A Conservative government would reverse cabinet orders that have curbed certain mineral exploration activities in B.C. and conduct a review of mining regulations and taxes with the view of streamlining permitting and implementing a competitive tax structure.
The Conservative Party of B.C. today released its platform on mining. It pledges to “simplify permitting, cut redundant regulations, invest in rural infrastructure, and foster strong Indigenous partnerships for economic reconciliation.”
The platform notes that there are 16 critical mineral mine projects proposed for B.C.
“Together, they would inject $80 billion into the economy, create paycheques worth $22 billion, generate $11 billion in provincial tax revenues – more than the entire NDP deficit," the party says in a news release. "These mines remain in limbo, waiting for approval from one of the longest permitting processes in the world.
“It takes a shocking 12-15 years to secure approval for a mine in B.C., compared to 2-3 years in Australia, 5 years in in Chile, and under 2 years in Sweden.”
The Conservative mining platform pledges a review of B.C.’s mining regulations and the removal of “unnecessary or duplicative requirements that do not meaningfully contribute to safety or environmental protection.”
It also pledges to review B.C.’s tax competitiveness.
The Conservatives are promising to reverse orders in cabinet that made “certain areas” of B.C. off limits to mineral exploration.
As BIV in March, the B.C. government resorted to a rarely used mechanism under the Environment and Land Use Act to put all mining and mineral exploration and permitting activity on hold in two specific areas of B.C. -- Banks Island and a portion of Vancouver Island that is traditional territory to the Ehattesaht First Nation.
The moratorium was described a temporary measure by the government and was intended to put exploration activities on hold until the Mineral Tenure Act could be amended to address concerns First Nations have over mineral claims being filed in their traditional territories without their knowledge or consent.
According to the orders in council, the moratoria on all mining activities would be for five years for new mining leases and new permits, and indefinite for new mineral or placer claims without agreement of the respective First Nations.
The Association of Mineral exploration (AME) raised concerns about the moratoria, and recommended that prospectors and mineral exploration companies with claims or permits in the affected areas be compensated.
“Mining begins with exploration, which itself supports thousands of professional jobs,” the Conservatives say in a press release. “We will reverse the NDP’s unprecedented March 2024 cabinet orders which make exploration effectively impossible in certain areas of B.C.”
The Conservatives are also committing to addressing infrastructure deficits that may be barriers to mine development, and are promising to “identify gaps in rural B.C.’s public infrastructure and make targeted investments that unlock opportunity.”
The Conservatives also pledge to “strengthen indigenous partnerships,” and ensure that taxpayers are not left on the hook for remediation when a mine shuts down or is shut down.
“We will design tougher and smarter protections to ensure that those who build mines are truly responsible for all remediation costs at closure – not taxpayers," the party says.
The Association of Mineral Exploration (AME) responded favourably to some of the pledges being made by the Conservatives.
“I'm happy to see the announcement today emphasizes the importance of exploration in developing the mines of the future, as well as the importance of greenfield exploration which is essential for the critical mineral future,” AME executive director Keerit Jutla.
“Expediting mine permitting and ensuring that land use planning is conducted publicly is a positive step for investment in our province and gives explorers the certainty, transparency and fairness they are seeking.”
Following today's release of the Conservative Party's platform on mining, the NDP also released their .
