Archived News Releases

Province Boosts Mineral Exploration With $1.4-Million Assistance Program

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Mining Industry Flourishing In Northern Manitoba: Chomiak

The provincial government is providing $1.4 million through the second round of the 2009 Mineral Exploration Assistance Program (MEAP) to support 25 new mineral exploration projects, Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak announced today.

 

“The mining industry continues to flourish in Manitoba,” said Chomiak. “News from Snow Lake is good; Hudbay Minerals is developing a new mine and restarted the Chisel North Mine while Garson Gold Corporation/Alexis Minerals Corporation are looking at reopening the new Britannia Gold Mine.”

 

The minister noted MEAP funding helped HudBay and Garson Gold advance their projects.  As a result, the return for Manitoba is jobs and economic development for northern communities, he said.

 

“Garson Gold Corporation has been active in Manitoba since 2006,” said Jamie Lavigne, vice-president of exploration with Garson Gold Corporation. “MEAP is one of the factors making Manitoba an excellent province to conduct property exploration and evaluation programs. MEAP has allowed us to accelerate our exploration programs.”

 

MEAP was renewed for an additional three years in April 2008. The program offers $2.5 million of assistance annually through two offerings per year.  The program provides assistance for up to 25 per cent of approved eligible expenses to a maximum of $300,000.

 

There is a higher level of assistance, up to 35 per cent to a maximum of $400,000, to encourage exploration in under-explored frontier regions and to help sustain mining communities.

 

Eleven of the 25 projects qualify for the higher level of assistance and are in the Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids, Snow Lake and other northern areas. Mining projects throughout the province are expected to generate $18.8 million in additional exploration expenditures.

 

“Manitoba is ranked as one of the top 10 places worldwide for mineral policies favourable to mining investment,” said Chomiak. “We’re among the top provinces in Canada for competitiveness in mining taxes and our geological database has been consistently placed as one of the best in the world.”

To view a map showing the location of the MEAP projects visit:

www.gov.mb.ca/stem/mrd/busdev/incentives/index.html.

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