Opinion: Why mining matters, now – by Philip Hochstein (Vancouver Sun – October 3, 2013)

http://www.vancouversun.com/index.html

Philip Hochstein is President of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association.

Saying no to the New Prosperity mine means saying no to $11 billion worth of GDP over 20 years

When you live and work in Metro Vancouver or Greater Victoria, it’s easy to ignore the impact of mining, but the British Columbia mining story is exceptional. There is no industry in B.C. right now that has the potential to contribute more to our economy and improve the way of life here than mining, because few industries can create wealth out of raw resources as mining does. And yes, I mean improve life and create wealth in the big cities too.

At environmental assessment hearings this past summer, I spoke in favour of the proposed New Prosperity mine, which is 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake. Why would a Burnaby-based construction association care and why should you care about just another mine? The reason is because a new mine is not just another mine.

New Prosperity, for example, would generate $11 billion worth of gross domestic product over 20 years. That’s enough money to have paid for all of these projects combined: The Canada Line, new SkyTrain Line, four lane the Cariboo connector highway, the new Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 widening, South Fraser perimeter road, Vancouver Convention Centre, three major urban hospital expansions, seven elementary schools and 12 MRI machines.

That’s how much economic activity New Prosperity represents and that is what we are saying no to when we decide to oppose a mine that would be built and operated to the highest mining standards in the world.

How much could the federal and provincial governments use a $700 million dollar shot in the arm, not just for one year, but every year for the next 20 years? That’s the governments’ tax take from just one mine, New Prosperity. Imagine how that would benefit health care for seniors or those with chronic health issues. How many knee or hip surgeries could be done? Or think how that money could improve your child’s school.

When we say no to a mine that would provide all those benefits and be built and operated following the most modern and strict sustainable mining practices, we are telling other companies to take their mines somewhere else because we don’t want or need better health care and better schools, and our children certainly don’t want a future working in the highest paid industry in B.C. with an average salary of $108,000 per year.

For the rest of this column, click here: http://www.vancouversun.com/mining+matters/8994652/story.html