Author: TSX Stocks

RHINELANDER, Wis. (WJFW) – There have been no active sulfide mines in Wisconsin for decades. But a mining moratorium was repealed by Governor Scott Walker in 2017. Since then, there has been some exploratory drilling, and the DNR recently approved another mineral exploration. The Canadian mining company GreenLight Metals was recently cleared for drilling in Taylor County’s Bend Deposit, which is believed to contain around 4 million tons of gold and copper. While many environmental advocates say this poses a danger to drinking water in the area, one member of their board of directors says this could be a major step in the United States becoming more self-dependent in its acquisitions of essential minerals.

“We are very confident that we can conduct exploration activities and design a mine project that will be protective of the environment,” said Steve Donahue, a Greenlight board member.

GreenLight Metals is set to go public on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday and are excited about how going public can speed up exploratory drilling in Taylor County. Environmental advocates say that mining of sulfide ores, especially copper, can pollute rivers and groundwater for hundreds of years. Donahue, however says things like the Clean Air and Water Acts, along with Wisconsin’s strict mining laws, allow for two things to be achieved in this state and country.

“Protect the environment and responsibly develop our natural resources,” Donahue said. “Which we need to do so we’re not so beholden to adversarial countries for supplies of things like copper and other critical elements that we need for our economic life.”

Environmentalists worry that mining copper ore can generate acidity that could leach onto rain water. But Donahue says the mining regulations in Wisconsin won’t allow for that to happen.

“It’s true that developing these types of projects can generate things like waste rock and tails,” Donahue said. “Which if not managed properly – which is what the standards in the state require – can generate acidity when rainwater passes through it that would leech metals.”

Donahue says that drilling, known as the exploration stage, will likely continue for the next three to five years before being able to present an environmentally sound project for the DNR Review process – an indication that the actual mining is still a long way off.

“That permitting process is very, very rigorous and it’s designed to protect water resources – which is a goal that we share as a company,” Donahue said. “And we know that those technologies and requirements work because they’ve been applied on other projects that were very successful.”

In a statement to Newswatch 12, The River Alliance of Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy group, said: “This type of mining always pollutes water and shouldn’t be permitted in a water-rich environment like the North Fork of the Yellow River.”

At Scotiabank we have seen firsthand how emerging digital frauds can cause significant disruption to unsuspecting consumers. And, most recently, we have seen a number of these attempts, including smishing and phishing, across the region.

‘Smishing’ is derived from the combination of “SMS” and “Phishing.” Smishing involves fraudulent text messages designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information through a reply or by clicking malicious links. These texts often impersonate reputable institutions such as banks, government agencies or well-known brands, exploiting the trust naturally placed in these organisations.

‘Phishing’ is believed to be derived from ‘fishing’, as in fishing for victims using bait. It is a form of cyberattack where an attempt is made to deceive people into providing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers or other personal details. Fraudsters often achieve this by posing as trustworthy entities through emails, websites, text messages or phone calls.

These attacks can affect individuals in numerous ways. A popular example of ‘smishing’ is the use of a text message prompting you to verify your account details, claim an unexpected reward or warn of an urgent security breach. Once you click on a provided link or respond with personal data, cybercriminals can gain access to your bank account, steal your identity or even commit further fraud in your name.

The damage from such frauds is not limited to immediate financial loss; it can also lead to long-term issues, such as ruined credit scores and the headache of restoring your identity.

Protecting yourself against smishing starts with developing a healthy level of skepticism.

Here are four tips from Scotiabank to protect against ‘Smishing’ attempts:

1. Never click on links or provide personal details in response to unsolicited text messages: Even if the message appears to come from a trusted source. Scotiabank does not ask for private information via SMS and will never ask for your PIN or password. If you are unsure, contact your Bank directly using their official contact information found on their official website or your bank statement.

2. Verify the sender: Check the phone number and any available sender details. Often, smishing messages come from numbers that look slightly different from legitimate ones. And avoid urgency traps; scammers often create a false sense of urgency. Take a moment to evaluate whether the message is truly time sensitive.

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it significantly harder for scammers to access your accounts, even if they obtain your login credentials.

4. Ensure that your bank has all your updated contact information. This is crucial for them to be able to contact you in the event of attempted fraud on your account. 

In addition to the tips, practise the 3 Rs of Fraud Prevention:

Reject: Do not engage with potential fraudsters. Avoid clicking on suspicious links, providing sensitive information, or responding to unsolicited messages.

Report: Immediately report any suspected fraudulent activity to your financial institution. Prompt reporting can help prevent further loss.

Recognize: Stay alert to the common signs of fraud. Be aware of unusual requests, unexpected communications and offers that seem too good to be true. 

As we navigate this digital era, it is critical to remain vigilant and proactive about our online security, ensuring that our financial well-being is safeguarded against even the most subtle cyber threats. 

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank’s vision is to be our clients’ most trusted financial partner and deliver sustainable, profitable growth. Guided by our purpose: “for every future,” we help our clients, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With assets of approximately $1.4 trillion (as at January 31, 2025), Scotiabank is one of the largest banks in North America by assets, and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on X @Scotiabank.

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. will acquire all shares of Angus Gold Inc. in a transaction valued at $40 million.

Each of the shares of Angus that Wesdome does not currently own will be exchanged for $0.62 cash plus 0.0096 of a Wesdome share, representing an aggregate value of $0.77 per Angus common share, based on the closing price of Wesdome’s common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on April 4, 2025, the last trading day prior to announcement of the offer. The offer represents a premium of 59% to Angus’ 20-day volume-weighted average price ending April 4, 2025.

Wesdome operates the Eagle River underground gold mine, which is located 50 km west of Wawa, Ontario. The acquisition will quadruple Wesdome’s land position at Eagle River, consolidating two adjacent properties into one ~400 km² contiguous strategic land package situated on a highly prospective greenstone belt. The expanded footprint hosts multiple targets and mineralization styles.

“This is a highly logical and strategic tuck-in transaction that brings together a contiguous land package between the Eagle River mine and mill, enhancing our ability to unlock value through the drill bit,” said Anthea Bath, president and CEO of Wesdome. “It reinforces our belief in the geological potential of the Mishibishu Lake greenstone belt, aligns with our focus on regional consolidation, and positions us to deliver sustainable, long-term growth supported by our strong balance sheet and existing infrastructure.”