Federal Budget invests in mining essentials

Mining Association of Canada welcomes investment in key areas

OTTAWA, March 22, 2016 /CNW/ - The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) welcomes the new Liberal government's investment in key priorities that facilitate the responsible growth of mining in Canada.

"Budget 2016 makes appropriate investments to enable the continued sustainable development of Canada's mining sector," stated Pierre Gratton, MAC's President and CEO. "Canada's mining industry, a world leader in sustainability standards and practices, supports the Government of Canada's priorities of a clean growth economy and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples."

Specifically, today's budget addresses a number of issues that MAC has raised with the new government, including: 

• Investments in key regulatory agencies, such as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, that will help ensure sufficient capacity exists to carry out efficient regulatory reviews of major mining projects.
• Funding to support CEAA's capacity to undertake meaningful consultations with Indigenous groups.
• New, long overdue investment in Natural Resources Canada's science laboratories that promises to support new partnerships in clean tech and innovation with the mining sector.
• Support for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency to continue its role in supporting northern regulatory efficiencies.
• Renewal of the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit at a critical time for Canada's junior exploration sector.
• Resolving a tax irritant of double taxation of GHG emission allowances.

The Liberal government's first budget also makes historic investments towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, including significant investments in education, skills training and in social and economic infrastructure.  These investments are important building blocks for accelerating the participation of Indigenous Canadians in the mining industry.

"Mining is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Indigenous Canadians and is actively implementing over 265 agreements with Indigenous communities across Canada," stated Gratton.  "MAC members recognize that Canada's Indigenous peoples are key partners.  Today's investments will increase the ability of Indigenous Canadians to participate in, and benefit from, the opportunities offered by mineral exploration and mining development," stated Gratton. 

MAC welcomes the government's proposed $1 billion commitment over four years, starting in 2017-18, to support clean technology and innovation in the natural resources sectors, as well as the $800 million to support innovation networks and clusters.  MAC and its partner, the Canada Mining Innovation Council, looks forward to working with the government to implement its Innovation Agenda in the mining sector.

As expected, Budget 2016 also allocates significant funding to support infrastructure investments.  The mining sector is hopeful that future infrastructure planning will include a focus on improving Canada's trade corridors and investing in northern infrastructure to encourage new mineral development and improve the economic opportunities for northern communities.

About MAC
The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry.  Its members account for most of Canada's production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, mined oil sands and industrial minerals and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca. 

SOURCE Mining Association of Canada (MAC)

Jessica Draker, [phone] x225 or [email protected]; Johanne Senécal, [phone] x325 or [email protected]