For those wondering about where NDP stands in their views on mining in this province.

From BC NDP response to VoteMining survey (www.votemining.ca)

Adrian Dix and the BC NDP strongly believe that BC’s future prosperity is linked to a strong and diversified economy. The wealth and jobs created from our natural resources support every British Columbian, urban and rural, and the public services we all count on.

Mining has been a key part of BC’s history and will remain so under the BC NDP. Adrian Dix will listen and will support a strong, environmentally sustainable mining industry that creates good jobs. Our plan includes streamlining the work permit process, continuing the mining flow through share tax credit, and maintaining support for geosciences.

The BC NDP will work to ensure BC’s mining sector remains competitive and will maximize BC’s trade and exports by developing a coordinated trade strategy that adopts international best practices and includes regional and sector-specific trade goals.

The BC NDP will improve mine development opportunities by enhancing the Environmental Assessment process so certification decisions are reached in a timely manner. We will renew and strengthen the environmental assessment process to ensure BC will have rigorous, science-based environmental standards, real and meaningful consultation with First Nations, and efficient timelines.

The BC NDP will invest in the modern and green economic infrastructure that we need to efficiently move people and goods within North America, to the Asia-Pacific, and around the world. An NDP government will continue with projects that are currently underway and will ensure local and regional economies will benefit from government infrastructure investment by expanding project agreements on publicly funded construction projects.

Economically and culturally vibrant First Nation communities are critical to BC’s future and to meeting the challenges ahead. The BC NDP will work with First Nations and our natural resource industry to build strong partnerships and a strong economy.

The foundation of the BC NDP platform is a sustainable, diversified economy that creates new opportunities, good jobs, and a strong middle-class. The BC NDP plan achieves this by focusing on the fundamentals like the stability of our tax system, and the skills and ingenuity of our workforce.

An NDP government will work with industry to develop and invest in mining-related training at BC’s post-secondary and training institutions. We will also work with the industry to better anticipate future labour needs so we are giving British Columbians opportunities to train for good jobs in the mining sector.

For more info contact Stikine BC NDP candidate Doug Donaldson

250 842-0123, 250 847-1861, [email protected]

Some mining-related commitments from the BC NDP 2013 Platform (www.bcndp.ca for full platform)

Promote and support sustainable mining and exploration (page 28)

* Encourage mineral exploration by ensuring an average 55-day turnaround for Notice of Work permits, extending the mining flow through share tax credit, and maintaining support for Geoscience BC.

* Improve mine development opportunities by enhancing the Environmental Assessment process so certification decisions are reached in a more timely manner.

* Strengthen operating mines by investing in mining-related skills training programs.

Provide economic stability and certainty (page 3)

* Maintain tax competitiveness and show clearly how we will pay for commitments, with no HST-like surprises.

* Renew BC’s trade and export strategy by developing a coordinated approach with regional and sector-specific goals.

Increase number of skilled workers (page 3)

* Improve BC’s skills training and apprenticeship system for students and employers by creating more spaces, improving completion rates and times, and investing in modern training equipment.

* Develop new, targeted programs to increase the participation of Northern residents, First Nations people and women in trades training.

Guarantee high environmental standards and best practices (page 41)

* Renew and strengthen the environmental assessment process to ensure BC will have rigorous, science-based environmental standards, real and meaningful consultation with First Nations, and efficient timelines.