August 2009

The Honourable Randy Hawes
Minister of State for Mining

Minister's Message

B.C.’s mining industry has a rich history and continues to be a key investment driver for British Columbia.

My first couple of months as the Minister of State for Mining have been action packed. It’s been really great getting out and meeting the people who make mining such a vital industry in this province.

In July I visited the New Afton, Highland Valley Copper, Gibraltar, Prosperity Project and Mount Polley mines in the south central part of the province. As you will see by the photos, it was a busy and extremely informative trip and I look forward to heading out again.

I’ve also taken part in the Minister’s Council on Mineral Exploration and Mining and attended my first meeting as Minister with the Aggregate Producers Association of B.C.

Mining is critical to B.C.’s economic future. It creates good, well-paying jobs and generates economic activity in regions across the province. The Harmonized Sales Tax, which will come into effect July 2010, will provide significant benefits to B.C. export industries, including mining by further reducing mine operating and capital costs.

B.C. will have the lowest Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Canada, at a single sales tax rate of 12 per cent. Once fully implemented, the Harmonized Sales Tax will make B.C. one of the most competitive jurisdictions in the industrialized world for new investments.

The Province is also working with our federal counterparts to streamline approvals that will help projects get off the ground faster, creating jobs and attracting even more investment into the province.

We have a lot to look forward to here in B.C. and I’m anticipating a busy fall. B.C. has a thriving, globally competitive and environmentally responsible mining industry, thanks to the hard working people who are making this happen.

Randy Hawes
Minister of State for Mining

Mining and other industries to benefit from HST

In July 2010, B.C. will adopt a harmonized sales tax, one of six other Canadian provinces with a similar tax system.

The province will boast the lowest harmonized sales tax in Canada when we move to this more efficient system.

The HST is great news for industry across B.C. and will remove about $2 billion in costs from job supporting sectors such as mining, forestry, oil and gas, construction and more.

Mining and oil and gas will see about $80 million in costs removed, which can be passed down to consumers and provide new opportunities for mining in the province.

The HST will make B.C. one of the most competitive jurisdictions, not just in Canada, but in the industrialized world. Moving to the HST will result in a 40 per cent reduction to the effective tax on new business investment. 

Minister Hawes pays a visit to Highland Valley Copper Mine near Kamloops in July. Here he is shown with from left, Kamloops Mining and Minerals Division Regional Director Joe Seguin and mine manager Frank Amon.

Mine Visit Summer 2009

Minister Hawes got out on the road this July, paying visits to mines across B.C.'s south central region. The tour was an invaluable experience, providing a chance to see up close the work done in B.C.'s mining industry.

Minister Hawes checks out a 240 tonne Caterpillar haul truck with Mine Manager Frank Amon while visiting the Kamloops area Highland Valley Copper Mine on July 24.

 July 24th also included a trip to the New Afton Mine.

On July 27, the Minister enjoyed a stop at the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine. This shot was taken at the reclaim barge.

On July 28 the Minister visited the Mount Polley operation.

A Celebration of Assaying

B.C. is the world centre of excellence for laboratories that supply exploration and mining companies with analyses, in part because it’s the only mining jurisdiction in the world that requires assayers to pass an examination before being certified.

The Assayers Certification Program, authorized in the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Act, requires that candidates be examined by an independent Board of Examiners drawn from educators and industry. Those who successfully fulfill the rigorous requirements of the exam are granted a Certificate of Proficiency by the Province of British Columbia and signed by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

In June, a Celebration of Assaying was held at the Teck smelter in Trail to mark 40 years of service by Patrick Creighton, a B.C. certified assayer at the analytical and assay laboratory. The gathering, organized by Dr. Scott Daniels, the laboratory superintendant, was attended by more than 60 people, including staff and other certified assayers.

Ground level view of former Yankee Girl mine site.

Former mine site cleaned up in Ymir

A former contaminated metal mine tailings site has been cleaned up and hosts an outdoor amphitheatre and may be used as a Frisbee golf course.

The Province has spent $6.1 million to remediate the Yankee Girl tailings site to provide protection of human health and the environment, as well as improved fish habitat in Salmo River and Ymir Creek. The remediated site can now be used by the community after decades of underutilization.

The Yankee Girl and Dundee mines, located near the community of Ymir, south of Nelson, were mined from the late 1800s until the 1950s. Ore obtained from the mine workings was processed at a mineral processing mill located adjacent to Ymir and resulted in significant amounts of tailings deposited on the banks of the Salmo River and Ymir Creek. The tailings deposit was known as the Yankee Girl tailings site.

Government has committed over $229 million since 2001 to identify, clean up and return to productive use a number of the province’s contaminated sites. For more information on the Crown Land Restoration program visit www.al.gov.bc.ca/clad/ccs.