Mining:
Ralph led the caucus task force on mining. It brought forth 45 recommendations for revitalization of B.C.’s mining industry, resulting in the appointment of a cabinet minister for mining, and setting stage for a four-fold resurgence in mine exploration and investment.
Comments by Ralph Sultan
Canadian Institute
Improving B.C. Land Access and Community Consultation
Not much more than a year ago, I rose in the British Columbia Legislature and said:
If we simply project the trend of the last dozen years, much of what remains of B.C.'s gold and metal mining will be gone. Coal and aggregate are in better shape but also under pressure. While market prices dictate much of what happens, an even bigger factor is government policy. Some say that for 30 years B.C. mining policy fluctuated between indifference and hostility.
The NDP was particularly clever at writing new lyrics to that old song, Fifty Ways to Leave Your …Province. Under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell, this province is trying to change that tune.
In May, Energy and Mines Minister Neufeld asked a group of 15 private members to study this situation and bring forward recommendations. A considerable block of MLA’s... visited 35 mining locations, received written briefs from some 80 organizations and citizens, and talked with several hundred miners, mayors and first nations. We went out and asked them what to do, and they told us.
Mining sustains the heartlands. Mining produces good, community-supporting jobs, and a mine's life is long. At $89,000, mining pays [its workers] more than any other resource sector. Mining has a great potential to generate an even larger chunk of government revenue.
Mining in B.C. has a magnificent cluster of geoscientists, financiers, engineers, entrepreneurs, lawyers and environmental technicians who tend to be focused globally, not in their own back yard. With few exceptions, they would prefer to work at home.
The task force is committed to making that happen.
-Extract from Official Report of Debates of the B.C. Legislative Assembly
(Hansard) Wednesday, October 8, 2003
4th Session, 37th Parliament
What a difference a year makes.
I like to think that our task force helped move mining onto centre stage in this government, led to the appointment of a cabinet minister responsible only for mining – a place at the table that forestry had enjoyed for years - and sparked the recognition this core industry has long deserved.
Helped along by surging commodity markets abroad and a new sense of business confidence at home, we now see quintupled exploration spending and more than a dozen new mines – some of them in the quarter billion range – working their way through an expedited decision process.
The NDP slogan of “Mine Free by ‘93” has been replaced by “Mines Galore in ’04.”
Notes from Ralph: Mining Plan Released;
$25 million Geoscience Grant Announced
On a rainy January 18, Energy and Mines Minister Richard Neufeld and Mines Minster of State Pat Bell released the long-awaited Mining Plan for the province of British Columbia.
The announcement venue was Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, selected because it was once a mine quarry and is now a beautiful sunken garden much favoured as a photographic backdrop by wedding couples in spring and summer. This illustrates the benign impact mining activity can have, even in the centre of our largest city.
News Release:
The news release accompanying release of the Mining Plan, focused on the rapid growth in exploration spending in the province, as well as geoscience initiatives.
“Investment in mineral exploration in BC topped $130 million in 2004, four times the total for 2001,” Minister of Energy and Mines Richard Neufeld and Minister of State for Mining Pat Bell announced today as they released new geoscience publications and maps designed to encourage further exploration and investment in B.C.’s revitalized mining sector.
Minister Bell's Report:
Mines Minister Bell circulated the following commentary to his constituents and others: “[It was] a very exciting week for me this past week as I was able to introduce the "Mining Plan" for BC which was a primary part of my mandate that was assigned to me by the Premier. The Mining Plan contains 4 cornerstones:
1. Focus on communities and First Nations.
2. Protecting workers, protecting the environment.
3. Global competitiveness.
4. Access to land."
Roundup:
To say the mood at Roundup, the annual conclave of explorations at Vancouver’s Bayshore Inn, was exuberant would be an understatement. Registration at over 6,000 set a new record. Halls and meeting rooms were packed with geologists, company executives, explorationists, and politicians. The Prospector’s Tent, set up on the front lawn outside the hotel, handled overflow crowds seeking refreshment.
At Roundup’s wind-up dinner Premier Gordon Campbell delivered (to multiple standing ovations) remarks extolling the new confidence of the mining industry in this province, and noting the enthusiasm with which the industry’s rapidly increasing investment has been received in Victoria, and confidence for the future.
To emphasize the Government’s support of the B.C. mining industry, Premier Gordon Campbell announced a grant of $25 million for geoscience to be administered by the B.C. and Yukon Chamber of Mines. This fund will be helpful in restoring the province’s geoscience program to the vigorous pace it had enjoyed prior to cutbacks by the previous government during the 90’s.
Premier Gordon Campbell’s announcement was received with great enthusiasm by the Chamber of Mines, and by the broad cross-section of industry participants present.
