Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/225045
BC Government Initiatives T he Government of British Columbia has a number of initiatives designed to aid and promote mineral exploration in the province. The 20 per cent B.C. mining flowthrough share tax credit remains in place with a current expiry date of December 31, 2013. This is harmonized with the federal 15 per cent flow-through tax credit. B.C.'s 20 per cent refundable mining exploration tax credit for grassroots exploration remains in place for qualified expenses before January 1, 2017. The system for submitting Mines Act Notices of Work moved online in 2013. Government had reduced average turnaround time for Notices of Work to 65 days as of mid-2013. A step toward streamlining permits went into effect September 1. In cases of an existing Mines Act Permit, several types of activity are now authorized: induced polarization surveys, exploration drill programs on existing mine sites, and extending the timing of proposed work by up to two years. Where possible, the ministry may issue area and multi-year permits. Government-funded, industry-led Geoscience BC continued its work in 2013 in both hard rock and oil-and-gas geoscience data collection. Robin Archdekin assumed the position of president and CEO, replacing 'Lyn Anglin, whose eight-year term saw much new data added to the province's inventory. This work has, and will continue to, stimulate exploration in targeted areas. 102 w i n t e r 2 013 Geological Survey Branch's senior digital information geoscientist Tian Han on traverse near the Bruce Glacier in northwestern B.C. A key theme in Geoscience BC's work relates to porphyry exploration. The QUEST projects of 2007 to 2013 covered the porphyry-prospective Quesnel Terrane. The ongoing Porphyry Integration Project aims to maximize the value of these data with a study of geophysical, geochemical and geological signatures of deposits. Other major projects active in 2013 included the TREK (Targeting Resources through Exploration and Knowledge) project focusing on B.C.'s underexplored northern interior plateau region and the Northern Vancouver Island Photograph : Government of British Columbia M p78-103_BCExploration.indd 102 13-11-27 10:13 AM