Epp says Ottawa may leave mining entirely up to provincial

The federal government is considering vacating its role in the mining industry, Mines Minister Jake Epp told delegates to a mining industry symposium recently.

As part of its proposal to amend the Canadian constitution, the federal government is considering modifications to the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments.

“For our part, the federal government is prepared to recognize exclusive provincial jurisdiction in several economic areas, including mining,” said Epp at the ninth annual Mineral Outlook Conference in Ottawa recently. The conference is jointly sponsored by Energy, Mines and Resources Canada and the Mining Association of Canada.

Epp urged delegates to the conference to make their opinions known whether such a division of power between the two levels of government would be considered appropriate by the industry.

Epp said Ottawa “will continue to have responsibilities related to the resource industries . . . to foster research and development, training, and international trade. It also will continue to have responsibilities for the relationship between the resource industries and native peoples.” Ontario Mining Association President Patrick Reid says the changes could mean a “rationalization” of the federal government’s role, but says his association has told the minister that the federal government must continue to be involved with mining in international trade, taxation and other areas.