery in capital spending is impressive," says Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC. "The real return on capital employed is rising and is now currently at just under six per cent-a full point above its long term average, and return on equity is now above 12 per cent."
The report notes that all three of Canada's heavy hitters of capital investment, the oil sands, utilities and the manufacturing sector, are expected to add significantly to capacity, ensuring that business investment remains a consistent source of support for the domestic economy, not just in 2011 but also in the coming years.
While the strong loonie is hurting exports from Canada's manufacturing sector, Mr. Shenfeld notes that the stronger currency is also playing a role in spurring investment in the sector.

LCBO PREDICTS TOP DRINK TRENDS FOR 2011

For those out there who need to be a trendsetter, this is hot off the press for you. This weekend, over cocktails, you can impress your friends (and foes) with your knowledge of what’s going to be hot this summer. You better run out and buy a case before it is all gone. Could it be that the LCBO margins on these items are better so why not herd the sheep over to those items? Tell me it ain’t so Dalton and Dwight, the Dalton Gang.

LCBO PREDICTS TOP DRINK TRENDS FOR 2011

TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - LCBO is showcasing what it believes will be the top trends in beverage alcohol this year during The Trend Report, a promotion taking place in all 616 stores throughout April. Premium vodka and spiced rum , blended and full-bodied red wines, summer refreshers like wheat beer and Pinot Grigio and practically anything local are poised to take centre stage this spring and beyond, according to LCBO.

"We've spent the winter talking to producers, attending tastings and looking at sales trends to see what's hot in wine, spirits, beer and ready-to-drink products," says Shari Mogk-Edwards, Vice President, Merchandising for LCBO. "We are now sharing our findings with our customers to help them discover new products, make informed choices and inspire them when entertaining and gift buying."

LCBO predicts:

Highlights of the 2011 Ontario Budget

Highlights of the 2011 Ontario Budget


Today Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan tabled the province’s 2011 budget. The budget forecasts a deficit of $16.7 billion in 2011 and projects deficits of $16.3 billion for 2012 and $15.2 billion for 2013. The government does not foresee a balanced budget until 2018.

The budget does not include any significant corporate or personal tax changes.

Highlights of tax measures and tax administration changes announced in today’s budget are summarized below.

Business Tax Changes
Corporate tax rates

The budget does not include any corporate tax rate changes.

SOURCE: Ring of Fire Resources, Inc.

SOURCE: c

Mar 29, 2011 15:26 ET

Ring of Fire Resources Inc. Increases Size of Private Placement Offering

TORONTO--(Marketwire - March 29, 2011) - Ring of Fire Resources Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-V: ROF) (FRANKFURT: RG5) (PINKSHEETS: HWKPF) announces that it has increased the size of the private placement of common share units ("Units") previously announced in its press release of March 25, 2011. The Company previously announced that it would conduct a private placement of up to 11,764,706 Units priced at $0.085 per unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. The Company has determined to increase the size of the private placement such that up to 17,647,059 Units would be sold at $0.085 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share for a period of 2 years at an exercise price of $0.15 per share for the first 12 months from the date of issue, and at an exercise price of $0.20 per share for the next 12 months thereafter.
All securities issued in connection with this financing will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date. The private placement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange, as well as other applicable regulatory approval.

NORONT FILES PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR EAGLE'S NEST DEVELOPMENT

NORONT FILES PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR EAGLE'S NEST DEVELOPMENT
TORONTO, March 23 /CNW/ - Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to announce that pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, it has filed its Project Description for the Company's Eagle's Nest deposit, in the James Bay Lowlands, Ontario, with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Province of Ontario's Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, and Forestry.
Noront's President and CEO, Wes Hanson, states: "The Project Description initiates the permitting process for development of the Eagle's Nest deposit. This is the first step of the permitting process and establishes a starting point for future consultation regarding infrastructure and mine development of the Eagle's Nest deposit with the local First Nation communities as well as local, provincial and federal government agencies."
Noront's Project Description proposes a planned 1.0 million tonne per annum underground mine and mill complex processing high grade nickel, copper, platinum and palladium ore from the Eagle's Nest deposit. Proposed surface disturbance at the mine site is limited to an airstrip, an accommodation, recreation and office complex, an explosive storage site, an underground portal and site roads connecting these facilities.
The mill complex will be established in underground excavations, taking advantage of the highly competent host rocks and minimizing surface disturbance at the site. Mill tailings will be stored underground as paste or cemented paste backfill in the voids created by mining of the nickel copper ore and competent waste rock which is planned to be used as construction material.
The Mine is estimated to produce approximately 150,000 tonnes of concentrate annually, which would be pumped via a buried pipeline, approximately 100 kilometres due west to a proposed site named Webequie Junction. This site is located approximately 20 kilometres south of the community of Webequie. A filtering and drying plant will be constructed at Webequie Junction to treat the concentrate, recycle the water back to the site and transfer the concentrate to truck for shipment to a proposed railhead near Savant Lake.
A diesel generating station will be established at Webequie Junction and power will be brought to site via a new power line. Both the power line and the buried concentrate slurry pipeline will follow a winter road that is proposed between the Eagle's Nest deposit and Webequie Junction. The winter road will limit the environmental footprint on the James Bay Lowlands.
At the end of the winter road from Eagle's Nest to Webequie Junction, an all season road is proposed to connect Webequie Junction to Highway #808 north east of Pickle Lake. This proposed route generally follows the existing Ministry of Natural Resources winter road corridor thereby limiting the environmental impact. This route will allow truck haulage of concentrate to the proposed rail facility.
During operation, mine consumables supply will utilize the same route, the proposed all season road to Webequie Junction followed by the winter road to site. People and perishable goods will be transported to site via air to the proposed airstrip.
Noront's senior management have reviewed this release including Mr. Paul Semple, P.Eng., Noront's Chief Operating Office and a Qualified Person under Canadian Securities Administrators guidelines.

ROF CARGO HAULERS, RE-VISITED

ALBERTA PRIVATE COMPANY AND LOCKHEED MARTIN TO DEVELOP A FAMILY OF HYBRID AIRCRAFT

CALGARY, March 22 /CNW/ - Aviation Capital Enterprises, Inc. (Aviation Capital), an Alberta-based private company, has entered into an exclusive contractual agreement with Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to design, develop, build, flight test and Federal Aviation Administration certify a family of hybrid aircraft.

Hybrid aircraft are ideally suited for heavy lift cargo transport, domestic disaster relief and international humanitarian resupply. The aircraft requires little or no fixed ground infrastructure and can launch, land and be serviced on unimproved surfaces and water using its innovative air cushion landing system. It taxis, launches and recovers like a conventional aircraft.

Aviation Capital and its investors will make the hybrid aircraft available to the commercial market. Lockheed Martin will retain rights to the military market. Three variants of the hybrid aircraft ranging in size from 20 tons to several hundred tons will be developed to open transportation pathways to austere locations currently inaccessible to other modes of transport. Delivery of the first experimentally certified Hybrid Aircraft variant is expected in 2012.

The technologies required for the Hybrid Aircraft are mature and have been demonstrated in-flight in Lockheed Martin's P-791, a fully functional manned flight demonstrator.  Work is currently underway on the 20 ton variant, called SkyTug, at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Palmdale, Calif.

About Aviation Capital Enterprises Inc.

Aviation Capital is a private Alberta company formed in October 2009, which, through its agreement with Lockheed Martin, holds exclusive world-wide, intellectual property rights to the design, development, manufacture and production of hybrid heavy lift aircraft.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

About Hybrid Airship Technology

Hybrid airships combine buoyant, aerodynamic and direct lift technologies to carry large payloads long distances at low cost.  The airships are capable of take-off and landing from unimproved surfaces, including land and water, providing point-to-point access to remote locations or connectivity to cargo networks.  Environmentally sound, airships use a small fraction of the fuel consumed by conventional aircraft and require little or no infrastructure for take-off, landing or securing the vessel.  The hybrid airships being developed and produced under the exclusive Lockheed Martin agreement are planned in three variants (short haul, regional haul and global haul) capable of carrying payloads of 20 to several hundred tons over long distances.  The smaller variant is capable of vertical take-off and landing providing greater payload and range at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter.

Hybrid airships provide a direct, timely, economical and environmentally conscious logistics solution for much of the world's annual 36 billion tons of cargo.  An overview of Lockheed Martin hybrid airship technology can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAyJ3zKTusKTus

KWG NEWS OUT

KWG RECEIVED ASSESSMENT WORK APPROVAL FOR MINING CLAIMS, SAMPLES TO BE DONATED TO ONTARIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Symbol on TSX Venture Exchange:	KWG
Shares issued and outstanding:	632,828,941

 

MONTREAL, March 21 /CNW/ - The wholly-owned subsidiary of KWG Resources Inc. (TSXV: KWG), Canada Chrome Corporation has filed five years' worth of assessment work on almost all of its mining claims that make up its 328 kilometer corridor which is a prospective route to construct railroad ore-haulage infrastructure. If approved and applied as credits to the claim blocks, Canada Chrome Corporation will have sufficient assessment work to apply for 21-year mining leases on those blocks. A previous filing made in late 2010 was approved by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry and became final on March 15, 2011 thereby securing tenure in many of the claims.

Canada Chrome Corporation staked the claims and engaged Golder Associates to conduct a geotechnical sampling program last year. As a result of this program $7.7 million of assessment work is included in the new filing. Soil profile samples were taken from 811 hollow stem boreholes at regular intervals over the 328 kilometer study corridor. KWG has made arrangements to donate the 5,906 samples collected to the Ontario Geological Survey with whom it is presently consulting on the protocols for a heavy minerals analysis of the glacial till section encountered at the bottom of most of the boreholes.

The data generated by the Golder program is now being incorporated into the railroad engineering model, for completion of a pre-feasibility study by Krech Ojard & Associates, the railroad engineering firm engaged by KWG.

NOT has 25% of this project still

Eagle Hill Engages SRK Consulting to Prepare Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Windfall Lake Property

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 21, 2011) - Eagle Hill Exploration Corporation (TSX VENTURE:EAG) ("Eagle Hill" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. ("SRK") to prepare an initial mineral resource estimate for the Windfall Lake Property and a new technical report to support its disclosure. The Company is targeting to release the mineral resource statement later this year.
The specific deliverables within the technical services contract include the following:

• Geological modeling and conceptual geostatistical studies (this stage has been completed) to assist delineation drilling targeting with the view of expanding and infilling know gold zones on Windfall Lake Property;
   
• Evaluation of extraction scenarios for this type of gold deposit to assess conceptual economic viability and select appropriate reporting cut-off grades (target for summer of 2011); and
   
• Prepare an initial mineral resource statement after the completion of the current drilling program, and a technical report following Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101 guidelines.

The SRK Group comprises over 1,000 professionals, offering expertise in a wide range of resource engineering disciplines. The SRK Group's independence is ensured by the fact that it holds no equity in any project and that its ownership rests solely with its staff. This permits SRK to provide its clients with conflict-free and objective recommendations on crucial judgment issues. SRK has a demonstrated track record in undertaking independent assessments of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, project evaluations and audits, technical reports and independent feasibility evaluations to bankable standards on behalf of exploration and mining companies and financial institutions worldwide.
Jean-Philippe Desrochers, Ph.D., P.Geo. is a Qualified Person registered in Quebec as defined by NI-43-101 and has reviewed the technical information that this press release contains.
About the Windfall Lake Property
The Windfall Lake Property is comprised of 362 contiguous claims (over 12,000 hectares) in the Abitibi mineralized belt of northern Quebec. This area between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau is known for its gold and copper production and excellent infrastructure for exploration and mining. Historically, the Windfall Lake Property has had extensive historic grassroots exploration work. Along with its independently acquired claims at the Windfall Lake Property. Eagle Hill has signed options with Murgor Resources Inc., Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (formerly, Freewest Resources Canada Inc.), and Noront Resources Inc. to acquire the Windfall Lake Property.

TBay keeps up the pressure

Keeping city in the picture

read the words below, "he’s got an Ontario Power Generation plant as one ace along with a Seaway port that Sudbury does not have." Hobbs is working it!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

MAYOR Keith Hobbs is trying hard to position Thunder Bay as the logical location to process chromite from the giant Ring of Fire mineral deposit far to the north. In competition with officials from other Northern Ontario communities, Hobbs has made a good case.
Thunder Bay has the services, the manpower and expertise, the transportation and the electrical energy needed for a project of this size. And sizable it will be, requiring enough electricity to power a community of 300,000 people. It will be the largest single user of power in the province, which puts enormous pressure on the provincial government to provide what Cliffs Natural Resources, the main Ring of Fire developer, refers to as “a key input. The availability of a large, reliable, long-term and cost-competitive supply of electricity is a key consideration in siting the ferrochrome production facility.”
Cliffs identifies Timmins, Sudbury and Thunder Bay as potential locations, though it has gone so far as to use Sudbury as its base case model for planning purposes because it is already an important mineral processing centre. Hobbs has gone to some lengths to ensure Thunder Bay remains fully in Cliffs’ consideration and he’s got an Ontario Power Generation plant as one ace along with a Seaway port that Sudbury does not have.
Hobbs is this week working to allay environmental concerns about the processing facility. Primarily, he insists it will not be a dirty smelter with smokestacks belching pollution. A similar facility in Finland, Hobbs said, produces fewer emissions than the area’s regional hospital. Cliffs explains it this way: “The final step in the project is the refining of the ore and concentrate to ferrochrome metal (1,500 tonnes per day) in enclosed electric arc furnaces.”
Raw ore, coal and quartzite to separate out the ferrochrome will be stockpiled and fed into the furnaces at 1,700 degrees C. The finished product will be poured into ingots to cool for transportation to world stainless steel and other markets.
Cliffs does not set out expected emissions numbers in its current proposal but stresses the importance to “minimize or avoid adverse environmental impacts before they occur” and to “incorporate environmental factors into decision making.” An environmental assessment will be essential to ensure compliance with modern requirements. Cliffs does say the process will produce some 2,100 tonnes of slag each day which “may be useful as aggregate (a four-lane Trans-Canada Highway across Northern Ontario comes to mind) or other industrial purposes.”
Thunder Bay is well positioned to host the major off-site component of Canada’s largest mining development. Hobbs is seeing that Cliffs doesn’t forget it.

Corporations let you help Japan

TD Canada Trust to accept donations for Red Cross Japanese relief starting Monday



TORONTO, March 11 /CNW/ - TD Canada Trust today announced that it will be accepting donations to the Canadian Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan via EasyLine, EasyWeb, and through its branch network starting Monday, March 14, 2011.

As announced earlier today, TD Bank Group has donated CDN$100,000 to help the Japanese Red Cross Society assist victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday.


AIR MILES supports Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund


TORONTO, March 11 /CNW/ - The AIR MILES Reward Program is reminding Collectors they can support the Canadian Red Cross by donating their AIR MILES reward miles to help with relief efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

AIR MILES Collectors who wish to donate reward miles to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund can do so online at www.airmiles.ca. A charity reward redemption of 200 reward miles will be converted to a $25 cash donation by AIR MILES and all contributions will receive a tax receipt from the Canadian Red Cross.

Canadians are also encouraged to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a financial donation to the Canadian Red Cross. Donations can be made online at www.redcross.ca/helpnow, at your local branch office or by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111.

About the Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and over 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

TELUS supports earthquake relief efforts in Japan


VANCOUVER, March 11 /CNW/ - TELUS and its team members will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and UNICEF to assist in the earthquake relief efforts in Japan. TELUS will also match funds raised by its own team members in Canada.

To help Canadians stay up-to-date on news and information from Japan, TELUS is making TV Japan available on free preview on channel 540 to all TELUS Optik TV customers.

In addition, TELUS customers can be a part of the relief efforts as well and can donate funds through their mobile devices.

TELUS customers can participate in the following ways:

Text "QUAKE" to 45678 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army in Canada
Text "ASIA" to 30333 to donate $5 to The Canadian Red Cross Society
Text "GIVE" to 45678 to donate $5 to UNICEF

These organizations will ensure the funds help those who need it most.

"Doing our part to assist in relief efforts in Japan is important for TELUS because this disaster is not only affecting some of our team members, it's also affecting our customers and their families," said Jill Schnarr, TELUS vice-president of Community Investment and Engagement. "Through TELUS' text-to-donate campaign we can have an immediate impact on the organizations working tirelessly to help the victims of this terrible tragedy."

TELUS has a proud history of stepping in to help when disasters strike. Since 2000, TELUS has donated more than $1M to Canadian registered charities in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti, Chile, Philippines, Newfoundland, and Kelowna.

TELUS works with the Mobile Giving Foundation to make these donations available through mobile technology.

HI Tim,
So, an Aboriginal  trade mission May 18-31 , 2011 to China.
Looks like McGunity's visit Nov.3-4, 2010 to China to meet with China Investment Corp. about Ring of Fire made progress.


Aboriginal Trade Mission to China Announced
Posted by DigitalMaori Featured News, Indigenous, Mahi Moni Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

Vancouver, March 7, 2011  - Following the  previous historic 12-day Aboriginal trade mission to China in November 2008 (all photos here are from previous trade mission), the Native Investment and Trade Association, the Canada China Resource Development Foundation and Eden Investments Ltd. are collaborating to organize an even higher level follow up trade mission. “2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour” will travel China from May 18-31, 2011. The trip itinerary will begin in Shanghai and finish in Beijing and may include visits to Shenyang, Dalian, Tianjin, and X’ian. Indigenous leaders will be looking to foster greater self-sufficiency through leveraging natural resources (mining, energy, forestry,  fisheries, agriculture, and major infrastructure opportunities) to attract investment capital to Canadian Aboriginal territories.

Growth plan for Northern Ontario: A starting point for First Nation economies

SERPENT RIVER FIRST NATION, March 7 /CNW/ - Ontario's "Places to Grow Act, 2005" is making its mark on northerners. As a result of this legislation, the long awaited Growth Plan for Northern Ontario was just released last week in its respective region.
"First Nations have been recognized in the plan in a way that acknowledges constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights," says Chief Isadore Day of Serpent River First Nation. "We commend the Ontario government for making this visible in the plan. We intend to bring diversity and strength to our region and share in the benefits with our neighbors. It only makes business sense."
The plans main goal is to achieve economic sustainability and improve the Quality of Life in the lives of people in Northern Ontario. The plan will now focus on implementation that First Nations like Serpent River say 'must include an acknowledgment of those rights in the meaningful way.'

NORONT ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE INCREASE AT EAGLE'S NEST

FYI 11,000,000 x $767.64 x 10% /187,042,360 sh FD = $4.51 per share

NORONT ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE INCREASE AT EAGLE'S NEST

TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to provide an updated mineral resource estimate for the Eagle's Nest deposit, located at its McFaulds Lake Property in the James Bay Lowlands. 

The NI 43-101 Resource estimate for Eagle's Nest deposit has significantly increased and is now estimated to contain:

Main Zone

• Measured and Indicated resource of 11.0million tonnes grading 1.78% Ni, 0.98% Cu, 0.99 gpt Pt and 3.41 gpt Pd and 0.20 gpt Au;
• Inferred resource of 9.0 million tonnes grading 1.10% Ni, 1.14% Cu, 1.16 gpt Pt and 3.49 gpt Pd and 0.30 gpt Au;

East Zone

• Inferred resource of 1.6 million tonnes grading 0.31% Ni, 0.09% Cu, 0.12 gpt Pt and 0.45gpt Pd and 0.04 gpt Au;

Ring of Fire Needs Premier McGuinty to Step Up

Ring of Fire Needs Premier McGuinty to Step Up


Without more co-operation exploration could stopTHUNDER BAY – Editorial – News that Marten Falls First Nation is planning a blockade on mining activity in the Ring of Fire should not come as a major surprise to anyone who has followed events in Ontario’s North. First Nations leaders starting with Nishanawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy have made it very clear that they are open to development on their traditional lands. However many of the actions taken by the Ontario Government have caused rifts. The Far North Act was opposed by the NAN, who state that the Premier promised that the legislation would not pass without their consent.

I'm Packing for PDAC

I'm Looking for Wes! Where is he?

Exchanges under fire at Queen's Park

LSEG-TMX Merger to Deliver Clear and Significant Benefits to Ontario

Exchange CEOs present to Ontario Government Select Committee

TORONTO, March 2 /CNW/ - The merger of TMX Group Inc. and London Stock Exchange Group plc will create opportunity for Canada's financial services industry and firmly establish Toronto as a world financial center, the companies' CEOs told Ontario legislators today.

In an appearance before the provincial legislature's select committee studying the proposed merger of the two exchange companies, Tom Kloet and Xavier Rolet spoke at length about the transaction details and rationale.
Mr. Kloet, CEO, TMX Group said:
"The merger strengthens our company's future competitiveness and contributes to the growth and competitiveness of the financial sector in which we operate.  It does so without in any way diminishing local regulatory authority.  And, in our opinion, it opens a world of opportunity for Canadian public companies of all sizes and for the advisory and business community that supports them.  The words "Listed on TSX" and "Listed on TSX Venture Exchange" are spoken with pride by Canadian companies across Canada.  These brands are here to stay.  The agreement we are here to discuss maintains this pride while opening new horizons for growth.  It is an arrangement that makes sense."
Mr. Rolet, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group added: 
"We have a clear responsibility to build a quality marketplace, to contribute to Canada's economic well-being, Ontario's reputation and Toronto's success as a world financial centre.  In fact, Canada's success, and the future growth and success of TMX Group are critical to the long-term success of the new merged group.  It is in our collective best interest to see that all stakeholders affected by this merger benefit and that we all share in the rewards of this transaction… Together with TMX Group, we will create an international group, with deep expertise, undeniable leadership in key sectors and the ability to compete effectively and win on the global stage."

Big News from KWG, strengthening bench at the PDAC trade deadline

FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER AND FORMER HILL & KNOWLTON V.P. JOIN KWG

Symbol on TSX Venture Exchange: KWG
Shares issued and outstanding: 632,828,941

MONTREAL, March 1 /CNW/ - KWG Resources Inc. (TSXV: KWG) is pleased to announce that Cameron Clark and Sheila Willis have agreed to serve as initial members of an Advisory Panel to provide counsel to the Company's management in the areas of public policy and communications.

Cameron Clark was Ontario's Deputy Minister of Northern Development and Mines from 1999 until his retirement to Thunder Bay in 2005, where he serves as a Trustee of Lakehead University and as a Director of the Quetico Foundation and of the Trans Canada Trail. He was previously the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and a Director of the Ontario Clean Water Agency.

Sheila Willis continues as a Senior Adviser to Hill and Knowlton after recently retiring as a Vice-President of its Canadian unit. She was previously the President, CEO and Chair of the Board of the Ontario Clean Water Agency after serving as Assistant Deputy Minister of Northern Development & Mines and of the Ministry of Environment & Energy.

"We are very fortunate to have attracted two advisors with public policy experience that perfectly matches the challenges before us," said KWG President Frank Smeenk. "There has been no precedent to this opportunity to mine and transport a very high value bulk commodity from a sub-arctic wetland that is the traditional territory of a pro-development group of First Nations. We are delighted to have access to the counsel and experience of Sheila Willis and Cam Clark, as these prospects develop."

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

From NOB, Another good read

Will Cliffs force Ontario to deliver a Northern industry power rate?

Power Play

By: Ian Ross

The James Bay Lowlands could have a chromite mine by 2015.

Cliffs Natural Resources is forcing the McGuinty government’s hand on the pricey issue of power in Ontario.
The Cleveland-based iron ore and coal miner has put the ball squarely in the provincial government’s court by agreeing to place a ferrochrome refinery in Ontario only if Queen’s Park comes to terms on an acceptable power rate.
A much-anticipated project description of Cliffs’ Chromite project in the James Bay Ring of Fire was released Feb. 4 naming Sudbury as the front-runner to host the ore processing.
Cliffs’ president of ferroalloy Bill Boor said, although the Sudbury suburb of Capreol is the most “technically feasible” site for the ferrochrome processing, there is no place in Ontario that makes economic sense with the price of power at its current provincial rates.

Ontario & Cliffs, just starting to talk

Feb 28, 2011'Conversation has really just begun' with Cliffs Natural Resources
By: Heidi Ulrichsen - Sudbury Northern Life Staff
Premier Dalton McGuinty insists his government is already doing a lot to help large companies set up shop in northern Ontario through an existing hydro rate reduction program and corporate tax cuts.
The mining company Cliffs Natural Resources announced Feb. 3 it may build a facility to process its Ring of Fire chromite in the City of Greater Sudbury.