COMMENTARY — Industry as educators

As members of the mining industry, we see the world through “mining” eyes.

This unique perspective is unavoidable: we not only know how vital the industry is to Canada’s economy, we are keenly aware of the industry’s complex needs.

This fall, Mining Works for Canada launched two initiatives to ensure that the mining industry’s unique needs and economic contributions are also on the minds of policy-makers on Parliament Hill.

Between October and December, Mining Works for Canada invited members of Parliament from the Greater Toronto Area to attend “Toronto: The World’s Mining Centre,” a series of breakfast seminars designed to educate MPs about the importance of the mining industry and its suppliers to the local economy.

The seminars were a huge success. While some MPs were aware of the presence of the mining industry in their ridings, none understood the scope and depth of the industry’s impact throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

On Nov. 24, Mining Works for Canada once again headed to Parliament Hill, armed with educational materials. Throughout the day, more than 50 mining delegates from across Canada met with senior bureaucrats and MPs to discuss non-profit-based taxation and user fees, a serious issue facing the mining industry.

“Mining on the Hill Day” was also a huge success. As a result, policy-makers demonstrated a greater knowledge of mining’s economic contribution and the barriers that threaten to curtail the industry’s growth.

Mining people can’t help but see the world through the perspective of the industry. But before we criticize fellow Canadians for not sharing our perspective, we must first try to help them understand how our industry operates and what benefits a flourishing industry can provide all Canadians.

The MPs and senior bureaucrats who participated in Mining Works for Canada’s “educational initiatives” gained some valuable insight, which might make them pause before proceeding with issues that affect the mining industry.

But we also learned an important lesson: many of our policy-makers are receptive to information and genuinely interested in learning about mining.

As mining people, it is our responsibility to make sure they stay informed.

The author is program director for Mining Works for Canada, an organization designed to increase awareness of the importance of mining in this country.