Proposed Mineral Development Strategy for Ontario

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Proposed Mineral Development Strategy for
Ontario
Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster Council meeting
September 30, 2005
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BACKGROUND

• July 2004 - Minister seeks OMICC input on mineral
  policy framework
• Winter/Spring 2005 - OMICC submits
  recommendations
• September 2005 - Fall consultations commence on a
  discussion paper on a proposed Mineral
  Development Strategy for Ontario

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Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster Council meeting
September 30, 2005
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WHY A MINERAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY?

• Northern Prosperity Plan - key element
• Ontarios mining industry/OMICC seeks government
  support
• to sustain industrys competitive advantages
• to recognize the sectors contributions to jobs,
  economy (province-wide as well as North) and
  improving public record
• to ensure a stewardship framework for the future
• Help address long-standing barriers and unmet
  opportunities
• land access and availability for future
  development
• rules of engagement in Aboriginal traditional
  lands
• regulatory uncertainty and burden
• roles and responsibilities for industry and
  partners

Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster Council meeting
September 30, 2005
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COURSE OF ACTION

• Strategy based on 4 objectives
• 1. Supporting and promoting long term sector
  sustainability and global competitiveness
• 2. Supporting modern, safe and environmentally
  sound mining
• 3. Clarifying and modernizing mineral resource
  stewardship
• 4. Develops northern communities and
  opportunities for all

Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster Council meeting
September 30, 2005
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COURSE OF ACTION (contd)

• OBJECTIVE 1
• Promoting Sustainability and Global
  Competitiveness for the Sector
• Maintaining a competitive tax system and business
  climate that attracts long-term investment
• Providing updated and expanded geological mapping
  and geoscience information
• Addressing sector training, RD requirements
  though partners
• Reducing permitting and approvals timelines for
  new/expanded mines

• Key Action
• Improving processing and approvals time lines for
  opening a new mine review led by MNDM with MOE
  and other partners

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COURSE OF ACTION (contd)

• OBJECTIVE 2
• Supporting Modern, Safe and Environmentally Sound
  Mining
• Working with industry/organizations to monitor
  adherence to voluntary environmental policy and
  best practices
• Facilitate voluntary actions by industry to
  rehabilitate abandoned mine hazards on crown land
• Continuing government sponsored programs for
  rehabilition of mine hazards.

• Key Action
• Propose amendments to the Mining Act to support
  good samaritan industry support for mine
  rehabilitation

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COURSE OF ACTION (contd)

• OBJECTIVE 3
• Clarifying Stewardship for Mineral Developers
  and First Nations
• Adhere to Constitutional and legal obligations
  and consistent with New Approach to Relations
  with Aboriginal People
• Requiring mineral sector developers to engage
  with communities and developing a guide to best
  practices
• Committing to withdrawing areas of traditional
  value in Treaty areas from staking at request of
  First Nations

• Key Actions
• Develop a Best Practices manual that confirms
  protocols for mineral sector activities working
  with Aboriginal communities
• Requiring engagement when exploring on
  traditional territory
• Proceed with discussions on withdraw of
  culturally sensitive areas from staking - if
  requested by Aboriginal communities.

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COURSE OF ACTION (contd)

• OBJECTIVE 3 (contd)
• Clarifying Stewardship Land Use
• Crown land use planning to recognize PSMP and
  methodology
• Clear processes to access mining
  properties/mineral resources through parks and
  protected areas and across linear parks
• Minister of northern Development and Mines to
  input on land use recommendations that could
  prohibit future mineral exploration.
• Ensuring socio-economic consideration in land use
  planning and mineral resource consideration in
  Far North
• Clear rules for claim staking and mineral
  exploration on lands where private owners have
  surface rights and not mining rights

• Key Actions
• Confirming PSMP use in crown land use planning
• Process for confirming access to mineral
  resources
• Mining Act changes for map staking in southern
  Ontario and clearer staking rules on private
  lands province-wide

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COURSE OF ACTION (contd)

• OBJECTIVE 4
• Promoting Community Development and Opportunities
  for All
• Promoting community-based mining education
• Promoting mineral sector diversification
  (cluster)
• Promoting Impact Benefit Agreements between
  companies and First Nations providing pilot
  training projects to support Aboriginal
  involvement and jobs in the mineral sector.

• Key Actions
• Designate Centre for Excellence in Mining
  Innovation
• Pilot training in Far North
• Propose changes to Ontario Works criteria to
  facilitate training for Aboriginal participation
  in the mining sector
• Economic Development Plan for Far North

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September 30, 2005
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IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS

• Stakeholders
• Mineral sector Ontario Mining Association,
  Ministers Mining Act Advisory Committee, Ontario
  Mineral Industry Cluster Council, Prospectors and
  Developers Association of Canada, Ontario
  Prospectors Association,
• Municipal organizations, Environmental NGOs,
  Chamber of Commerce, Educational Institutions,
  Labour
• Aboriginal Groups and Communities
• Federal Government - Environment Canada,
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Natural
  Resources Canada

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NEXT STEPS

• September 2005-2006
• October - November 05
• Focused engagement with key stakeholder groups
  (OMICC, industry organizations, Environmental
  NGOs, municipal organizations, educational
  institutions, labour)
• Focused discussion/consultation with Aboriginal
  organizations and communities
• Public comment (EBR, MNDM website)
• 2006- Anticipated release of a public document on
  a Mineral Development Strategy for Ontario

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HOW TO RESPOND

• Comments can be forwarded to MNDM
• E-Mailed to mineral.strategy_at_ndm.gov.on.ca
• Mailed to A Mineral Development Strategy for
  Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and
  Mines Room 5630, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley
  St. W., Toronto ON M7A 1W3
• Discussion paper available from
• EBR posting (link to MNDM website)
• http//www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/ebr/engl
  ish/index.htm
• MNDM websites
• http//www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/mines/mds/default_e
  .asp
• http//www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/mines/mds/default_f
  .asp
• MNDM Offices
• http//www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/nordev/Where_e.asp

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• APPENDIX

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OMICC RECOMMENDATIONS

• Overall, OMICC recommended government consider
  impact of the mineral sector on the economy and
  that a mineral policy for Ontario be based on the
  following key cornerstones
• Mining should be given equal weight and
  consideration in governmental decision making and
  approval processes.
• Governmental policies should support, encourage
  and enhance modern mining a high-tech
  environmentally responsible industry.
• does not include input from the Aboriginal
  working group

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OMICC RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued)

• Support OGS and geoscientific research which can
  be shared by all.
• Support mining education and RD within the
  mineral industry.
• Ensure that Ontarios tax structure is
  competitive with other mining jurisdictions
  within Canada and around the world.
• Provide a regulatory environment which is
  competitive with other mining jurisdictions, is
  fair and consistent and instills investor
  confidence in the sector.
• Promote and support the industry in its
  environmental protection and rehabilitation
  efforts and encourage volunteer initiatives.
• Expedite the permitting process, with specific
  time lines for greater certainty, for carrying
  out advanced exploration activities and bringing
  new mines through the development phase into
  production.
• Ensure that regulations concerning environmental
  and occupational health issues are based on good
  science

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OMICC RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued)

• Establish land access and land tenure rules which
  are clear, understandable, fair and consistent.
• Ensure mineral exploration and development
  interests in land use planning and land
  allocation planning.
• Ensure that Provincially Significant Mineral
  Potential (PSMP) process is carried out on all
  Crown lands.
• Clarification of relationship if holder of
  mineral rights differs from the holder of surface
  rights.
• Institute a conservation area replacement policy
  for areas of high PSMP which may be excluded from
  mineral prospecting.
• Ensure that residents of Ontarios FN communities
  have the chance to compete in employment and
  entrepreneurial opportunities offered by the
  industry
• Promote and support the industry in its efforts
  to improve employee safety and occupational
  health

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Strengthening Northern and Rural Communities
Competing Globally
Opportunities for All
Mineral Development Strategy

• Support/promote sector sustainability and global
  competitiveness
• Apply appropriate tax and fiscal policies
• Expand geological information base
• Meet education, training requirements
• Provide RD, innovation,commercial-ization
  support
• Collaborate with federal and industry partners
• Increase efficiency of permitting and approvals
  for new mines

• Support modern, safe, environmentally sound
  mining
• Meet public expectations
• Become global leader
• Develop and export techniques, technologies
• Practice minimal impact mining
• Lead national efforts to address legacy mining
  issues

• Develop northern communities and opportunities
  for all
• Engage Aboriginal people bring prosperity,
  opportunities to FN communities
• Support jobs for youth, skilled workers
• Develop mineral-related industries, promote RD,
  innovation, education and training
• Identify Sudbury-based international mining
  centre

• Clarify and modernize Ontarios mineral resource
  stewardship
• Protect areas of high mineral potential
• Protect mining land tenure in land-use decisions
• Define clear rules around surface and mining
  rights
• Entrench geoscience mapping as fundamental
  information source

Strong Communities, Engaged People
Economic Prosperity
Environment
Land Use
Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster Council meeting
September 30, 2005
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