Prince George, B.C.- The Mining  industry is  waiting for the expert  panel  report on the  Mount Polley  tailings  pond breach.   The President of the  Mining Association of B.C.  Karina Brino,  says  the report, which is due at the end of this month,  will be the base for  further discussions  on the measures  needed to  be taken “to restore public confidence”. 

While  dropping commodity prices have  had a negative impact on the  sector with mines  moving into  care and maintenance mode and  workers  placed on lay off,  the  Mount Polley breach was as damaging as any plunge in commodity  pricing.

The KSM  gold and copper mine project in the Northwest of B.C. ( near Stewart) felt the  impact of the Mt. Polley  disaster.  KSM had received its provincial  environmental assessment approval in July of 2014, and  Federal approval was  expected  within days, and then Mt.Polley happened.

“It (Mt. Polley)  provided an opportunity for us to  demonstrate to all the stakeholders that  our facility was different ” says Rudi Fronk, chairman and CEO  of Seabridge Gold , the  company developing KSM.  The Federal approval finally came, December 19th.

“Public perception of mining is a challenge” says  New Gold President  Bob Gallagher ” especially in urban centres”.   But Gallagher says  there are other issues,   and while commodity prices  are among the challenges, he sees  the need for a skilled labour force  as a key  issue as well.  “Labour supply has become a  global commodity, like gold.”

Some companies, like  Seabridge, have  started working with Northwest College and local communities (Terrace, Nisga’a, Kitimat, Stewart and Smithers) to  help  develop  the workforce that will be needed. “Ideally we would like to hire  100% of our workforce  from local communities” says Seabridge’s Rudi Fronk “however, given the size of the project that may not  be realistic.”

Another issue is  what  Teck Resources Vice President Mark Edwards  termed as “the evolving legal framework around Aboriginal title” an issue that  has been heightened in the wake of the Tsihlqot’in decision.

But despite sagging commodity prices,  increased public scrutiny, Aboriginal title issues and  labour force challenges,  Mining  Association  of B.C. President Karina Brino remains optimistic “The industry remains committed to working through those difficulties.”