Enthusiasm for new B.C. mining plan despite few details

A plan to usher in a new era of mining by speeding up approvals is being pitched in British Columbia.

First Nations leaders and the mining industry are optimistic about a new direction being charted by B.C.’s premier, even though he was light on details and wouldn’t commit to timelines.

On Monday, David Eby sketched out a vision for a revised process with “one project, one review” where his government would work with federal counterparts and First Nations to speed up the approval process for new mines – which can currently take 12 years.

“Our province will be the economic engine of the new Canada that emerges from this moment of global instability,” he told attendees and journalists at a news conference.

When CTV News asked whether he had a timeline target in mind, he wouldn’t provide one, but did insist that the extraction of critical metals and minerals much in demand for electronics and batteries would benefit British Columbians and Indigenous communities alike, without sacrificing environmental safeguards.

“It’s a unifying vision to protect the air, land, and water while creating good jobs,” Eby said. “My goal is to expedite that work so the business will move ahead with clarity.”

Local First Nations supportive

Eby estimated that a streamlined process could generate up to $50 billion in capital investment, with two thirds of that going to projects in the northwestern parts of B.C.The chief of the Iskut Band told CTV News they’ve spend years working with industry to plan resource development and are pleased with the direction Eby is heading.

“This work has been happening for a long time,” said Marie Quock. “I’m very grateful to see that the province has begun recognizing this.”

Tahltan Band chief, Richard Jackson said he sees widespread benefit to the province, and that he “(likes) what the premier is talking about” since well-paid mining jobs have already been benefiting his community for years.

The president of the Tahltan Central Government pointed out that with sky-high costs for essentials like food – and scant services, like medical care – they want to see their communities built up for the long term.

“We’re asking to make our lives a little bit easier and to see the benefits from resource extraction in our territory,” said Beverly Slater. “We’ve been left behind, we’ve seen billions leave our territory, and we have very little to show on the ground.”

Industry eager to see details

When CTV News asked the Mining Association of BC if sped up approvals for environmental assessments could pave the way for corners to be cut, leading to risks, their president insisted that wouldn’t be the case.

“That’s a red herring,” said Michael Goehring. “It’s about reducing the roadblocks in the regulatory process, permitting, various pieces of, legislative requirements concurrently.”

Right now, companies making applications for new mines are required to provide detailed plans that go through one department assessment at a time, contributing to the decade-long wait to know whether a project will be approved and contributing to investor uncertainty. By going through every process at once, he believes the same scrutiny can be applied much more efficiently.

“There are many ways we can protect the environment and protect First Nations rights,” Geohring added.

The premier appears to be fed up with the many years between application and the final decision by regulators.

“Nobody benefits from projects that are tied up in never ending processes,” Eby said.