Mining Association of Nova Scotia unveils new strategic plan

Three years ago, the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS) was founded to represent the mining industry with integrity and responsibility.

Since its inception, the organization has hired staff and established an office in Halifax. The first two Presidents (Gordon Dickie and Peter Oram) were instrumental in advancing issues of interest to the industry and securing funding for certain projects.

Over this short time, MANS has become the centre for sharing industry information and the hub for interaction with policy makers and other stakeholders. This is crucial since the ever-changing demands for environmental awareness and government’s response to these require a strong industry association if mining is to persist in Nova Scotia.

MANS has found its place and is now recognized as the foremost advocacy association for the mining industry in Nova Scotia.

This past April at the MANS’ Annual General Meeting, I was elected as President for a two-year term. In my real life, I am Vice-president of Field Operation, Compliance and Permitting for Acadian Mining Corporation. While serving as Vice-president of the Association, I chaired the Strategic Planning Committee and was instrumental in developing the new 2010-2013 Strategic Plan.

This plan, in conjunction with the recently developed communications plan and new business plan, will both transform and focus the activities of the Association. Given the breadth of issues currently undertaken by MANS, these documents will help ensure that the Association becomes more strategic and effective. No doubt, this refocusing will prove even more beneficial to our membership which consists of producers, exploration and mining companies, consultants, service providers, prospectors and individuals involved in the industry.

The new strategic plan identifies education as one of our key focuses. As acknowledged by the Honourable Constance R. Glube, Chair of the Steering Panel for the Nova Scotia Natural Resources Strategy 2010 in the recently released document entitled: A Natural Balance, Working Toward Nova Scotia’s Natural Resource Strategy, “…new strategy for Nova Scotia’s natural resources emphasizes education at all levels (including Department of Natural Resources (DNR) outreach programs) to broaden understanding of our historical connection to nature and how its resources benefit our current way of life by providing the intrinsic benefits to our social and physical well-being as well as the employment and goods we desire.”

We have also identified education as one of our key focuses. With specific regard to the mining industry, there can be no question that we need to continue to bridge the gap between an informed public and one that is less sure of the advances we have made in recent years. It seems that fewer people appreciate that everyday essentials come from the mining industry.

It is now time for us as an Association and an industry to work in conjunction with governments and other stakeholders, to get that message out throughout Nova Scotia.

What is particularly key for MANS is to ensure that our education outreach is to all levels of government and the public. We have all seen examples where government has implemented a policy decision without having all the science and facts in hand. We need to defend the interest of the mineral resource sector and one of the best ways to do this is to make sure that everyone understands and appreciates our industry.

As the entire community of MANS moves forward with our new focus, we intend to broadcast widely some of the facts that are often overlooked or not known about mining in Nova Scotia.

For example, mining operations in our province, including both historical and current, occupy less than 0.2% of the provincial land mass; we employ over 6300 people; we contribute almost $500M to the province’s GDP; we offer the highest paying jobs in the resource sector, in terms of safety in any given industry, and we rank third overall in the province.

Our small footprint is particularly interesting to note when compared with the mandated goal for 12% protected lands under the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act and the additional lands already excluded from development, such as salt marshes and coastal areas as examples.

We need to make sure everyone understands the significant value that mining brings to the province from an economic, social and environmental point of view -and in such a small footprint!

In conclusion, building relations with policy makers and other stakeholders will be more important than ever if we are to affect further positive social and economic change for the residents of Nova Scotia, and in doing so, assist the mining industry to remain sustainable for years to come.