VIDEO: PM Stephen Harper Speaks at PDAC 2014
Hails His Government’s Support for Mining, Hints at Funds for Ring of Fire
The rumours started to spread around 8 a.m. on March 3rd that the Prime Minister was going to speak at PDAC 2014 Canada’s largest mining conventions that annually draws near to 30,000 people involved in various aspects of the mining industry.
Prime Minister a last minute addition to PDAC
But it wasn’t until 10 a.m. that someone finally verified that Prime Minister Harper was indeed going to speak at PDOC 2014 in the early afternoon, thus becoming the first sitting Prime Minister to address the 82-year old PDAC convention.
Sixty or so journalists from around the world lined up as early as 12 noon to sign up to cover the Prime Minister’s speech. Security was tight and we journalists had our equipment checked and sniffed out by trained German shepherd sniffer dogs before being escorted the Metro Convention Centre’s Constitution Hall for PM Harper’s speech.
New PDAC President Rod Thomas introduced Harper
New PDAC President Rod Thomas introduced Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then interviewed the PM talk show style in front of an estimated 400 convention goers. No questions were entertained by Harper from the media or the audience.
Speech Contained Condemnation of Russia’s Military Incursion into Crimea
Part of Harper’s speech didn’t deal with mining at all as he used the gathering to condemn Russia’s sending of troops into Crimea and intensifying the grave situation in the Ukraine.
Harper Outlines How His Government Helps Mining Sector
In the remainder of the speech Harper outlined how his government had helped the mining industry and he emphasized that Canada is among the world’s largest mining nations. Mining is a key sector in Canada’s economy.
“Canada is one of the world’s leading mining nations. Our government recognizes the importance of the industry and has been taking important steps to help make it more competitive and productive,” he told the audience.
Streamlined Approvals Process and Attempts to Improve First Nations Relations
He cited Ottawa’s recent efforts to streamline the often-lengthy review process for major projects along with efforts to improve relations with First Nations potentially affected by new projects adjacent to their communities.
Harper said the Canadian mining industry’s solid reputation abroad is one of the reasons why the Toronto convention is the largest of its kind in the world.
Ring of Fire
New PDAC President Rod Thomas asked Harper about funding for infrastructure spending on the Ring of Fire mineral belt in Northern Ontario which needs transportation infrastructure before its enormous economic potential can be realized.
In responding Harper implied that the federal government’s $14 billion infrastructure fund may provide some funding for infrastructure development in the Ring of Fire, but was not definite saying: “we will prioritize those dollars principally in collaboration with the provinces…”
“So they will have a lot to deal with deciding how much of those dollars they want to put into areas like Ontario’s Ring of Fire, areas where there is obviously need for major infrastructure,” he said.
On February 14, Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines, challenged the federal government to name a representative to the Development Corporation the province has created to facilitate the funding and development of Ring of Fire infrastructure on a partnership basis. At the same time, Gravelle announced that Ontario has hired Deloitte LLP to advise it on how to proceed with development of the $60-billion Ring of Fire located in the James Bay lowlands.
To date, the federal government has not indicated whether it will cooperate with Ontario on partnering to build Ring of Fire infrastructure.
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