4 minute read
Untapped potential
Manitoba Mining and Exploration Industry Moving Forward
Provided by Agriculture and Resource Development
In December 2018, Manitoba launched a new Economic Growth Action Plan to deliver a renewed and reinvigorated approach to economic development in Manitoba. Built on extensive public and business consultation, the plan harnesses the collective ideas, strengths and talents of Manitobans to strengthen Manitoba’s economy for the future. The plan envisions greater coordination between government and the private sector to support a more nimble approach to economic development decision-making. The goals of the plan will of course extend toward the mining and exploration industry in our province, a vital sector that provides jobs, investment, and growth to our economy and a quality of life to many remote communities.
The Manitoba government’s Manitoba Works plan is tightly tied to the Economic Growth Action Plan, with the goal of creating 40,000 private sector jobs over the next four years. Manitoba Works aims to build on our strengths to grow trade, investment and job creation, and to ensure that policies in areas like permitting, infrastructure investment and regulatory reform align with the Economic Growth Action Plan. As the mining and exploration industries are key contributors to Manitoba’s economic capacity, the Manitoba government is working closely with both industry and Indigenous and northern communities to reset the climate for investment in Manitoba with the introduction of the Mineral Development Protocol, and a new industry advisory table for policy renewal.
Mineral Development Protocol
Following engagement with First Nations leadership and industry representatives, the Manitoba government released the Manitoba – First Nations Mineral Development Action Plan in May of 2019 as a detailed response to the 2018 Co-Chairs’ Report on the Manitoba – First Nations Mineral Development Protocol. The Action Plan defines how Crown–Indigenous consultations will occur during all phases of mineral development, helping to create certainty in order to advance projects in a timely manner and ensure First Nations can be actively involved in all phases of development projects within their traditional territories. The Action Plan takes a shared management approach to identify opportunities to work in partnership with First Nations, thereby ensuring that all stakeholders will be able to create and share in the benefits of growth in Manitoba’s mining sector.
“There is tremendous potential for wealth and job creation in mineral development in Manitoba, and we are working together with First Nation communities to ensure they can help create and share in the benefits of growth in this sector,” said Blaine Pedersen, Minister of Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade (GET). “While the template will be consistent for First Nations who choose to take part, it can include customized aspects to reflect the unique governance, administrative and communication protocols of each community.”
Minister Pedersen has also confirmed the province’s commitment to $500,000 in funding that has been set aside to support First Nations in the development and implementation of protocol agreements.
The Government of Manitoba will also continue to work collaboratively with the federal government and First Nations to facilitate trilateral discussions with respect to resource revenue sharing, including increasing First Nations’ fiscal powers to support direct financial benefits to First Nations on mineral
The Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Corp. (MARRC) manages the Used Oil & Antifreeze Recycling Programs. We are very much interested in assisting communities in the north with recycling their used oil, filters, containers as well as antifreeze and its containers.
Collectively, these engagement efforts are geared toward improving communication and relationships between stakeholders, building trust, and ensuring a complete understanding of any project proposed.
To support the establishment of protocol agreements and advise the government on priority policy issues concerning mining and mineral exploration in Manitoba, the province has recently established a Liaison Committee on Mining and Exploration. The mandate of the committee is to make Manitoba one of the most exploration and mining friendly jurisdictions in the world and provide recommendations to the Government of Manitoba that supports sustainable development and reconciliation with the goal of attracting responsible mineral exploration and mining activities. The committee is working with government’s Resource Development Division in collaboration with the province’s Economic Development Office and regional economic development partners to suggest initiatives that will support the goals of the Economic Growth Action Plan.
The committee is comprised of representatives from private industry, academia, and the Government of Manitoba. The Committee is tasked with identifying solutions for challenges facing the industry, including Indigenous relations, permitting, government capacity and incentives. The committee meets monthly and has engaged in very productive discussions thus far.
“I am pleased to lead this committee of stakeholders and government,” said Shastri Ramnath, Committee Chair and CEO of Exiro Minerals Corp. and Chair of Orix Geoscience.
Mining generates significant economic opportunities, and large areas of high mineral potential in the province remain under-explored. The goal of this working group is to position Manitoba to attract the investment it needs to discover and develop new mineral deposits in order to create economic opportunities for all Manitobans.”
Look North
The Manitoba – First Nations Mineral Development Action Plan and the Liaison Committee both complement the Look North Report and Action Plan, which identifies the northern mining industry and its mineral potential as the single most likely source of sustainable, longterm economic development prosperity in northern Manitoba. The Look North report notes that the industry has sustained the north for close to 80 years, and with the right support and investment could sustain the north for a long time to come. Through the Economic Growth Action Plan, the Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF) has been identified as the regional partner organization who will work collaboratively with partners in the province to deliver programs, services, and economic development programming in northern Manitoba. Accordingly, CEDF will function as the lead entity for Look North to coordinate the implementation of the northern strategy going forward.
Manitoba Mineral Development Fund
During the recent provincial election, Premier Brian Pallister recognized the importance of growing the mining industry and creating additional jobs to support families and local communities. Along with providing resources to formalize new mineral protocol agreements with First Nations and advancing all phases of mineral development in the north, Premier Pallister also spoke towards the establishment of a new $20 million Manitoba Mineral Development Fund as part of the Manitoba Works jobs plan, which aims to add 40,000 private sector jobs over four years.
Through these efforts and the strategic priorities identified as part of the Economic Growth Action Plan, the Manitoba government is committed to ensuring that our province is a place where the mining and exploration industry can thrive and will continue to foster an environment where businesses can invest, build, and grow.
Related links:
Economic Growth Action Plan www.manitobagrowth.ca
Manitoba – First Nations Mineral Development Action Plan www.manitoba.ca/iem/ mines/fnmdp.html
