Mineral advisory board in the works for territory
Vancouver trip inspires minister to create board to help guide GNWT and industry
Walter Strong
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 2, 2015
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay came back from a trip from Vancouver with more than just souvenirs.
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay in Yellowknife last summer. Ramsay recently announced a new advisory board to advance mineral exploration and mining in the NWT. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
He was inspired to mimic a mineral board already in place in Yukon.
He took the opportunity while in Vancouver for the 2015 AME BC Mineral Exploration Roundup last week to announce that in the coming months his department will create Mining Industry Advisory Board to promote exploration and mining in the NWT.
The all-volunteer board will be modeled on a similar board already operating in Yukon, which Ramsay said has been effective in helping to shape policy.
"It's going to be a real benefit not only to myself but to the government and perhaps other ministers," Ramsay said to reporters during a Jan. 28 conference call.
"To have an expert body available to provide sound information from an industry perspective as we continue to try to develop our mining sector in the territory.
The Yukon board is made up of not more than 10 members appointed by the Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.
Selected by Ramsay, the board members will represent mining associations, managers of mineral exploration companies or people with at least five years in the mining industry.
The board's mandate is to make recommendations and undertake public initiatives designed to buttress mineral exploration in Yukon on a number of fronts including First Nation outreach, capital attraction and reduction of government constraints on resource development.
"It's important that we have a good cross-section of the mining industry," Ramsay said.
"For us it would be folks involved in the service side, producers, explorers."
Ramsay was not specific on what the board would focus on, but he said they would have their work cut out for them.
"There's a number of issues out there," Ramsay said.
"Regulatory issues are one of them, raising capital is another issue.
The way industry views the NWT as a jurisdiction is another issue, (as are) community education and promoting mining."
The board, Ramsay said, will help government help industry, and help industry help government, in an effort to "continue to increase GDP and opportunities" in the NWT.
Ramsay hopes the board will be selected over the next couple of months in time for a first meeting as early as May. He said the budget will be minimal - without volunteering a figure - thanks to the voluntary nature of the board positions, although there will be some staff resources directed to the board.
In discussion with reporters, Ramsay also said the GNWT would be revisiting the approximately $400,000 committed to the territory's Mining Incentive Program that rolled out last year.
"I've heard positive feed back on the Mining Incentive Program," Ramsay said.
"It has been a catalyst to getting more exploration happening in the territory.
"The more resources we put into the mining incentive program (the more it) is going to help us in the long run."
