Thursday August 22, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated 1 pm]
BC Provincial election news by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
British Columbia has vast critical mineral and metal reserves crucial for the clean energy transition.
Today, BC United Leader Kevin Falcon held a media event in downtown Victoria about this party committing to positioning BC as a global mining leader and “unlocking $36 billion in mining potential”.
Critical minerals part of economy & climate change response:
Critical minerals are key to building out the EV and battery storage economic sectors, something the federal Liberal government is also working on as well as the Province of Ontario. Those minerals include molybdenum, nickel, aluminum, lithium, copper, and metallurgical coal.
BC United describes these as “indispensable for developing clean technologies such as solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles”.
Shifting to the EV and battery-storage economy is happening in the context of how the world is adjusting to the realities of climate change and best-use of natural resources. Green aspects of the shift include recycling and disposal of substances and materials that are an offshoot of production.
Reversing ‘permit paralysis’:
Falcon says BC United would aim to position BC as a global mining leader “by reversing the NDP’s harmful permit paralysis and improving tax and regulatory competitiveness, which currently drive away investments and jobs from our major mines and exploration projects”.
Natural resource sector revenues down:
Today BC Finance Minister Katrine Conroy announced that BC saw reduced revenues from the natural resource sector due to lower pricing and lower volumes (but BC revenue was higher than expected from most other sources).
At 1.6%, BC’s 2023 economic growth otherwise outpaced the national average, said Conroy today in an afternoon media session.
Election season context:
This is of course a provincial election season, where all parties speak in terms of already being government. Of in the case of BC United, they could hope to return as the Official Opposition and have some clout to make these proposed changes.
“BC United will act decisively to secure $36 billion in near-term investment, 300,000 person-years of employment, and $11 billion in tax revenues,” said BC United Leader Kevin Falcon.
“The Mining Association of B.C.’s Critical Minerals Economic Impact Study identifies billions in provincial tax revenues from supporting B.C. mines. Unleashing the potential of our natural resource sector will help fund BC United’s historic commitment to eliminating income tax on the first $50,000 earned by all British Columbians.”
Today’s announcement was made by BC United MLA Todd Stone, BC United Shadow Minister for Jobs, Small Business & Economic Development along with Tom Shypitka, MLA (Kootenay East); Falcon was tied up in a Helijet delay.
Currently the BC United Party (formerly the BC Liberals) has 57 candidates across 93 electoral areas.
BC United plan:
BC United says that to keep BC at the forefront of sustainable mining and clean technology — toward full potential — it will:
- Guarantee permitting and approval turnarounds for 17 critical mineral and five precious metal mines.
- Revise the Mineral Tenure Act to properly reflect four core principles of reconciliation, rule of law, administrative fairness, and timely decision-making.
- Implement the most competitive tax rates and regulations for mining in Canada.
- Empower the skilled trades workforce needed through accelerated targeted training programs.
- Market B.C. as a global supplier of low-carbon minerals essential for clean technologies.
- Enable Indigenous participation in mining projects through loan guarantees, equity ownership, and capacity-building support.
“The NDP’s continued delays and regulatory hurdles have put B.C.’s economic future at risk,” added MLA Tom Shypitka, BC United Shadow Minister for Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “BC United’s plan will revive and accelerate the growth of the mining sector, ensuring B.C. leads the way in sustainable mining practices essential for our clean energy future.”
Federal strategy for critical minerals:
The BC United critical minerals strategy seems to align with the fedeeral government’s Critical Minerals Strategy as was released in 2022 (with five core objectives):
- supporting economic growth, competitiveness, and job creation;
- promoting climate action and environmental protection;
- advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples;
- fostering diverse and inclusive workforces and communities; and
- enhancing global security and partnerships with allies.
Canada’s Premiers at their July 2024 meeting in Halifax — as attended by BC Premier David Eby — included mention of the importance of addressing “gaps in infrastructure to support critical mineral exploration and extraction continue to present challenges, especially in the North”.
Job component:
“B.C.’s low-carbon-intensity critical metal and mineral resources are at the forefront of addressing global challenges and catalyzing the shift toward a low-carbon future,” says Todd Stone, BC United Shadow Minister for Jobs, Small Business & Economic Development.
“Without immediate action, billions in potential investment and thousands of jobs could be lost. This plan will cement B.C.’s status as a mining powerhouse, stimulate significant economic growth, and create good-paying private sector jobs.”
===== RELATED:
- Two-part announcement: Energy Action Framework | BC environmental assessment certificate for Cedar LNG (March 14, 2023)
- UVic gets $1.5 million for hybrid electric propulsion development (August 6, 2022)
- Electric vehicles necessary to hit climate targets (April 12, 2022)
- Trudeau promises national network of EV charging stations (April 11, 2022)
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===== ELECTION RESOURCES:
- CANDIDATES by PARTY: BC NDP | BC UNITED | BC GREENS | BC CONSERVATIVES
- ADVANCE VOTING. October 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16.
- ELECTION DATE: Saturday October 19, 2024