Around the North

North American Palladium's (NAP) Lac des Iles mine in northwestern Ontario may have its operational life extended by 12 years.

North Bay realtors are reporting a softening of the local homebuying market. The North Bay Real Estate Board said there were increases in average selling prices but a declines in residential sales volumes.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is hot on the trail of attracting talented newcomers. Provincial Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Michael Chan was in the Sault, Jan.

Ontario's value-added forest economy is taking shape with a new provincial plan to attract private investment by utilizing forest waste.

China is easing its tax free imports of copper, nickel and cobalt concentrate as of Feb1, so long as the finished products are re-exported. The Ministry of Commerce's website stated such a move reverses a two year old policy of taxing these minerals.

The winds of summer will bring Dr. Nigel Smith, an internationally renowned astrophysicist, as the new director for the Sudbury-area SNOLAB International Underground Science Facility.

Avariety of Sudbury-based businesses and projects are hoping to shake the winter blues with a few fistfuls of cash from FedNor.

The Ontario Geological Survey is launching an airborne geophysical survey to probe the mineral prospects in the area of the town of Mine Centre in northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay's Premier Gold is beginning a large drill program this month to prove up a large gold reserve in Geraldton.

The Ontario Professional Foresters Association will gather for their annual conference at Sudbury's Holiday Inn, April 22-24.