Revitalizing BC’s Mining Industry

BACKGROUNDER

Unlocking Potential: Revitalizing BC’s Mining Industry

The mining and exploration industries are cornerstones of British Columbia: directly providing 35,000 high-paying jobs, adding tens of billions to our economy in exports, supporting communities, and generating cash to pay for critical services. 

The NDP has forgotten the above. For 7 years, the sector has been stifled by worsening regulatory burdens, inefficiencies in permitting, uncertainty in land use, and a lack of clear government support. 

This is an industry that supports high-paying jobs in literally every corner of the province: from downtown Vancouver, to the Kootenays, to the Island, and to the far north. A government serious about raising living standards must be serious about unlocking BC’s mining potential – without compromising on the strong safety and environmental standards we deserve.

The Conservative Party of BC will take immediate action to simplify permitting, cut redundant regulations, invest in rural infrastructure, and foster strong Indigenous partnerships for economic reconciliation. Mining and exploration investment will be welcome in BC again.

Every day, people are feeling the pain of the NDP’s indifference to economic prosperity. The Conservative Party of BC recognizes the central role played by mining today, and will bring common sense change to unlock even more benefits for BC in the future.

Making BC a Mining Superpower  

BC is home to one of the most diverse and valuable mining sectors in the world – and Eby’s NDP doesn’t seem to want it.

It takes a shocking 12-15 years to secure approval for a mine in BC, compared to 2-3 years in Australia, 5 years in in Chile, and under 2 years in Sweden. The convoluted process makes BC uncompetitive, driving jobs and investment elsewhere.

The NDP and their activist allies will keep layering-on the red tape and uncertainty. To unlock BC’s full potential, the Conservative Party of BC will:

• Enact One Project, One Permit: Lack of coordination within the bureaucracy will no longer be an excuse to delay getting critical projects to approval.
• Identify redundant regulations: We will conduct a full review of mining regulations – including the NDP’s changes to the Mining Act - with the aim of removing unnecessary or duplicative requirements that do not meaningfully contribute to safety or environmental protection.
• Review tax competitiveness: To attract and retain investment, we will ensure a fair and competitive tax structure so BC remains a strong investment destination. 
• Encourage exploration: Mining begins with exploration, which itself supports thousands of professional jobs We will reverse the NDP’s unprecedented March 2024 cabinet orders which make exploration effectively impossible in certain areas of BC.
• Champion value-added activities: Our resources have the potential to add even more value for British Columbians through refining and processing facilities – we will champion every realistic opportunity to expand BC’s capacity at the secondary stage of the supply chain.

A Critical Opportunity

16 critical mineral mine projects are proposed for BC. Together, they would inject $80 billion into the economy, create paycheques worth $22 billion, generate $11 billion in provincial tax revenues – more than the entire NDP deficit. 

These mines remain in limbo, waiting for approval from one of the longest permitting processes in the world. 

The NDP are missing a generational opportunity for our future. The Conservative Party of BC will: 

• Establish BC as a global hub for critical minerals: We commit to “getting to yes” in as timely a manner as possible – working with, not against, project proponents to satisfy all environmental and safety requirements.
• Invest in rural BC’s infrastructure: Instead of NDP neglect, we will identify gaps in rural BC’s public infrastructure and make targeted investments that unlock opportunity.

Economic Reconciliation for Indigenous Partners

Mining presents one of the best opportunities for many First Nations to access jobs, opportunity, and income – moving BC forward on the path of economic reconciliation. 

The Eby NDP has failed to provide clear expectations for consultation, leading to confusion, project delays, and disappointing outcomes for both industry and First Nations.To promote economic reconciliation, the Conservative Party of BC will: 

• Strengthen Indigenous partnerships: We will work closely with Indigenous communities to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships. As Minister of Reconciliation, John Rustad signed more deals with First Nations than any other Minister in BC history, and knows what it takes to build trust.
• Clear and transparent consultation: Ambiguous expectations around consultation requirements can create an atmosphere of mistrust and frustration. Clarity and transparency will help all parties move forward together.
  
  

You Built It, You Clean it 

BC is known for its beauty, and Conservatives believe in keeping it that way. Unfortunately, sometimes taxpayers are left on the hook for cleaning-up defunct mining projects.

Adherence to strict environmental standards must always be part of the deal of doing business here.

As it revitalizes the mining industry, the Conservative Party of BC will: 

• Make sure that if you build it, you clean it: We will design tougher and smarter protections to ensure that those who build mines are truly responsible for all remediation costs at closure – not taxpayers.
• Maintain BC’s high environmental and safety standards: No compromises, no shortcuts, no excuses.

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Our approach will unlock BC’s potential, create jobs, and restore our position as a global leader in mining. The future of BC’s economy, and the existence of rural BC communities, depends on the growth of our resource sectors - and the Conservative Party of BC is ready to lead that charge.