WHISTLER, B.C. – With the economic performance of Canada's
mining industry the strongest in many years, federal, provincial and territorial
mines ministers concluded the 64th Annual Mines Ministers' Conference
today.
Ministers agreed to press forward in the key areas of regulatory performance,
skills development, technology research, geoscience and Aboriginal engagement.
This will support the positive economic outlook for the mining sector and build
on the Mining Action Plan for Canada agreed to at last year's conference.
The minerals and metals industry contributed some $40 billion to Canada's GDP
and 369,000 jobs for Canadians in 2006. The mining sector is expected to
continue its positive economic performance with estimates that exploration
expenditures in Canada could reach $2.5 billion in 2007, up 33 percent from the
previous year.
"The performance of the mining sector continues to be impressive." said the
Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. "Governments and industry
must continue to work together and improve the competitiveness and sustain
growth of Canada's mining industry, while making it a world leader in
environmental and corporate responsibility issues."
"I am very encouraged with the progress the provinces, territories and
federal government have made on mining issues, particularly with regard to
regulatory reform", said Minister Krueger. "It is only by working together that
governments, communities, Aboriginal peoples and industry can continue to
benefit from a strong and sustainable Canadian mining sector."
Now is the time for governments and industry to focus on the future and
prepare for intense global competition and future cyclical downturns. Building
on their ongoing commitment to enhance the competitiveness of Canada's mining
sector, the Mines Ministers agreed to:
assess the feasibility of a Resources Sectors Skills and Capacity Table,
involving industry and governments, to address the shortage of skilled labour
that spans all resource sectors;
endorse the Canadian Mining Innovation Council and ask that it develop a
Pan-Canadian mining research and innovation strategy to be presented at the
2008 Mines Ministers' Conference. Ministers agreed on the need for an overall
strategy, adapted to regional needs that maximize the strengths of existing
research centres. Science and technological solutions can help the mining
sector with many of its challenges, including improving productivity and
energy efficiency and protecting worker health and safety and the
environment;
reaffirm their support to strengthen Canada's public geoscience information
to stimulate exploration for new mineral resources. New resources are crucial
to the continued success of Canada's mining sector.
Ministers unanimously agreed that engagement between governments, Aboriginal
peoples, communities, industry and other interested parties is essential to
ensuring the long term sustainability of Canada's mining sector. As a result
Ministers directed that approaches be explored, including the development of
best practices involving government, industry and aboriginal peoples.
As well, the ministers are pleased that mineral exploration companies have
received clarification from the Canada Revenue Agency about eligible Canadian
Exploration Expenses, which will now include costs of community consultations
and baseline environmental assessment studies.
The ministers also discussed several other initiatives pertaining to
sustainable mining and environmental protection, including mine closures and
site rehabilitation and orphaned and abandoned mines.
Finally, in a joint session of Mines and Energy Ministers, Ministers agreed
to support existing and new regulatory improvement processes pertaining to
environmental assessments. They also agreed to collaborate with the Canadian
Council of Ministers of the Environment and regulatory agencies to develop
solutions to improve the regulatory process, while continuing to take action as
individual governments.
The Annual Mines Ministers' Conference is an opportunity for the federal,
provincial and territorial mines ministers and mining stakeholders to discuss
and plan for the future of mining in Canada. The conference helps to ensure that
the benefits of mining are realized in every province and territory, and that
opportunities for Canadians in mining continue to grow, now and in the
future.
The 65th Annual Mines Ministers Conference will be held in
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2008.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, has announced the awarding of two geoscience survey contracts worth $1.73 million. The contracts will provide knowledge essential to finding new mineral and energy deposits in areas of B.C. affected by the mountain pine beetle.-->
Media may contact:
Alyson Robb Office of the Minister Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa 613-996-2007
Jake JacobsPublic Affairs OfficerBritish Columbia Ministry of
EnergyMines and Petroleum Resources250-952-0629Cell:
250-213-6934
The general public may contact:
Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30 EDTTelephone: 613-995-0947TTY:
613-996-4397(teletype for the hearing-impaired) E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media:
Strong
Growth Expected for Canada’s Mining Sector
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releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
