BC MINING PLAN BOOSTS INVESTMENT, SUSTAINABLE MINING

VANCOUVER – A wide-ranging plan to expand on recent government and industry successes supporting sustainable, responsible mining in British Columbia was announced today by Minister of Energy and Mines Richard Neufeld and minister of state for mining, Pat Bell.

“Mining in this province has come a long way in the last few years, partly as a result of rising commodity prices, but also in large part because of the positive action government has taken to help grow the industry while protecting the environment,” said Neufeld. “The BC Mining Plan will help to ensure that the resurgence of this historic and vital industry continues in the long term, benefiting all British Columbians. The B.C. mining industry has the expertise, the resources and the markets to help this province move forward to even greater prosperity.”

Activity in B.C.’s mining sector has grown steadily in the last few years. For example, in 2001 exploration spending in B.C. was $29 million. Forecasts suggest mineral exploration expenditures in 2004 could be as high as $120 million.

“The BC Mining Plan is designed to enhance investment in responsible mining, ensuring recent progress in the mining sector continues and improves B.C.’s competitive position on the world scene,” said Bell. “This revitalization of the industry will provide family-supporting jobs and boost the economies of B.C. communities while protecting those values that make British Columbia the best place to live and work.”

The BC Mining Plan presents a vision of a healthy, sustainable mining sector for the next decade and beyond. It completes the work begun by the MLA Task Force on Mining that toured the province in 2003 receiving input from B.C. communities and the mineral exploration and mining sectors.

The Plan includes 14 broad strategies and over 50 actions to support the four cornerstones of a healthy, responsible industry. The cornerstones are:

· Focus on communities and First Nations – including a made-in-B.C. approach to sustainable mining.

· Protecting workers, protecting the environment – including continual improvements in standards and practices.

· Global competitiveness – including actions to increase investment and further develop relevant skills and technologies.

· Access to land – including enhanced integration of exploration and mining with other land uses.

The BC Mining Plan further builds on recent achievements by including targeted actions supporting growth in the coal, metals, industrial minerals, placer and aggregate sectors.

Since taking office in 2001, government has worked with mining stakeholders to strengthen British Columbia’s competitive environment and to make B.C. the most attractive jurisdiction in Canada for exploration and mining. In part, these actions included elimination of the provincial sales tax on mining machinery and equipment, extension of the 20 per cent flow-through share tax credit for mining exploration, introduction of an integrated land use system, and new geological maps of mineralized areas in the province to attract new mineral exploration and mining development, and to create new jobs.

The BC Mining Plan is available at http://www.gov.bc.ca/em/down/mining_plan_jan_17_05.pdf online.

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Media contact:	Tamara Little Communications Director Ministry of Energy and Mines 250 952-0621 cell 250 889-1825

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.