Minister of State for Mining Optimistic Galore Creek Will Proceed

Friday, April 18, 2008 03:59 AM

Smithers, B.C. - The Minister of State for Mining in BC Kevin Krueger, says he believes the Galore Creek mine is on a very temporary hold and will be going ahead.

Krueger made the announcement at the Minerals North Conference in Smithers on Thursday night.

"They are now looking at a new mill plan and when that is complete I think you will see them go ahead with the project."

While only 1/25th of 1% of BC land is being taken up by mines it is a major contributor to the BC economy and growing. In 2006 Krueger said, mining contributed 8 billion dollars to the BC economy.

Asked about the fact that the last three major mines opened in the province were all established under the old NDP government Krueger said the NDP actually stifled mining during their time in office and it has taken many years to catch up.

Krueger says the province is working with the federal government to try and speed up the permitting process so that it does not take up to 7 years to get a permit and upwards of up to 10 years before a mine gets into production.

Krueger is optimistic "I can see the day when highway 37 north will be like a pearl necklace of mines up and down the road."

He also said there have been encouraging results from GeoScience BC in the area about 200 kilometers west of Williams Lake and the exploration there looks very promising.

The conference ends today following a speech from BC Premier Gordon Campbell.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: ammonra on April 18 2008 7:12 AM

Perhaps Krueger should "stifle" mining like he says the NDP did, perhaps then we could have a few more major developments in the province.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 18 2008 7:24 AM

Lets see, the NDP were in control for 10 years, and it takes 10 years to put a mine into production.

Clearly the NDP were not able to stop every mining project as these mines must have slipped into the permit line up before the NDP was able to stop them. The exploration was way easier to put a stop to, so there would be no mines in the pipeline by time the NDP were left (were boot out) on the street wondering what happened to the party they were having.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 18 2008 7:50 AM

I'll tell you one thing that you can bet on...if the Mt.Milligan mine fails to get a permit,John Rustad will never win another election in this neck of the woods!
And he won't be the only one!
There is absolutley no reason for this mine not to come online in the very near future except for political bulls**t!
Here is a mining company (Terrane) who have jumped through all the right hoops and done a damn good job of it.
If they fail,then we can just forget about mining in B.C. because no one else will even bother.
Mining has been a political football for far too long, and it is time our politians in Victoria,Ottawa,and here in the north got their acst together!

Posted by: northman on April 18 2008 8:03 AM

Andyfreeze is bang on. Opinion 250 should give him a shot at a column because every one of his posts is extremely accuarate when it comes to things that are happening in the north. As for Terrane metals, they have done an extreme amount of due dilligence. I have been to sevral mining camps in this reigion and Terranes camp and operation by far is the cleanist one there, its cleaner then the nakadzli reserve which is trying to hold the mine up.

Posted by: Ragtop on April 18 2008 8:10 AM

Right on Andyfreeze. If you cant grow it you gotta mine it.

Posted by: my2bits on April 18 2008 8:50 AM

The Hwy. 37 area is our last corner of wilderness. I hope we never see the day when it becomes a pearl necklace o mines.