Mining
Friday, October 20th, 2023 2:16 pm EDT
Key Points
- British Columbia’s provincial ministry, responsible for mining, is seeking input on a discussion paper to create a strategy for becoming a global supplier of critical minerals while respecting First Nations’ rights and protecting the environment.
- The province aims to take advantage of critical minerals used in technologies like batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, which are vital for combating climate change. British Columbia holds known deposits of 16 of the 31 recognized critical minerals.
- The strategy focuses on collaboration with First Nations, strict environmental guidelines for companies, and an overhaul of the Mineral Tenure Act, aligning with the government’s commitment to a low-carbon, sustainable future. Critics express concerns about potential disruptions and risks associated with critical mineral exploration. Feedback on the discussion paper is open for submission until November 6, 2023.
The provincial ministry responsible for mining in British Columbia (B.C.) is seeking input on a discussion paper outlining the province’s plans to become a global supplier of critical minerals while respecting First Nations’ rights and safeguarding the environment. B.C. aims to harness minerals crucial for green technologies, such as batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels, which play a vital role in mitigating climate change. The province has deposits of 16 of the 31 recognized critical minerals.
B.C.’s Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation is working on a comprehensive strategy, with plans to collaborate closely with First Nations to ensure responsible and environmentally sound mineral extraction. The strategy, expected by early 2024, intends to transform the mining sector while involving First Nations, communities, and industry to responsibly extract and distribute critical minerals.
B.C. has been focusing on the potential of critical minerals since at least 2017, with the World Bank highlighting their significance for a low-carbon future. The B.C. mining industry contributed significantly to the province’s GDP, accounting for $7.3 billion in 2022, more than any other natural resource sector.
The province also recognizes the need to modernize its Mineral Tenure Act, which governs exploration activities in the region. In September, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the province’s mining permit system failed to comply with its duty to consult Indigenous groups, requiring corrections within 18 months.
B.C. has published a discussion paper outlining the critical minerals strategy framework, inviting feedback on six key goals, including Indigenous recognition and reconciliation, transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship. An advisory committee, co-chaired by ministry officials and the First Nations Leadership Council, will review the draft strategy. The federal government launched a national critical minerals strategy in December 2020, aligning with many of B.C.’s objectives.
Critics, including Mining Watch Canada, have voiced concerns about the potential disruptions and risks associated with critical mineral exploration in B.C. However, the province sees an opportunity to harness these minerals for a sustainable, low-carbon future. Feedback on the discussion paper is open for submission until November 6, 2023.
For the full original article on CBC, please click here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-critical-minerals-strategy-advisory-committee-feedback-request-1.7001957
