Mining, Digging Up Support

By 250 News

    SMITHERS, B.C. - "No major mine has opened in the province of BC since 1997" those are the words of Byng Giraud, Vice President of Policy and Communications for the Mining Association of British Columbia.

(at right Byng Giraud, photo Opinion250 staff)

Eskay Creek has now closed, Hulckleberry is done in 2011, and Kemess is closing in two years after they failed in their expansion.

"We have talked a lot about mining" Giraud says "but the reality is that we haven’t brought a big project on stream in more than a decade."

There have been lots of exploration permits issued he said "But keep in mind that only one out of every 1,000 explorations carried out actually results in a mine. "

The mining official says that 6 new major mines in this province would make up for the down fall in the forest industry ,"The problem of course is that it takes seven years until you actually have a permit in your hands and then another three or more years to get the project up and running.

It takes about 40 years for the forests that were destroyed by the Mountain pine beetle to regenerate, ten years in the economic slump is a long time the mining industry says.

The Minerals North 2008 mining conference being held  in Smithers has been told that as long as the mining groups know the rules the industry can operate under them. "We’re happy to pay taxes or other costs to the local municipality, the province, the 1^st Nations people or who ever, just as long as we know what the rules and conditions are."

Most of the mining companies have operated around the world and they say then can operate anywhere.

Giraud is at the conferencespeaking on behalf of the Mining Association of BC, He is also trying to promote a new power line along highway 37 north that would serve new mines, 1^st Nations and all other communities along the way.

Giraud says part of the challenge is to have  all residents of B.C.  including thelower mainland, understand thr importance of mining, " I think they don’t at this time."

Opinion250 is attending the Minerals North conference in Smithers and will provide updates throughout the conference on the issues discussed.

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