McGuinty 'two-faced' on mining, says Tory MPP

The McGuinty Liberals are being "two-faced" on its stand on resource development in Ontario's Far North, said a Conservative MPP.

Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, said Dalton McGuinty and his ministers have "done everything possible to reduce Ontario's standing in the mining world."

In a March 9 statement, Hillier said the so-called 'Ring of Fire' chromite and base metal deposits in the James Bay Lowlands is a crucial ingredient in the production of stainless steel.

Yet Liberal policies oppose the development, said Hillier, citing the government's Bill 191 which "cuts off development to half of the land north of the 51st parallel, meaning that numerous finds like this one will never be realized."

Hillier said high provincial power prices because of the Green Energy Act have contributed to the closing of the copper smelter in Timmins and ensured that ore dug in Ontario will be processed in other jurisdictions.

"This Liberal government is a standing contradiction. This government has done its best to destroy mining in this province to appease their environmental friends."