Mineral Exploration

S pring 20 17 15 PHOTOS: CARL RYANœAME; MALCOM LENNOXœAME Local Opinion Opinions vary by region when it comes to mineral exploration and mine development By PETER CAULFIELD I n a province that is as large and diverse as British Columbia, it's natural that opinions on most topics – including mineral exploration and development – will be diverse too. What the average person in Oak Bay or Yaletown thinks about a new mine or pipeline will be very di¤erent from what's going through the head of somebody who lives in the northwestern corner of British Columbia or in the Kootenays in southeastern B.C. As the May 9 election approaches, Mineral Exploration wanted to know what's on the mind of voters who live in the parts of the province that are most dependent on resource development. We talked to three well-connected observers of local politics in four provincial constituencies: Kamloops- North Thompson and Kamloops-South Thompson, Stikine and Kootenay East. We asked each of them what the hot-button issues are in their respective constituencies and whether mineral exploration and mine development is important to their fellow voters. The following interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity. Stikine MARIA RYDER District of Stewart councillor for 2.5 years, chief of the volunteer fire department and 25-year Stewart resident The main projects in the Stewart region are Brucejack (Pretium Resources Inc.), the Premier Mine (Ascot Resources Ltd.), Red Mountain (IDM Mining Ltd.) and the Red Chris Mine (Imperial Metals). Along with Terrace and Kitimat, Stewart is one of the largest communities in the district. We are growing in population, especially in the summer, when workers and their families descend on the town, drawn by mineral exploration and hydro projects and by Stewart's two ports. It's very di¤erent here from urban British Columbia, and the people from down south who come up here to work find out just how di¤erent it is. And some of them discover how di¤erent some of our opinions and concerns are from theirs. Because we get a lot of snow in the winter, much of the employment in Stewart is seasonal and the people who live here adjust their lives accordingly. Every year between March and November we're busy, and between November and March things are pretty slow. But we're used to it and we adjust. The main election issue here is sustainable job creation through industrial development. We want jobs that stay and that provide stability to Stewart. Kootenay East LOIS HALKO District of Sparwood second-term councillor and former mayor, born and raised in Sparwood The main economic drivers of the region are the mining of metallurgical coal, which is B.C.'s single biggest export, and the activities of the local suppliers to the coal industry. There are five Teck [Teck Coal Limited] metallurgical coal mines in the region: Coal Mountain, Elkview, Fording River, Greenhills and Line Creek. In addition, there are four mining companies that are interested in developing mines in the Elk Valley area: CanAus Coal Ltd., Centermount Coal Ltd., NWP Coal Canada Ltd. and Riversdale Resources Limited. The five Teck mines have a total of 3,600 full-time employees, of whom 2,400 live in four communities in the Elk Valley area. Because it is used to make steel, and because steel is such an essential product in everyone's life, metallurgical coal should be recognized as a critical resource. It's certainly critical to the people who live in Sparwood. Teck has earned its social licence to continue mining here. The public has accepted the company's e¤orts to mitigate any of the e¤ects of coal mining, such as contaminants leaching into the water supply. Teck has done a lot of work to reduce the problem. Flyway: Stewart is a base for mineral exploration in the Stikine riding. Coal exploration and mining: part of the Kootenay East fabric.

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