Ontario Welcomes A Mineral Exploration Federation

OMEF is a coalition of northern Ontario exploration and mining groups, local Prospectors and Developers Association chapters in Ontario and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) national body.

“Ontario is a province of large dimensions and much of it has very significant mineral potential,” says Tony Andrews, managing director of the PDAC’s national body. “The northern part of this province is characterized by a relatively large number of medium-sized communities and numerous established mining camps. Typically, different regions of the province have their own unique problems, concerns, and needs. As such, a coalition of region al groups seems to be the best way to ensure an effective support structure for the exploration and mining industry.”

The federation comprises a board of directors made up of representatives of each member organization. The member organizations are the Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association (Thunder Bay), the Northern Prospectors Association (Kirkland Lake), the Porcupine Branch PDA, the Sault Saint Marie PDA, the Sudbury PDA and the PDAC national body based in Toronto. The OMEF board also includes representatives from Dryden, Atikokan, Red Lake, Wawa and CIM in Thunder Bay.

Two members of the OMEF Board sit on the Board of Directors of the PDAC and vice versa. The current OMEF executive consists of Ian Atkinson, chairman; Bill MacRae, secretary, and Germain Lauzier, treasurer. The main goals of the coalition are communication, co-operation, and the provision of the most effective support possible for the industry.

“The PDAC welcomes the formation of OMEF,” says Andrews. “In view of the current challenges confronting our industry, especially with respect to the environmental lobby and the problems associated with land alienation, we are going to need all the strength and organizational power we can muster.”

“The combining of voices, resources, and expertise through coalitioning is one very effective method of accomplishing this.”

In a continuing effort to improve the national support structure of the exploration and mining industry across Canada, the PDAC says it is examining the potential of developing coalitions and federations in all provinces and territories.

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