The province needs financial backing from the federal government to bridge the gap between two Mineral Development Agreements (MDAs). The first 5-year agreement expired in March, 1989 and the second is to be negotiated next year.
The financing is needed to pay the salaries of geoscientists contracted to do research work under the first agreement. Many of the results of those studies have not yet been published.
In addition, indications are that renewed Mineral Development Agreements with any of the provinces, will be much reduced from the levels negotiated in 1984.
New Brunswick’s newly-appointed Minister of State for Mines, Edmond Blanchard, has told his colleagues in Ottawa how critical the agreements are to the geoscience program and mineral exploration activity his province.
“They are very sympathetic to our cause,” Blanchard told The Northern Miner, “and we have a working agreement to begin negotiations to renew the Mineral Development Agreements. Everything is tentative right now. But in all likelihood we could begin those negotiations next year. But bridge financing is the important issue right now.”
New Brunswick Prospectors and Developers Association President Robert Stairs says, “If the province does not get the financing it needs, it could lead to the complete collapse of the mines branch.” The mines branch employs 56 in his province, but if it does not get the necessary financing that number could be cut in half.
The New Brunswick MDA has been largely responsible for a staking rush for epithermal gold deposits in the Bathurst camp.
]]>
Be the first to comment on "Editorial MDAs need help"