A Thunder Bay mining conference geared to attract mining suppliers to work in the James Bay Ring of Fire has been cancelled.
Chief Eli Moonias of Marten Falls First Nation told a Thunder Bay television station that a controversial fee imposed by the event organizers to charge companies $5,000 for 45 minutes of private face time with the chief and council wasn't his idea. He said councillors began questioning the fees, saying it looked suspicious.
The Aug. 11 to 12 Ring of Fire Emerging Business Conference was to have taken place at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay.
Bruce Krupp, a consultant to the remote First Nation community, declined comment referring media queries to event organizer Lori Salo, principal consultant of One World Brand management.
In an emailed response, Salo said Krupp plans to meet with Marten Falls council to discuss rescheduling the conference.
Salo said the business response to attend the event was “overwhelming” with 52 companies and 118 people signed up to attend the event at the Valhalla Inn. Half were from Thunder Bay, one quarter from Sudbury and Timmins and the rest came from “various places across Canada.”
Salo said six of those 13 slots for $5,000 were filled.
"It needs to be stated...that the only controversy raised of the $5,000 two-day, 10-attendee/company were from members of the media – not the invited companies themselves.”