HOT TOPIC: Foreign ownership of Canadian resources (November 25, 2009)

Foreign ownership of Canadian mineral resources has been hotly debated for decades. With an American company, Cliffs Natural Resources, gaining control of three potential chromite producers in Ontario, the question is again raised.

So we ask CMJ readers how they feel. Should Canadian mines be Canadian-owned? Do you support the idea of foreign ownership by Americans? What about other countries?

Please go to www.CanadianMiningJournal.com and vote by clicking on the Hot Topic box on the right hand side of the page.

Your comments are always welcome. Send them to the Net News editor, Marilyn Scales, MScales@CanadianMiningJournal.com.

Last week: Our readers have weighed in with their guesses as to the price of gold by the end of this year. Ten per cent thought it would be between US$1,000 and $1,100, 30% suggested $1,101 to $1,200 and 32.5% suggested $1,201 to $1,300. Their responses are relatively conservative.

Twelve-and-a-half per cent opted for $1,301 to $1,400 and no one thought $1,401, to $1,500 would be the year-end value. An intrepid 15% of respondents think the price of gold will rise above the $1,500 threshold in the next five weeks.

Wherever the price winds up, I hope it stays at that level rather than collapsing.