On behalf of the MABC, I am writing to express our support for the Northwest BC Benefits Alliance’s (RBA) efforts to secure provincial revenue sharing benefits for communities supporting major industrial development in Northwest British Columbia.
By way of background, MABC is the voice of British Columbia’s metal, mineral and steelmaking coal producers, smelters, and advanced development companies. BC’s 18 operating mines and two worldclass smelters benefit all British Columbians and support more than 35,000 jobs and 4,000 small, medium, and Indigenous businesses in every corner of the province through annual spending of $3.7 billion on goods and services. Our industry accounts for $18 billion in annual economic activity, and almost 30 per cent of British Columbia’s goods exports to international markets.
BC’s Generational Mining Opportunity
British Columbia has long been a leading global mining jurisdiction and is home to one of the largest concentrations of mining and exploration companies and industry expertise in the world. BC’s critical mineral, precious metal, and steelmaking coal producers have among the lowest carbon footprints globally due to the clean hydroelectricity used in their operations. We are world leading suppliers of responsibly produced materials that are essential for technologies like EV batteries, smartphones, MRI scanners, wind turbines, and jet engines.
BC has or produces 16 of the 34 minerals on Canada’s critical minerals list, including aluminum, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, germanium, and indium. BC is Canada’s leading producer of copper and steelmaking coal, second largest producer of silver, and only producer of molybdenum. Mining offers British Columbians and all Canadians a generational opportunity that can help secure our economic future and long-term prosperity amidst the economic uncertainty and volatility we face today.
There are currently 27 critical mineral, precious metal, and steelmaking coal projects at various stages of development and regulatory review in BC. These hold the potential to unleash a new wave of transformational economic growth and resiliency for BC and Canada. In fact, according to a recent economic analysis commissioned by MABC, the development and construction of these projects could generate over $41 billion in near-term investment, $27 billion in income for workers, and approximately $90 billion in total economic activity.
The long-term economic activity associated with their operations over several decades could reach $984 billion. Apart from their substantial economic benefits, these mines could provide multigenerational supplies of low carbon minerals, metals, and steelmaking coal to meet the decarbonization, technology, and national security objectives of Canada and our allies.
MABC Support for the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance
MABC member companies are heavily involved in the development of major mines throughout northern British Columbia. Municipalities in this region provide important core and vital services to advance development companies and operating mines, including transportation, water and wastewater systems, emergency preparedness and response, recreation facilities, and enabling infrastructure for housing for workers and service firms that support and supply the mining industry.
A predictable revenue sharing agreement will help these communities provide essential public services and a solid foundation for business activities in the mining sector. Communities require stable funding mechanisms to ensure they attract workers and families and a secure labour force for MABC members for the long term. In summary, ensuring a fair share of provincial revenue from mining stays in Northwest BC supports the provincial interest in sustaining a vibrant mining industry.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or Tim McEwan, MABC’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs.
Sincerely,
Michael Goehring President & CEO
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