LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — Band-Ore takes mines minister to task

Dear Chris Hodgson:

The recent actions of the Ontario government with their “Lands For Life” policies appall me and my shareholders. The government has enacted a policy during the worst business cycle in the history of the exploration business.

Have you thought about how many junior companies have their money in coffers today? They will not be able to keep their claims in good standing this year nor in the future.

Since the Bre-X fiasco, the Asian economic crisis and the selling of gold by the central banks, all commodities are at very low prices. Brokerage firms and resource funds are not investing in exploration companies and few major mining companies are investing in the junior sector. In fact, all major companies have slashed exploration budgets and personnel.

Now, the Ontario government is virtually expropriating land that is favourable for exploration. The minerals that came out of northern Ontario built Canada, and the taxes that the mining industry pays in Ontario exceed what any park will ever generate.

If you applied the same programs to farmland in southern Ontario, do you think farmers would sit back quietly? You know the answer is a big, fat no. Your government has created a policy in northern Ontario to satisfy the environmentalists who live in southern Ontario and also because an election is in the cards.

I am ashamed to have voted for your party, with the damage it is doing. You might as well bring in [former premier and NDP leader] Bob Rae to assist you in your policy-making decisions and, while you are at it, kick out Ford, General Motors, Stelco, Dofasco and other business that employ people and pay taxes.

I will not be signing your March 29 memorandum, Mr. Hodgson, and I advise all mining and exploration companies to refuse as well.

Wayne O’Connor

Band-Ore Resources