Throne speech good harbinger

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) sees good signs in Ottawa’s recent throne speech.

MAC President Gordon Peeling says it is the first throne speech in a long time that clearly recognizes the value of the resource sectors, mining in particular.

He says the inclusion of mining in the speech provides an opportunity for the MAC, Natural Resources Minister John Efford, and individual members of Parliament to contribute to a policy agenda that benefits mining.

Among its goals, the government lists advancing economic opportunities for aboriginal Canadians and their respective communities. It will do this by developing “a northern strategy, ensuring that the economic development related to energy and mining is brought on-stream in partnership with northern Canadians, based on stewardship of our most fragile northern eco-systems.”

Regional and rural development were stressed, with the government vowing to apply “advanced technology and know-how” to the natural resources sector.

The speech also alluded to mining’s role in the “new economy,” which shows that the government recognizes the industry’s economic significance as both an investor and a supplier.

Regarding the Kyoto Accord, the speech promises that Canada’s commitment will be carried out in a way that “produces long-term and enduring results while maintaining a strong and growing economy.”

Perhaps the most concrete promise came in the form of a commitment to spend $3.5 billion over 10 years to clean up contaminated sites throughout the country, including abandoned mine sites.

Responding to the recent throne speech, Prime Minister Paul Martin made references to Canada’s valuable resource sector, in particular naming Voisey’s Bay in Labrador and the Athabasca tar sands in Alberta.

— The preceding is an edited excerpt from a bulletin published by the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment & Services for Export.