British Columbia Mining – Page 70

Le Nord Pour Tous: Quebec Pushing the Boundaries of Mining Development – by Jonathan Arnold and Tom Syer (Business Council of British Columbia – June 4, 2013)

June 7, 2013

http://www.bcbc.com/

Those familiar with mining development in Canada are all too conversant with the tricky juggling act of resource extraction. The demand for social and environmental responsibility, government royalties, and maintaining global competitiveness can all pull in different directions. Government leaders across Canada often pride themselves in having fostered a mining sector that is one of “the most efficient, effective and competitive in the world,” backed by a “world-class environmental protection regime” (Natural Resources Canada, 2013).

But despite this optimistic picture, mining development in Canada is often a hotly contested policy arena. Look no further than the Federal government’s push for the rapid development of Ontario’s ‘Ring of Fire’, or the recently rejected coal mine in Comox, to get a flavour for the tug of war between vested interests.

Although Canada is a global leader in mining production, levels of investment are heavily dictated by outside pressures—guided by the ebb and flow of global commodity prices. Moreover, due to the plethora of mining opportunities across the world, including a growing number of emerging economies, capital is highly mobile and gravitates towards countries with high risk adjusted returns – valuing stable government regimes, low tax-rates, and good infrastructure in this comparative construct. Within Canada, the competition to attract new capital is then spread across provinces and territories, all with different tax structures, environmental rules and royalty requirements.

NEWS RELEASE: Mining Association of British Columbia and the BC Mining HR Task Force Celebrate the Winners of the 2013 BC Mining HR Diversity Award at the Grand Opening of the New BC AMTA Offices in Williams Lake BC

June 5, 2013

June 04, 2013 17:14 ET

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – June 4, 2013) – The Mining Association of BC (MABC) and the BC Mining HR Task Force (Task Force) are pleased to celebrate the winners of the 2013 BC Mining HR Diversity Award (HR Diversity Award), sponsored by Ernst & Young. The award was presented to the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association and New Gold on May 1st, 2013, during BC Mining Week, at the Women in Mining Gala in Vancouver.

The award recognizes that the BC AMTA/New Gold initiative has had a significant, positive impact at the New Afton operation, on its employees, and for nearby communities. “This award is about recognizing work that is being done to create opportunities for people who might not have found their way to our industry otherwise,” said Zoë Younger, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at MABC, and HR Diversity Award co-chair. “One of the neat things about this program is that it can continue to grow, and the approach can be duplicated in communities across BC where mines are opening or operating,” she added.

While each submission had its strength, the joint BC AMTA and New Gold nomination presented the strongest emphasis on encouraging and supporting diversity within the workplace, with tangible results. The metrics associated with the BC AMTA initiative speak for themselves, and their vision in creating a program that provides skills, training and work experience for Aboriginal people in our industry is being duly recognized.

Plan to import miners stirred a wave of anger – by James Keller (Canadian Press/Vancouver Sun – June 1, 2013)

June 3, 2013

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

One resident of an unnamed B.C. community claimed to personally know 40 unemployed miners who would be happy to work at a proposed coal mine in the province’s northeast, which was instead slated to temporarily employ Chinese workers. Another lamented the mine’s hiring plan as just the latest example of Canadian resources leaving this country.

And yet another bluntly asked: “Are you trying to lose the next election?” As debate swirled about Chinese owned HD Mining’s plan to use temporary foreign workers at its proposed underground coal mine – prompting several government investigations and a lawsuit by a pair of unions – the province was flooded with angry letters from the public.

The dozens of emails and typewritten letters on the subject were sent to the government between October and January. All oppose the importing of Chinese workers, with many writers telling the government they simply do not believe the assertion there was no way to train and hire workers from the province.

MiningWatch Canada News Release: Imperial Metals Operating Without Consent: First Nations Oppose Mining on Indigenous Lands

May 31, 2013

http://www.miningwatch.ca/

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

(Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories) – Today, members of the Neskonlith Secwepemc Nation and Ancestral Pride Ahousaht Sovereign Territory will join other First Nations and allies in voicing opposition to Imperial Metals (TSX: III) operations across British Columbia.

According to Janice Billy of the Secwepemc Nation, “We will be making our voice’s heard at the companies annual general meeting in Vancouver. In our territory as elsewhere, the company has not followed Canadian or international standards and legal obligations to obtain the free prior informed consent of the Indigenous peoples affected by its projects.”

The Ruddock Creek project is located near Tum Tum lake in the headwaters of the Upper Adams River. The project is in the advanced stage of exploration but has not obtained the consent of Neskonlith for current or any future activities. The Secwepec territory includes the Adamas River Watershed – home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon run and the location of Imperial’s Ruddock Creek lead and zinc project. The area is of great importance to the Neskonlith who continue to use and occupy the area for hunting, gathering, education and ceremonies. In addition to being the headwaters of the Adams River, the area is also home to threatened mountain caribou and grizzly bear populations.

“As part of the Secwepemc Nation, the Neskonlith retain Aboriginal title and rights to their territory and have never surrendered the land to British Columbia,” further states Billy.

Controversy over Chinese miners in B.C. prompts flood of angry letters – by James Keller (Canadian Press/CTV News – May 31, 2013)

May 31, 2013

http://www.ctvnews.ca/

VANCOUVER — One resident of an unnamed British Columbia community claimed to personally know 40 unemployed miners who would be more than happy to work at a proposed coal mine in the province’s northeast that was instead slated to employ temporary Chinese workers.

Another lamented the mine’s hiring plan as just the latest example of Canadian resources leaving this country.
And yet another bluntly asked: “Are you trying to lose the next election?”

As a public debate swirled about Chinese-owned HD Mining’s plan to use temporary foreign workers at its proposed underground coal mine — prompting multiple government investigations and a lawsuit by a pair of unions — the province was flooded with angry letters from the public.

Four months of those letters, obtained through freedom of information laws, reveal deep anger about the province’s public support for the project and little sympathy for politicians and company officials who insisted there was not a single Canadian qualified to work at the mine. The dozens of emails and typewritten letters sent to the government on the subject between October and January stretch on for more than 70 pages.

Editorial: HD on its feet after a tumble – by John Cumming (Northern Miner – May 29, 2013)

May 30, 2013

The Northern Miner, first published in 1915, during the Cobalt Silver Rush, is considered Canada’s leading authority on the mining industry. Editor John Cumming MSc (Geol) is one of the country’s most well respected mining journalists. jcumming@northernminer.com

Another chapter closed in the HD Mining International saga, with HD celebrating a win in the federal courts against two B.C. unions who had tried to thwart the junior developer’s efforts to import Chinese workers to take a bulk sample at its Murray River underground coal mine project, located southeast of Tumbler Ridge in northeastern B.C.

Once operating, the $300-million Murray River project would produce 6 million tonnes of metallurgical coal per year over 30 years, creating about 600 direct and 700 indirect jobs. HD Mining has already spent $50 million on the project.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 115, and the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union, Local 1611, had banded together to challenge the federal decision that authorized the temporary use of 201 foreign workers, but the challenge was dismissed on May 21 by the Federal Court of Canada. While the applicants do not represent any workers of HD, they were granted public interest standing and permitted to launch their challenge because they represent mining workers in B.C.

In his decision, Justice Russel Zinn noted that it was the first time a positive decision made under the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) had ever been challenged, and that it “made for a hard-fought application.”

Questions Remain in HD Mining Case – by Jeremy J. Nuttall (The Tyee – May 24, 2013)

May 28, 2013

http://thetyee.ca/

Key evidence was struck from the record in federal court, say unions. Earlier this week, a federal court justice dismissed an attempt by two British Columbia unions to have temporary foreign worker permits for 201 miners revoked.

The Construction and Specialized Workers Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 launched their case after it came to light the company, HD Mining, had advertised mining positions listing Mandarin as a job requirement.

The unions contended the language requirement was meant to exclude Canadians so the company could bring workers from China and legally pay them 15 per cent less than market wages at its Murray River project near Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

After a months-long court battle Judge Russel Zinn ruled Tuesday HD Mining filed its applications properly according to the rules that were in place at the time.

But the unions said they lost because Zinn struck from the record key evidence that would have helped their case and, in their view, showed the company misrepresented its mining plans in the form of a notice of work application.

Language credentials turned upside-down in HD Mining case – Globe and Mail Editorial (May 27, 2013)

May 27, 2013

Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

The Federal Court of Canada’s judgment last week in the HD Mining case was something of a pyrrhic victory for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program as it now stands. The topsy-turvy upshot is that suitable Canadian miners could not be found for a coal mine near Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in large measure because the predominant language at the mine is Mandarin, which the Chinese government recognizes as China’s national language.

Justice Russel Zinn of the Federal Court upheld a labour market opinion issued by William MacLean, an officer of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, in which he had found that the hiring of 201 Chinese workers at the coal mine would have “a neutral or positive effect on the labour market in Canada.” That opinion enabled HD Mining International Ltd., a Chinese-controlled company, to hire the foreign workers. The Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers challenged that opinion in court.

Given the list of factors that it was Mr. MacLean’s duty to consider, his conclusion was right. But because the language of that particular workplace is Mandarin, most English-speaking miners in northeastern British Columbia would not be able to communicate with their fellow employees in HD Mining’s Murray River project.

B.C. mining company justified in bringing in Chinese workers, Federal Court rules – by Tobi Cohen (Vancouver Sun – May 22, 2013)

May 22, 2013

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

OTTAWA — The government was justified in issuing a positive labour market opinion that allowed a British Columbia mining company to hire 201 temporary foreign workers from China, the Federal Court ruled Tuesday.

The decision comes after two unions challenged the government and the companies involved, arguing Canadians are available to do the jobs required and that it was not necessary to look outside the country for foreign labour.

The incident touched off a massive debate over Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, with the government promising, and eventually delivering on, a number of changes to protect Canadian jobs.

While the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers ultimately lost their court case, their lawyer, Lorne Waldman, said it’s far from a total defeat.

“I’m disappointed that the courts opted to uphold the decision, but having said that, I think the importance of the case goes far beyond this decision,” he said. “I think this case was an extremely important one and was successful because it ultimately exposed some of major shortcomings in the labour market opinion process and forced the government to make changes.”

B.C. vote shifted on one word: Pipelines – by Gordon Gibson (Globe and Mail – May 16, 2013)

May 16, 2013

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

The NDP looked way ahead before voters went to the polls in British Columbia. Then it all changed. Why? One word: “Pipelines.” Or more precisely, two: “Kinder Morgan.”

Until two weeks ago it was the election of the NDP’s Adrian Dix to lose. Then he got greedy. Worried about an emerging Green threat, Mr. Dix sought to pre-empt the party by going greenier-than-thou, specifically by promising to ban significantly greater tanker traffic out of the port of Vancouver, which would doom the export of Alberta oil to the Pacific. This was a stunning turnabout on a clear promise to withhold judgement until the pipeline application had been filed with details made available.

His gamble failed and, more importantly for the future of the NDP, the Greens elected their first MLA. This will split the vote on the left for years to come. Even more portentous for this election, it was the beginning of a major switch in voting intentions – missed by the pollsters, but surely clear enough last night.

Why the significance of this change in policy? It crystallized a number of fears in the minds of voters. The Liberals had run a brutal campaign based on fear. Fear of what? Fear of the NDP economic record in the last government. Fear of Adrian Dix and what he might do.

Editorial: BC Liberal win leaves miners absolutely ecstatic – by John Cumming (Northern Miner – March 15, 2013)

May 16, 2013

The B.C. mining community’s heartbreak over the early exit of the Vancouver Canucks from the Stanley Cup playoffs (so fast, fans didn’t even have time to loot the downtown core) has been soothed by the surprise majority win of the pro-mining Liberal party in yesterday’s provincial election.

In a stunning defiance of pundits and pollsters who had almost unanimously predicted at least a minority government for the left-leaning opposition New Democratic Party, Premier Christy Clark led her Liberals to a resounding win that captured 44.4% of the popular vote compared to the NDP’s 39.5%. That translated into the Liberals taking 50 of province’s 85 seats, or five more than the party had going into the election.

Clark lost her own seat, and will now seek a new one in a safer riding. Remarkably, Canada now has four women premiers in the four leading provinces, with three having assumed their positions in general elections.

Living in a province critically dependent on resource extraction to fuel the economy, B.C. voters clearly put aside their assorted pet peeves built up after 12 years of Liberal rule provincially and stuck with the gang that’s pro-resource development.

The NDP losing ground in a lot of the northern jurisdictions is particularly telling.

Mining exploration companies shift focus to survival as venture capital dries up in bear market – by Gordon Hamilton (Vancouver Sun – May 14, 2013)

May 16, 2013

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

Mining companies are hunkering down to weather what some say is the worst bear market in memory by shutting down operations, cutting staff and making fewer deals.

The downturn is hitting British Columbia’s mineral exploration companies particularly hard, according to Gavin Dirom, president of the Association for Mineral Exploration B.C.

Venture capital for the sector has “absolutely dried up,” Dirom said Tuesday. As a result, juniors are cutting back on exploration activity, focusing on fewer properties and consolidating their properties through joint ventures to survive.

“It’s the worst we have ever seen,” he said. “Economic survival mode is what these companies are facing.” He was commenting on a report by consultants Ernst & Young that found only 24 per cent of global mining companies are going to be focusing on mergers and acquisitions — the industry’s lifeblood — over the next six months.

The Ernst & Young report Capital Confidence Barometer, says that although confidence in the sector is improving — 57 per cent of companies believe the world economy is strengthening — the appetite for mergers and takeovers has vanished.

Christy Clark leads B.C. Liberals to surprise majority (CBC News – May 14, 2013)

May 15, 2013

http://www.cbc.ca/news/

But Liberal leader loses her own riding of Vancouver-Point Grey to NDP candidate

Christy Clark will head a majority B.C. Liberal government after leading her party to a stunning come-from-behind victory in British Columbia’s 40th provincial election.

But Clark lost a tough fight to hold on to her seat in Vancouver-Point Grey, to high-profile NDP candidate David Eby by 785 votes. Despite the riding defeat Clark can still be premier, but it is expected she would seek a seat in a byelection in a safer Liberal riding.

The last time a B.C. party leader became premier but failed to win their seat was in 1924, when both Premier John Oliver and the Leader of the Opposition William John Bowser were defeated in the general election.

The Liberals won 44.4 per cent of the popular vote and 50 Liberals were elected in the province’s 85 ridings, giving Clark one of the most remarkable political comebacks in the province’s history.