Sisson’s green tungsten myth

As the stock of Northcliff Resources falls to new lows of one to two pennies a share, Northcliff, now fronting for Todd Minerals of New Zealand, is trying a new ploy to wrestle working capital out of New Brunswick taxpayers for its wallowing Sisson mine proposal in the Upper Nashwaak Watershed.

In a company penned article in the current winter 2024 issue of Canadian Mining Magazine, Northcliff CEO Andrew Ing not so subtly hints to New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs that his pitiful mine needs a government handout to be feasible. Ing states:

“In my view, the successful development of any mineral project Is reliant on working collaboratively with government, but the success of critical metals projects – those with a pervasive impact on global development in a way to advance green transition goals in a timely way- is also reliant on the support of government.” [my emphasis]

This self-serving observation comes after 15 years of bombardment of the province with tales of the fabulous riches promised by this socially, environmentally and economically disastrous proposition.

It is extremely ironic that Ing purports that this mine, which will undoubtedly lead to the destruction of the pristine Nashwaak Watershed, is ” a way to advance green transition goals.” Ing further attempts to sweetens his “green” pitch by reminding the premier that tungsten can “help in the revolution in the way energy is generated, stored, and used, all of which advances a green future.”

The Sisson mine has disaster written all over it, and its pitiful performance in the investment world should be enough to inform Premier Higgs and his compliant entourage that this mine is in no way ‘green,’ monetarily or environmentally. However, given the government’s track record in investing in fly-by-night schemes, all bets are off that Higgs will not hand over tax dollars that would be better earmarked for housing and health care. This mine is a guaranteed net liability for the province and continues to be an anchor chain holding back innovation and economic creativity.

Lawrence Wuest is an ecologist living in the Upper Nashwaak on unceded territory of the Wəlastəkwiyik, Mi’kmaq, and Peskotomuhkati.