Letters to the Editor Queries misunderstanding on CANMET

Your recent editorial “Fun and games at the TIP TOP”, makes several references to the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology, (canmet), part of the federal department of energy, mines and resources.

I am very glad to see The Northern Miner interested in the research performed at canmet which over the coming years will be working to make its programs match more closely the needs of the mining, minerals and metals sector.

However, I am somewhat puzzled by the misunderstanding in the next-to-last paragraph about the procedures for reviewing canmet’s programs. In fact, since 1968, the National Advisory Committee on Mining and Metallurgical Research (nacmmr), consisting mainly of industrial representatives and reporting to senior emr officials, has been reviewing canmet’s programs.

Then in 1986, under the direction of Gerald Merrithew, minister of state for forestry and mines, and in the context of the technology centres policy, nacmmr was restructured into the minister’s national advisory council, which now reports directly to the minister.

The main committee, five technical subcommittees (mining, mineral processing, metals and materials, oil and gas and coal) and a newly-formed business subcommittee comprise in all some 80 members, mostly drawn from among industry executives and senior technical staff.

These groups review all of canmet’s plans and programs and assess its performance at least once a year, providing critiques on quality and relevance. Additional technical advisory groups are also formed to examine specific topics such as iron ore mineral processing.

In addition, much of canmet’s work is published in the technical press and at conferences, where it is subject to the same peer review process as other research. As for confidential work performed for clients, its evaluation remains the client’s responsibility. M. D. Everell Assistant deputy minister Mineral and energy technology sector Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, Ottawa, Ont.