"No need for Ontario’s approval under the Mining Act to send that quasi-processed chromite ore out of province or country. Cliffs already announced it will send 1Mt/yr of concentrate to China. Ontario can not stop the shipments."

Frank Smeenk mentioned this section of the Mining Act at some point during a post AGM chat in Montreal last February (my underlines). Cliffs will have to cope with these provisions, and may need some help to get the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council's (ie the Ontario Government's) exemption...

Condition of patent ores to be treated in Canada

91. (1)All lands, claims or mining rights patented, leased or otherwise disposed of under this or any other Act or by any authority whatsoever are subject to the condition that all ores or minerals raised or removed therefrom shall be treated and refined in Canada so as to yield refined metal or other product suitable for direct use in the arts without further treatment, in default whereof the Lieutenant Governor in Council may declare the lease, patent or other form of title of such lands, claims or mining rights to be void, and the order in council so declaring shall be registered in the proper land registry office, or in the case of a licence of occupation, filed in the Minister’s office, whereupon such lands, claims or mining rights revert to and become vested in Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, freed and discharged of any interest or claim of any other person. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.14, s. 91 (1).

Idem

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister may determine the stage of refinement at which any mineral substance is refined metal or other product suitable for direct use in the arts without further treatment. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.14, s. 91 (2).

Exemptions

(3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may exempt any lands, claims or mining rights from the operation of this section for such period of time as seems proper. R.S.O. 1990, c. M.14, s. 91 (3).

Where conflict, section prevails

(4) Where there is any conflict between the provisions of this section and the provisions of any general or special Act, the provisions of this section prevail. R.S.O, 1990, c. M.14, s. 91 (4).