Editorial Ontario’s Mining Act

During that time, largely because of demands from industry, various governments have made efforts to revise the Act. All parties involved agree that changes are needed, and the nature of the changes is virtually unopposed. But each attempt to implement changes has been thwarted, the innocent victim of some other political development — a cabinet shuffle, the end of a legislative session or a change in government.

Ontario’s Mines Minister Hugh O’Neil has once again introduced into the legislature proposed revisions to the Act, and those in the industry can only hope that this time the proposed changes can run the gauntlet of Parliamentary procedure.

Meanwhile, other provinces — Ontario’s competitors, so to speak — have seized upon improvements to legislation during those 14 years. Instead of being a leader, Ontario is now playing catchup.

That is indeed ironic. Ontario is, after all, the most important mining province in a country that leads the world in mineral exports. The value of mineral production in Ontario in 1988 amounted to $7.2 billion or more than a third of the value of Canada’s non-fuel mineral output. Almost 35,000 people are employed in mining, smelting and refining and another 50,000 in metals fabricating. The goods and services required by the industry and the indirect employment generated by it are also substantial.

In short, mining is more important to Ontario than many people may realize and has been such a consistent performer for the provincial economy that it is often taken for granted. How else can one explain the indifference with which attempts to improve its governing legislation has met? Revisions to Ontario’s Mining Act are long overdue. They shouldn’t have to wait for yet another mines minister to come along.

]]>