LETTER TO THE EDITOR — Junior explorationists find the going

The article “Despite obstacles, Ontario attracting miners” (T.N.M., Dec. 27/93) is stretching the truth to some extent.

Mining executives at the 2-day symposium in Toronto organized by Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) stated that — in spite of high taxation rates, compensation costs and land tenure and access problems — Ontario is still an attractive place to mine minerals.

Ontario may well be an attractive place for the two giant companies mentioned in the article. Defunct mines that may have gone under for the above reasons (not to forget environmental problems and price fluctuations for metals in the market) can be absorbed into these major companies and made into producers, big or small. The majors can also hold on to these properties, whereas smaller companies cannot because of the cost involved. In other words, these somewhat harsher mining conditions felt by the juniors in Ontario are a boon to the majors.

The MNDM minister cited programs designed to stimulate exploration. These are basically good but some are under-funded, such as OPAP (Ontario Prospectors Assistance Program). As a prospector, I have been involved in OPAP. In 1992, OPAP funding was cut in half, but it should have been increased, at the very least.

Manitoba and Quebec have received rave reviews from the mining fraternity for their incentive packages. Why can’t Ontario do the same by placing more money into its incentive programs?

Robert McKellar

Thunder Bay, Ont.