Engagement Summary The Mines Act regulates all mining activities in British Columbia – from early exploration to production, reclamation, closure, and post-closure. Under this Act, mining activities include precious and base metal mines, coal mines, industrial mineral mines (e.g. silica, limestone), rock quarries, sand and gravel operations, and placer mines. The Mines Act is supported … Read More

Engagement Summary The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (the ministry) conducted a review of the Private Managed Forest Land (PMFL) Program. The review was one of several policy reforms announced as part of the Coast Forest Sector Revitalization Initiative. The review examined how well the PMFL Program is meeting its … Read More

Engagement Summary The BC Hydro Standing Offer Program (SOP) has been indefinitely suspended. The SOP was launched in 2008 to provide independent power producers an opportunity to develop small-scale renewable energy projects. However, BC Hydro has a surplus supply of electricity which is expected to continue into the 2030s. The surplus means there is no … Read More

Engagement Summary The Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources’ mandate letter included a commitment to establish a BC Mining Jobs Task Force (Task Force) to create and sustain good jobs in this important industry. In February 2018 the Task Force was established. The Task Force’s mandate was to work with the mining industry, workers … Read More

Engagement Summary The Province of British Columbia and the Tahltan Nation have spent many years developing the Klappan Technical report and the resulting Klappan Plan, in order to address land use and resource management conflicts in the Sacred Headwaters area in northwestern B.C.   Following a robust and comprehensive public engagement process throughout the development … Read More

Engagement Summary In May 2016, the Auditor General’s report on compliance and enforcement of the mining sector was released which highlighted the need for a clear and transparent policy to ensure that the mine reclamation security held by government is appropriately managing financial risk to the taxpayer.   As a first step, the Ministry of … Read More

Engagement Summary Feedback was invited on a discussion paper to enable the development of an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) program under the Mines Act.   In March 2016, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia passed Bill 8: Mines Amendment Act, 2016 to enable the development of an AMP program under the Mines Act. AMPs provide … Read More