READER COMMENT: The loss of Canadian mining expertise

In response to last week's Hot Topic concerning foreign ownership of Canadian mineral resources, we received these thoughts that are echo my own.

"Not that long ago, Cominco, Noranda, Lac, Placer, Dome, Falconbridge and Inco were giants in the mining and exploration industry. Canada was one of the kingpins in the world of mining. As these enterprises expanded and trained talented staff, innovation and knowledge flowed from Canada to other mining jurisdictions at a dizzying rate. As those enterprises were taken over, the process of building this knowledge in Canada has begun to recede. I'd like to see Canada reclaim that leadership role, but I believe to do so requires a nationalistic focus. While multi-national companies are always welcome to do business here, the intellectual property (IP) typically remains with the parent company and not the country where the IP is employed. I'd like to see us build more mining companies with head offices in Canada so that flow can be reversed."

— Wes Hanson, president and CEO

Noront Resources, Toronto