MEETING: CMIF offers energy and mines ministers a roadmap for the future

SAINT ANDREWS, N.B. – As the federal and provincial ministers of energy and mining meet this week in this most scenic of seaside towns, the Canadian Mineral Industry Federation has offered them six fundamental policy areas that need to be addressed collaboratively by various levels of government.

1. Improve the regulatory process: It is critical that current reviews of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, and the Navigation Protection Act result in an effective, timely and co-ordinated regulatory process, from pre-environmental assessment (EA) to post-EA permitting, with meaningful consultation.
2. Support indigenous participation in the mining sector: Governments can further enhance the participation of indigenous peoples in mining through investments in health, education and skills training, and implementing government resource revenue sharing mechanisms. Building on strengths, government should leverage industry as a platform to advance meaningful indigenous economic reconciliation.
3. Adopt effective climate change policies: An effective climate change policy leads to meaningful emissions reductions while enabling the Canadian economy to grow. It needs to be carefully designed to ensure the competitiveness of emissions intensive and trade exposed (EITE) sectors, like mining. Failing to protect EITE sectors will lead to mineral production moving to competitor countries with less stringent climate change policies.
4. Carefully consider land use and withdrawals: Canadian governments should ensure that mineral potential is factored into all land withdrawal decision making processes, and that land use planning and withdrawal decisions are balanced and made through systematic and structured processes. [caption id="attachment_1003719560" align="alignright" width="291"] Canadian mines in remote locations, including the Diavik diamond mine, need governments to address the costs of exploring and mining in the far north.[/caption]
5. Address the costs of operating in remote and northern Canada: The CMIF supports the creation of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and encourages the federal government to ensure that it has a pathway for remote and northern Canada, including infrastructure projects that benefit both industry, local and indigenous communities.
6. Support industry's innovation investments: To help Canada become the leading supplier of sustainably sourced minerals and metals, and the technologies the world needs to best extract them, government and industry collaboration is needed. This includes government support for the proposed CLEER (Clean, Low-energy, Effective, Engaged and Remediated) Clean Resources Innovation Supercluster, led by the Canada Mining Innovation Council and the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation.

The CMIF is a collaboration of national, provincial and territorial associations representing various sectors of the Canadian mineral industry. It is supported by both the Mining Association of Canada (www.Mining.ca) and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (www.PDAC.ca).