Mines Minister Presses to Speed Up Environmental Process

Tuesday, October 03, 2006 02:59 PM

BC Mines Minister Bill Bennett says foreign workers will be needed to fill mining and oil patch positions in the North east part of the province in order for some of the planned mines to go ahead.

The minister says "We are working with Ottawa to try and come up with a new system for temporary workers to come and work in Canada." As it now stands he said "The workers must leave the country after one year and then re apply and we need to change that."

Bennett says just over 100,000 workers will be needed in BC and Alberta and that far exceeds the number of Canadians who can do the job. Workers from India and Mexico have been targeted as areas from which skilled labor will be drawn.

Meantime Dan Jepson, President and CEO of the Association of Mineral Exploration say plans are underway for 25 new mines in this province. Of that number, 8 are coal related although West Hawk he said is not on the immediate horizon.

Jepson says there is a huge difference between the exploration that is taking place in the Nechako basin right now and actual mines that will be built. "For every 2,000 claims you usually get 1 mine" he said speaking to the sheer volume of claims that have been staked in the Nechako basin. It is the area where most of the exploration has been taking place says Minister Bennett.

As the forest cover is eliminated from the beetle infestation, he says it exposes the opportunity to seek more minerals in the area. "We need to build more mines while the economy is strong said Bennett and that is why the group he led to Ottawa is trying to speed up the environmental process that presently exists. BC has a 180 day process he said, while that is not the case with the Federal government.

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Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 02:59 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on October 3 2006 8:53 PM

Lotsa mines to be shut down when the N.D.P. gets re-elected. Boom times again fer the welfare gravy train, eh? I remember when they (the socialists) were around, mining was kinda shunned.

Posted by: Chadermando on October 4 2006 1:08 AM

I see no benefit in mines if they employ foreign labour. The citizens of Canada will pay two fold.

I think this here article is a must read for everyone. Especially the so called economic development types.

The New Face Of Class War

http://www.rense.com/general73/facef.htm

Very compelling facts that we are in the middle of an unprecidented assualt on the upward mobility society of past generations.

Posted by: Chadermando on October 4 2006 1:05 PM

Lefty I agree with you it is all about wage arbitrage and using foreign workers to undermine the Canadian worker. The sick thing is that it is our elected government that promotes this and worse yet for the oposition who remains silent about its real agenda.

I can't but wonder why aren't all those unemployed native people acceptable for employment over the Indians, and Mexicans. Is it because the foreigners will operate under different rules. They would both be of equal value as a worker IMO, and no one can tell me you need to be a rocket scientist to work in a mine.

Its all about undercutting Canadian values and Canadian rights to create profits for the elite.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on October 5 2006 9:00 PM

Yah, lets not open any new mines. The economy will survive without mines, cause money grows on trees....drat..darn Pine Beetle.