Tell the world our tale: OMA boss.

Sudbury -- The world needs mining. It just may not know it yet.

"We have a good story to tell, so let's tell it," Chris Hodgson says at an Ontario Mining Association (OMA) forum held in September at the Holiday Inn in Sudbury.

Bolstering a positive image for the mining sector will go a long way to enhancing Ontario's position in the international mining world.

As OMA president, Hodgson wants to work alongside governments, regardless of their political stripe, and align himself with organizations to find common ground on common issues.

Ontario mines need to be competitive enough to create an international edge, he says. The sector has made significant strides in the past decades relating to environment and health and safety issues. To create a greater influence internationally, Hodgson suggests the mining sector follow his lead. It means working from an offensive position rather than a defensive one.

Having a presence in the local chamber of commerce, building a relationship with the mayor, municipal leaders and even the media is important to maintaining a progressive long-term image, he says. Speaking engagements are an opportunity to showcase what the mineral development sector is all about, so long as the presenter keeps it simple.

"Don't over-complicate things."

Leaders have to become ambassadors of their own industry, he says. They need to go out in the world and tell people that without mining, consumers would have access to a fraction of the goods available to them today.

Catalytic converters, for example, not to mention most of the parts in the vehicles wrapped around them would not exist. Nor would the batteries in their cell phones, or the viewing surface in their high-definition televisions, or the copper in the hydro lines that transfer power to that TV and every thing else in the house. No stainless steel, no armour for tanks or planes, and no kitchen sink.

How to develop those relationships

Numbers are an important measurement of success, no question about it, but building relationships bring another form of accomplishment. Developing a healthy, constructive relationship with government is no different. Anyone who submitted a letter to the government knows that it can either be an experience in futility if it isn't worded just right.

Cheryl Brownlee, OMA's manger of stakeholder relations, has a few words of advice on authoring a letter.

First, make sure the letter is about seeking facts, versus aggressively complaining. Positive messages always carry more clout. All letters can be made public and therefore the tone and complexity should be taken into account. Second, explain the issue in "layman's terms." Third, it is important to grab readers in the first part of the letter by stating what the issue is and why it is necessary to come to some resolution. Bringing voter's impact into the content may do more harm than good. This affects the credibility of the author and the complaint. Phoning to get the issue dealt with may equally be the wrong approach.

Finally, offer a meeting to discuss the matter further in the closing statement of the letter, perhaps a tour of the company's facilities or operation. Believe it or not, ministers and deputy ministers sometimes take industry up on the invitation, she says, and it goes a long way in building solid relationships.

www.oma.on.ca

By KELLY LOUISEIZE

Northern Ontario Business