That is nice. How come none of the Liberal shills are talking about Gordo breaking his own spending law??? Mr. Rustad???

I'm not surprised to hear this. Exploration in this field is generally ramped up when prices for these commodities comes down (like they are now, witness low prices in oil, gas, copper, silver, etc, etc...).

Keeping flooding the market with those commodities, and you'd see prices similar to those in the lumber industry, where there was no control over production in the past couple years (and look at the cheap price of lumber now, and all the mill closures, finally).

Exploration is a relatively cheap task, and can be initiated quite speedily (after some land crossing permits, environmental studies, etc). Don't expect the next "Klondike Gold Rush" though, as our global production/use values need to be straightened out first. I expect that will take about 5 years, based on historical data of similar events in the past.

Just keep your ears open to any news though, and consider investing in the companies that are doing the exploration, provided they have publicly traded equities. You'll see real wealth then, when the market does turn around.

I don't believe there will be much employment in this exploration business though, which is unfortunate for lots of the individuals who are loosing their jobs in other sectors. The government likes to put employment numbers to these new releases, but rarely will the number quoted see that demand.

Mining exploration is strong.. Until the project gets shelved with the stupid permiting process. If we dont see some new projets reach the production stage here soon investors will loose confidence in B.C.

Well said beesknees!
Really great news from Rustad, but has the Campbell government acually APPROVED and permitted any potential mines?
Has the B.C. government actually issued any environmental permits for a mine?
Have they encouraged the federal government to do the same?
All the exploration in the world won't create much in the way of jobs unless they dig a hole in the ground and actually take something out of it!
That would involve a permit to mine and I haven't heard of any new permits being issued?
Maybe John could get back to us on that, after they get done crowing?

The problem is the permitting process evolved from threats from First Nationals and lobbing by hardnosed motherly types on soft-headed politicians of the past.

Any reduction of the permitting process requirement for a dumptruck load of paper and "consulting" bribes, will really raise a howl for the well fed. Then the NDP will take up the cause of "Save of World from Explotation by Corporations".

That is the challenge, the middle road is plugged with a wad of paper that is big enough to choke most projects. So what can be done to change it? No one on here likes a politician that sticks his neck out for anything, never mind something as tough as reducing the "consultation" process.