January 20, 2016 - 12:12 PM
VANCOUVER - The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia says the province must act quickly to reverse trends highlighted in a new report that says access to the land base is shrinking.
The association says the report, by consultant firm Hemmera, reveals a drop in the amount of land available for mineral exploration, while red tape governing land access and development abounds.
Association president Gavin Dirom says exploration is vital, not only to locating new mineral deposits but also to understanding global geology and benefiting from that knowledge.
The group notes 30,000 British Columbians are employed directly in the mineral exploration and development industries and more than $2.2-billion has been spent on exploration in B.C. since 2010.
It says Metro Vancouver has become a global centre of excellence for the industry and headquarters about 800 exploration and mining companies, along with many other technical services around the industry.
The association wants the province to immediately streamline land-use regulations and provide certainty that any new mineral deposits will be developed, if found.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016