Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan provides mining strategy for prosperous future

Jim Carr, Federal Minister of Natural Resources, accompanied by Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources for Newfoundland provided PDAC 2018 attendees in early March 2018, with an introduction to the proposed Canada Mining and Metals Plan.

“Our mining industry is a significant contributor to prosperity for Canadians—providing jobs, supporting communities, and attracting investment,” said Carr. “As we look to the future of mining in Canada, we have an opportunity to be bold in our vision and put plans in place to cement our status as a global mining leader.”

“To achieve this, federal, provincial and territorial governments need your ideas to help build a comprehensive Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan,” Carr added. “Together, we can build a Plan that positions Canadian mining for long-term success—at home and abroad.”

Minerals and metals contribute to Canadians’ lives every day. They are the building blocks of our communities and are found in countless products in our daily lives.  

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mining-materials/mining

In the summer of 2017, provincial ministers of natural resources met and developed a plan to re-invigorate the mining and metals sectors. The plan was presented to Jim Carr, the federal minister of Natural Resources, and the plan was adopted as a discussion paper for Canadians to review, comment and make suggestions.

But until, Carr presented an overview of the plan to PDAC 2018 it was largely unknown to many including the mining community.

What exactly does the Canada Mining and Metals Plan propose?

Unlock Canada’s resource potential

The Canada Mining and Metals Plan proposes to Unlock Canada’s resource potential

That Canada’s full mining potential has not yet been realized, is one of the central messages in the CMMP. The mineral and metals industry contributes to Canadian prosperity and delivers socio-economic benefits to communities in which it operates.

But its full potential has not been realized. Large areas, particularly in the North, contain a diverse range of mineral deposits, but these areas are under-explored and under-developed.

Igniting innovation in mining

The CMMP recognizes Canada is a leader in mining innovation, and that innovation is a key ingredient to the success of the mineral and metals industry.

Mining involves complicated processes, the use of large, expensive machinery and equipment, and exploring extensive areas of land. Applying innovation in these areas can enhance efficiency, lower costs, and maximize extraction.

Modern mining operations require a range of skills. New technology such as, Artificial Intelligence (AI) creates new ways for mining companies to optimize costs and improve productivity, while reducing environmental footprints.

AI technology is in action at the Red Lake mine in Ontario. Goldcorp is using IBM’s Watson cognitive analytics to synthesize geological and drilling data, drilling reports, surveys, and historical information with field knowledge from geologists and engineers.

Using Watson to combine this data and information can lead to more successful exploration activities and help discover profitable mining areas. 

Increasing innovation and applications of clean technology can help reduce costs and protect the health of miners and the environment in general.

These innovations in clean technology and Canada's mines expertise in the field can be exported to other mining countries.

Capitalizing on Canadian leadership in a global market

A strong Canadian mining industry is about successful, sustainable mining and associated activities taking place on Canadian soil. It is also about the global competitiveness of Canadian companies operating abroad.

Canadian mining companies are held to a higher standard.

• The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s e3 Plus is a toolkit to help companies exploring for minerals improve their social, environmental, and health and safety performance.  www.pdac.ca/priorities/responsible-exploration/e3-plus
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• The Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining program helps mining companies meet the need for minerals, metals and energy products in the most social, economically and environmentally responsible way.  It has been adopted by Finland, Argentina, Botswana, and the Philippines, as well as used in Apple’s Supplier Responsibility standards. http://mining.ca/towards-sustainable-mining

Providing regulatory certainty in mining and Streamlining our regulatory environment

Federal, provincial and territorial mining and environmental regulations must safeguard the interests of Canadians and have the confidence of the public. Regulations that are efficient, transparent and predictable give Canadian mining companies a competitive advantage that facilitates sound project planning, investment decisions and Canada’s ability to get resources to market.

Canadian mining companies are held to a higher standard.

The Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA) delivers on Canada’s international commitments to strengthen transparency and accountability in the extractive sector by introducing new reporting obligations for companies engaged in oil, gas, or mineral activities. The Act requires affected companies to publicly disclose, each year, specific payments made to all governments in Canada and abroad.

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/mining-materials/PDF/ESTMA%E2%80%93Guidance.pdf

Canadian extractive companies already operate in a transparent and responsible manner, and the Act reinforces Canada’s leadership by aligning with international standards. The Act includes a substitution provision to minimize the reporting burden for companies with similar obligations in multiple jurisdictions.

Realizing community benefits and supporting a diverse workforce

Mining projects are large projects with a significant presence in communities and regions. Their lifecycle can span decades from pre-exploration to closure, and they cost hundreds of millions of dollars or more to build and operate. Often situated close to northern, remote, isolated and Indigenous communities, these projects can drive community development by bringing socio-economic benefits such as employment, training, procurement and business and infrastructure development.

Women in mining is an important element of the diversity in mining program.

MiHR’s Mining Certification Program

Modern mining operations require a range of skills.

The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) launched the Canadian Mining Certification Program to recognize and certify the skills and competencies of workers in some occupations in the mining industry.

The program helps communities attract, develop and retain skilled employees, while ensuring that those who have been certified hold a professional credential that is recognized throughout the mining industry in Canada.

https://www.mihr.ca/certification-training-standards/the-canadian-mining-certification-program

Fostering an inclusive workforce in mining

Mining projects are large projects with a significant presence in communities and regions. Their lifecycle can span decades from pre-exploration to closure, and they cost hundreds of millions of dollars or more to build and operate. Often situated close to northern, remote, isolated and Indigenous communities, these projects can drive community development by bringing socio-economic benefits such as employment, training, procurement and business and infrastructure development.

Mining projects providing opportunities for Indigenous communities

Advancing the participation of Indigenous peoples in natural resource development should be based on cooperation and partnership as governments and industry work to recognize and respect their rights and interests. This can build trust, lead to opportunities for Indigenous communities, and advance the process of reconciliation.

For example, Seabridge Gold provides opportunities for the public to comment on its KSM project in northwestern B.C. This has allowed it to incorporate feedback, including Traditional Indigenous Knowledge, into its project design. Feedback has also led to initiatives to support community readiness.

Seabridge has a Benefit Agreement with the Nisga’a Nation under which the Nisga’a Nation will support development of the KSM mine, participate in economic benefits, and provide advice on potential impacts from the project.

It also has an environmental agreement with the Gitanyow Wilps related to wildlife, fish, and water quality monitoring.

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mining-materials/aboriginal/bulletin/7817