Good day, Wonderful that…

Good day,

Wonderful that Ontario is making changes to modernize the Mining Act. After some research on the Ministry of Mines website we located the “table of financial assurance” and determined that Ontario appears to hold 167 closure plans associated with a total of ~$ 2.5 billion dollars of assurance.

Further research of the Ministry of Mines website also identified what is known as the “abandoned mines information system” which maintains the records of over 5,600 abandoned mine sites.

We considered this information and realized that Ontario is with this proposal considering sweeping changes of its act and regulations fully focused on ~3% of all mine sites in Ontario. We read all of the proposed postings and researched the Act and it’s regulations and found nothing directly regulating the other 97% of mine sites in Ontario beyond what seems to be emergencies once there is an environmental, public safety or health impact.

As Ontario modernizes the Mining Act and it’s regulations. Why would you not give any attention to the 97% of mine sites which do not appear to be regulated presently? There appears to also be no financial assurance of any kind for the 97% of the sites which are excluded from your proposed regulatory changes. If the costs to rehabilitate the 3% of mine sites presently assured is ~$2.5 billion is it possible that the remaining 5,433 unassured sites could cost Ontarian’s >$80 billion in the future? There must be a logical and rational explanation as to why there is a specific focus on 3% of all mine sites and a complete absence of any regulatory change to manage the remaining 97% of sites. Could Ontario share that reasoning with Ontarian’s? Something is not adding up. Are Ontarian’s subsidizing the multi-billion dollar mining industry? If yes, why? Jobs? Any other reasons?