Since the beginning of the Twentieth Century, a healthy mineral exploration industry has been the major driving force that has uncovered northern Manitoba’s economic mineral deposits to the benefit of all Canadians.
Multiple cities and communities were established in Manitoba due to these exploration and mining successes, including Flin Flon, Thompson, Snow Lake and Bissett.
In the 1990s, the Manitoba government made a very important supportive mining decision by introducing two programs: the Manitoba Exploration Assistance Program (MEAP); and the Manitoba Prospectors Assistance Program (MPAP). Both programs provided financial support for companies and individuals who were already spending their own money on mineral projects in Manitoba.
In return, the province’s mining community responded with the major discoveries of Lalor, Reed Lake, Hinge and some other mines. These discoveries were also very supportive for the people of Northern Manitoba.
Since the beginning of the 20th Century, a healthy mineral exploration industry has been the major driving force that has uncovered northern Manitoba’s economic mineral deposits to the benefit of all Canadians.
Multiple cities and communities were established in Manitoba due to these exploration and mining successes, including Flin Flon, Thompson, Snow Lake and Bissett.
In the 1990s, the Manitoba government made a very important supportive mining decision by introducing two programs: the Manitoba Exploration Assistance Program (MEAP), and the Manitoba Prospectors Assistance Program (MPAP). Both programs provided financial support for companies and individuals who were already spending their own money on mineral projects in Manitoba.
In return, the province’s mining community responded with the major discoveries of Lalor, Reed Lake, Hinge, and some other mines. These discoveries were also very supportive for the people of Northern Manitoba.
It’s no secret that since 2013–2014, the world market for base and precious metals is under tremendous pressure of low prices. This drastically affected our province with significant reduction of investment in mining and exploration. In addition to this, in 2018 the MEAP and MPAP programs were put on hold.
We all realize that our provincial government wants to balance the financial situation in Manitoba. On the other end, it’s important to attract investments to keep exploration projects going.
We know that most of Manitoban mineral exploration and mining projects are located within the northern part of the province. And exploration and mining companies always were substantial contributors in creating jobs in these northern communities.
This is my plea to Blaine Pedersen, our province’s Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, to please review the situation with the MEAP and MPAP, and bring these programs back on track.
If they are restored, believe me that we will all witness how positively it will effect the investment climate of our province.
All Manitobans want to live in a wealthy and prosperous province, and the mining community will do its part to be a significant contributor to the provincial treasury.
If you agree with this view, please add your name to a petition I have started at: www.change.org/p/blaine-pedersen-re-open-meap-and-mpap-programs-in-manitoba.
Nikolay Bashaev, P.Geo.
Manitoba
I can remember people like Walter Johnson and Joe Kerr when they had the Exploration Company JK Syndicate, Walter was convinced that the area around Snow Lake would have multiple mines and he was right, fact unlike Flin Flon there are still many ore bodies immediately around Snow Lake which are still being diamond drilled today, I remember Jim Proudfoot telling me one time that the were going to find the mother lode right in the immediate area of Snow Lake, which they did only about 5 kilometers as the crow flys from Snow Lake–Lalor Mine