Toward mine development in B.C.

Over the past two years, there has been a modern gold rush in British Columbia. The province is well suited to exploration for the discoveries of gold – and other metals particularly copper, molybdenum and silver.

Even with turbulent economic conditions globally, mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia are expected to be higher than the $322 million recorded in 2010.

There are now more than 350 mineral exploration and 20 major mine projects active throughout the province and exploration expenditures over the next five years could substantially increase beyond the 2007 peak of $416 million.

This level of investment should ultimately lead to new discoveries, mine developments, jobs and government revenues as the “open for business” culture is nurtured and embraced. In addition, B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced in September that government has allocated $24 million to expedite the permitting process. A predictable, well-funded permitting process will accrue to the benefit of not only our industry, but to all British Columbians.

B.C. is also renowned as the world’s centre for mineral exploration and development expertise. With the largest concentration of professional geologists in the world, this province is home to over 800 companies exploring for and developing mineral resources not just here in B.C. and Canada, but around the globe.

More than 400 related consultant and supplier companies support the sector, including technical, legal, investment and accounting firms.

On top of that, almost $3 billion was raised in risk venture capital in B.C. in 2010. As such, mineral exploration and mine development is one of B.C.’s foundational economic drivers.

One of the best indicators of success in mineral exploration is seeing the initial discovery advance through an effective, efficient and transparent permitting process to mine construction and production.

Since prospecting and advanced exploration is the sustaining lifeblood for the mining industry, the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) works on behalf of its 350 corporate and 4,000 individual workers with governments and First Nations to remove unnecessary obstacles and red tape, enabling government to create robust prospecting, mineral exploration and development policies that recognize the importance and value of access to land, provide security of tenure, promote investment and permit exploration activities.

It’s clear that the job opportunities and benefits to all citizens are significant and multi-generational.

For example, the B.C. government has certainly recognized the looming shortage of skilled workers in mineral exploration, development and mining (estimated at 10,000 new workers required over the next 10 years), and AME BC thanks the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation for its contribution in September of sustained funding for the B.C. Mineral Exploration and Mining Labour Shortage Task Force through to September 2014.

Continued funding of this program will help industry attract new Canadians, women and aboriginals, and enhance partnerships between industry and educational institutions to develop lasting technical capacity for many generations.

In fact, one very successful education and job training initiative over the last two years has been the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA).

The BC AMTA, which was created in 2009 through a federal grant, has enrolled almost 800 and already placed over 200 aboriginal people into family sustaining jobs leading to long-term careers in the mining industry.

BC AMTA has strong support from First Nations and BC’s growing mining sector, and AME BC and other industry associations and companies continue to advocate for government to support aboriginal capacity building and economic independence.

Vancouver is truly a centre of excellence for mineral exploration both in B.C. and around the world, and as I write this “In My Mine(d)” column, we are busy finalizing the preparations for AME BC’s flagship event, Mineral Exploration Roundup.

We celebrate the Association’s 100^th anniversary this year, and the theme for our upcoming Roundup is accordingly “Celebrating Our First Century of Global Discovery”. We invite you to join more than 7,000 people from over 30 countries (January 23-26) in Vancouver during B.C.’s “Mineral Exploration Week.”