Author Description

As part of the general review of the Mining Act of Ontario, a detailed review was conducted of Section 104 of the Act, which ensured that metal and mineral products mined in the province would be refined before export. This study measures changes in the scope of metal production, using a detailed industry-by-industry review of the timing and nature of changes in degree of processing introduced; the growth and impact of the smelting and refining industry; and the results of a long-term investigation into the ratio of unit price to world metal price, with unit price defined as total value of Ontario production of a particular metal in all its forms, divided by total quantity produced, conducted on a metal-by-metal basis. The impact of GATT negotiations and the Free Trade Agreement on the Ontario metal mining sector were also investigated, carried out by interviewing specific metal producers.