Message from the Minister

As Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, I am pleased to note that the minerals industry continued to make a significant contribution to the Canadian economy in 1990. Although a number of high-cost gold operations suffered from lower-than-anticipated prices, as did the metallurgical coal sector in British Columbia, overall the industry showed impressive results. It advanced social and economic development in communities throughout the country and, in one way or another, touched the lives of all Canadians.

Despite the current downturn in the economy, I believe the outlook for the minerals industry remains promising. At the same time, we must recognize that the industry faces some difficult challenges, the most compelling of which are the need to increase Canada’s competitiveness in international markets and the critical requirement to protect the environment. These issues will remain dominant for many years to come, and they must be addressed aggressively by both government and industry.

For its part, the Government of Canada has already taken important steps to enhance your industry’s international competitiveness. We have encouraged better labour policies in the minerals industry, strived to reduce trade barriers, facilitated trade through missions and bilateral consultations, and promoted active participation in international commodity transparency organizations. We have guarded against policies and practices at the international level that could harm our interests, and we have intensified our efforts to ensure that Canada maintains a strong position in the new global order.

We are committed to continuing these efforts on behalf of the industry and all Canadians. In today’s world, Canada cannot afford simply to react to change — we must drive it. We must take the initiative, be flexible and show leadership in devising new approaches to trade problems and in creating trade opportunities. An example of this approach was our strategic role in the creation of the International Nickel Study Group in 1990. Canada’s participation in negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and in various United Nations organizations was also important.

On the environmental front, public perceptions of the minerals industry continue to be generally unfavourable. Mines and mineral processing plants have often been linked with environmental problems, many of which can be attributed to methods that are no longer practised. Unfortunately, public impressions fail to reflect the realities of the 1990s. Canadians must therefore be informed at every opportunity that the minerals industry is not only committed to sustainable economic development, but that you are actively and successfully working toward that objective.

For example, recycling has been an economically successful practice in your industry for many years. In fact, about one-half of Canada’s steel production comes from recycled metal. Recycling is also an important source of copper, aluminum and other metals, yet the environmental benefits of your recycling efforts — conservation of scarce resources and reduced waste — are only now beginning to attract public attention.

I congratulate your industry on the recent measures it has taken to address environmental concerns. Initiatives such as the Mining Association of Canada’s Environmental Policy and Code of Practice and the formation of the International Council on Metals and the Environment demonstrate your collective commitment to work toward a better environmental future. However, I believe the magnitude of this commitment — and your success in living up to it — must be better communicated to the public.

In December 1990, the federal government released Canada’s Green Plan for a Healthy Environment. Developed following extensive consultations with concerned individuals and groups across the country, the Green Plan commits $3 billion in new funds to more than 100 environmental initiatives. Many regard the plan as a blueprint for achieving economic development in harmony with a healthy environment.

As you can appreciate, the Green Plan has far-reaching implications for the Canadian minerals industry. It will affect all aspects of the industry’s operations, from the use of land and water to the safe containment of wastes and recycling. You are already well aware of the key environmental concerns facing the industry, and you have made meaningful progress in addressing them. Nevertheless, you must continue to respond to society’s demands for enhanced environmental performance.

The Government of Canada supports the concept of a strong and prosperous minerals industry that generates economic growth while minimizing adverse impacts on the environment. By working co-operatively with the industry, by introducing carefully thought-out policies, and by maintaining a strong and effective presence in international consultations and negotiations, I am confident that we can sustain a thriving and healthy industry into the next century.

The Honourable Jake Epp, P.C., M.P.