Editorial: Province should allow miners greater access to land for exploration (Vancouver Sun – January 28, 2016)

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Although the high-tech and real estate sectors are accounting for ever-larger shares of B.C.’s GDP, it would be foolhardy to ignore the needs of a far more traditional economic driver — the mining industry.

Mineral exploration and development in 2014 employed some 30,000 British Columbians, with average remuneration exceeding $114,600, and the industry accounted for exploration spending of $338 million.

Mining is also the largest private-sector employer of B.C. aboriginal people. And it should be remembered that Metro Vancouver is action central for the mining sector, home to about 800 companies providing technical and other support services to the industry.

All of which is sufficient reason to pay heed to an appeal last week from the Association for Mineral Exploration B.C., which wants provincial action to allow mineral explorers greater access to B.C.’s terrain.

Obviously, to carry out their operations, the companies need access to land. It is no secret that B.C. is a challenging place to do business for those reliant on the land base.

For the rest of this editorial, click here: http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/editorials/editorial+province+should+allow+miners+greater+access/11683401/story.html