Ontario late to notice mining downturn, says prospectors association
The province’s decision to renew its mineral development strategy – first established in 2006 – comes at a time when the sectors is in a downturn, says the executive director of the Ontario Prospectors Association.
When the strategy was developed nine years ago, Ontario’s mining sector was on an upturn, but the timing for the renewed strategy will give the province a very different picture, said Garry Clark.
“They have to understand – and they are coming to grips with the fact – that the only way we stay as a vibrant mining province is to have lots of things in the pipeline coming up from prospectors and junior companies to look at and put into production,” he said.
While Ontario’s mining sector has been in a downturn for two years, Clark said the province has only taken notice over the last six months.
Their statistics, he said, are usually a year behind. In a discussion paper meant to inform the renewed mineral development strategy, the province admits “Ontario could face many challenges in the years ahead.”
The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines acknowledges the challenges junior exploration companies face in the midst of a global downturn.
“Globally, the junior exploration sector is experiencing difficulty raising capital because of a decline in investments resulting from lower commodity prices,” the discussion paper says.
It continues, “While Ontario remains the top exploration jurisdiction in Canada, exploration spending in Ontario is down. Spending totalled $600 million in 2013 and $507 million in 2014, compared with $962 million in 2012.”
Clark said the province can do two things to promote more mineral exploration in the province.
First, he said, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines needs to continue funding its geocience department.
“The government can afford to go out and do a sampling program looking for diamonds, or do a multi-displine sampling program, where a lot of companies can’t afford to do those big regional surveys,” he said.
Junior mining companies can use information gathered from provincial geologists to help them make discoveries.
The province should also offer a rebate program for junior mining companies, Clark said.
In some provinces, such as Quebec, companies that spend their exploration dollars within the province, can qualify for a rebate.
Most companies choose to reinvest the rebate – which comes in the form of a cheque – back into the business.
In its annual survey of mining companies, which looked at how attractive 122 mining jurisdictions around the world were for investment, the Fraser Institute found Ontario had slipped in the rankings.
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