VICTORIA - Speaking for the mining industry in the province, Michael McPhie, president and CEO of the MINING ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, finds that the language of the provincial budget "speaks strongly in favour of mineral development."
Key proposals of the budget are:
$18 million in support of the provincial mining plan;
$25 million for geoscience;
a focus on achieving timely mine permitting;
a recognition of the need to be globally competitive; and
a commitment to inform, consult and encourage mining awareness.
McPhie said that confidence is returning to the B.C. mining industry. Mineral exploration spending rose to $130 million in 2004, rather than the bleak $29-million figure in 2001. And there are 13 new mine development projects in various stages of assessment and evaluation in the province.
"So the question for us," says McPhie, "is, do the prospects for building new mines look brighter today than they did yesterday? The answer is Yes."
More information on British Columbia's policies regarding the mining industry may be found at www.mining.bc.ca.
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