Vancouver, BC — June 4, 2015 — The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) today welcomes the announcement by the provincial government to commit $5 million in new funding for Geoscience BC as announced today by the Hon. Bill Bennett, BC Minister of Energy and Mines. AME BC also encourages the government to establish long-term, predictable funding for the not-for-profit organization that was established in 2005 as the result of advocacy led by AME BC.
“We thank the provincial government for its continued funding of Geoscience BC,” says Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO of AME BC. “Compared to other areas around the world, BC truly has a competitive edge with regard to its publicly available geoscience data that facilitates mineral exploration and development. The continued funding announced today will help maintain the province’s competitive advantage, particularly when commodity and market conditions improve and foster an upswing in mineral exploration.”
“We also congratulate Geoscience BC on ten years of enabling applied research that has helped to reshape the geochemical, geological and geophysical knowledge of BC,” remarks David McLelland, Chair of AME BC. “Looking forward to the next decade, the types of data that Geoscience BC provides will be critical to the success of prospecting and early exploration.
Such early-stage mineral exploration is necessary to sustain the discoveries that lead to the development of new mines that in return provide the metals and minerals that society needs and the resource revenues that British Columbians depend on. In turn, we encourage the provincial government to establish long-term, predictable funding that will allow Geoscience BC to continue the important work of developing information that encourages investment in mineral exploration and development in BC.”
Geoscience BC is the result of advocacy work led by AME BC’s Geoscience Committee, and was formed in 2005 following the provincial government’s announcement of $25 million in funding at AME BC’s Mineral Exploration Roundup 2005. The provincial government most recently provided funding of $11 million for Geoscience BC in May 2011 and an additional $3 million in May 2014.
About AME BC:
AME BC is the lead association for the mineral exploration and development industry based in British Columbia. Established in 1912, AME BC represents, advocates, protects and promotes the interests of thousands of members who are engaged in mineral exploration and development in BC and throughout the world. AME BC encourages a safe, economically strong and environmentally responsible industry by providing clear initiatives, policies, events and tools to support its membership.
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For further information, please contact Jonathan Buchanan, Director, Communications & Public Affairs, AME BC, at 604.630.3923 or jbuchanan@amebc.ca.