Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Mines Ministers

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:

i) 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;

ii) 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;

iii) 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.

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For more information, media may contact:

                                               

Alyson Robb            Office of the Minister            Natural   Resources Canada            Ottawa            613-996-2007

Jake Jacobs            Public Affairs Officer            British Columbia Ministry of   Energy            Mines and Petroleum Resources            250-952-0629            Cell:   250-213-6934