June 11, 2019
Province Announces New Mining and Exploration Committee
– – –Committee to Advise on Mineral Development and Attracting Investment: Pedersen
The Manitoba government is establishing a new committee to provide advice on priority issues related to mining and mineral exploration in the province, and help advance the goals of Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen announced today.
“Mining is a long-time net contributor to Manitoba’s economic prosperity, and there is tremendous potential for wealth and job creation in the sector,” said Pedersen. “These highly qualified individuals will help us to attract investment and create jobs, better respond to the needs of business and industry, and develop the sector in a sustainable way.”
The Manitoba Liaison Committee on Mining and Exploration is comprised of the following nine members:
• Shastri Ramnath (chair), executive chair/co-owner, Orix Geoscience Inc. and president/CEO/director, Exiro Minerals Corp.;
• Neil Richardson, director of exploration, Manitoba business unit, Hudbay Minerals Inc.;
• Ryan Land, manager, corporation and indigenous affairs for Manitoba/Ontario, Vale;
• Colin Webster, vice-president, sustainability and external affairs, Alamos Gold Inc.;
• John Roozendaal, president, Global Li-Ion Graphite Corp.;
• Hamid Mumin, professor, Brandon University;
• Julia Singh, senior project geoscientist, Orix Geoscience Inc.;
• Gary Merasty, president/chief development officer, The North West Company; and
• Andrew MacSkimming, lawyer specializing in environmental, energy and resources law, A.H. MacSkimming Law.
“I am pleased to lead this committee of stakeholders and government,” said Ramnath. “Mining generates significant economic opportunities and large areas of high mineral potential in the province remain under-explored. The goal of this working group is to position the province to attract the investment it needs to discover and develop new mineral deposits in order to create economic opportunities for all Manitobans.”
Pedersen noted the committee will consider the challenges facing the mining and mineral exploration industry, and the relationship mining has with local communities including Indigenous and northern communities.
“To better attract investment to Manitoba, we need to make changes to how we regulate, plan and manage our mineral resources,” said Pedersen. “Reconciliation with Indigenous communities and partnerships with other levels of government are also key to strengthening our mining economy. The committee will be asked to consider these important relationships in their recommendations to government.”
The committee will have an opportunity to consider land-use planning and regulatory matters, relationship building with communities, orphaned and abandoned mines, and exploration challenges and solutions. Its priorities will include suggesting initiatives to help:
• attract business and investment in the sector,
• advance sustainability and reconciliation, and
• increase the economic competitiveness and prosperity of northern Manitoba.
The committee will collaborate with the province’s new Economic Development Office, established as part of Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan. It will also work with the Communities Economic Development Fund, Manitoba’s northern economic development partner, to advance opportunities in conjunction with:
• the Look North initiative, Manitoba’s northern economic development strategy; and
• the Manitoba-First Nations Mineral Development Protocol, a template for comprehensive Crown-Indigenous consultations throughout the entire mineral development cycle.
View the mandate letter for committee members at: www.gov.mb.ca/iem/pdf/mlcme-mandateletter-june2019.pdf.
For more information on the Economic Growth Action Plan, visit www.manitobagrowth.ca.
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