GUEST COLUMN — Setting the pace for the future

The author is vice-president of economic affairs at the Mining Association of Canada. He has written this article at the request of Mining Works for Canada, an organization designed to increase awareness of the importance of mining in this country.

Federal, provincial and territorial mines ministers were told at their annual conference in July that, with increasing foreign competition, Canada must compete like never before for mineral investment capital.

Ministers were informed that the competitive future of mining depends on the co-operation of the sector, government and communities in addressing challenges that support mining, as well as achieving development needs of communities.

Global developments have made competitiveness an overriding concern for Canada’s mining industry. No longer can we simply look to our excellent geology and engineering expertise as the only factors in the investment decision-making process. To take advantage of our natural wealth, ministers must work together and encourage the development of appropriate tax policies, an efficient regulatory system, a sound science and technology infrastructure, certainty in land access and aboriginal land claims, and other federal, provincial and territorial policies and regulations that have a positive impact on our domestic investment climate.

Significant progress has been made in creating a climate for innovative and effective responses to change. However, today’s global reality means government and industry must work together, build partnerships and enhance our ability to recognize, anticipate, and respond quickly to issues that affect the competitiveness of our industry. In this regard, ministers formed a sub-committee of the Minerals and Metals Intergovernmental Working Group to study and report on the recommendations in the final report of the Mintz Technical Committee on Business Taxation.

The Canadian mining industry is committed to excellence in everything it does. Our commitment to the environment, technology, training, safety, aboriginal issues and access to land are all examples of how hard we work for the good of the industry and the sustainable wealth of the nation.

Through a strong sense of public responsibility and vision for the future, our industry continues to provide leadership on complex and pressing issues. However, our commitment to excellence often goes unrecognized. Interest groups from around the world, governments and negative media attention (such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s recent television magazine segment The Ugly Canadian,) fail to recognize our industry’s social and environmental responsibility.

As our industry continues to pursue a prosperous future, we must ensure that we are positioned to continue leading the world in mining. A growing part of our international leadership is focused on continued improvement in environmental protection. The Mining Association of Canada’s recent study Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities is a good example of the industry’s continued leadership in addressing complex and challenging issues.

In recognition of the industry’s commitment, government ministers have invited mining representatives to begin discussions on how they can work together to improve the sharing of information and better represent Canada’s domestic and international mining sector.

To make mining work for Canada, and to build upon the industry’s contribution to jobs and economic growth, we must be internationally competitive. In this regard, certainty, reformed decision-making, constructive dialogue and outward communication continue to be of great importance to sustainable mining activity.