Pickard praises co-operative spirit

A co-operative spirit between the mining industry and government exists in Manitoba, according to the president of Falconbridge.

Addressing the business section of the Manitoba Mining, Minerals and Petroleum Convention, Frank Pickard built his talk around the “Keep Mining in Canada” campaign of the Mining Association of Canada.

He turned to his own company’s experience as an example of the co-operative spirit. Falconbridge spends about 75% of its exploration budget within Canada and Pickard gave full marks to the Manitoba government for keeping large tracts of land available for that purpose.

The company’s William Lake nickel properties were in jeopardy of being designated “lowland boreal forest parkland.” However, with the assistance of the provincial government, the extensive ground in the southern Thompson nickel belt has been withdrawn from consideration as a park site. “What has happened in Manitoba is testament to what can be accomplished elsewhere in Canada,” Pickard said.

Falconbridge has spent $5 million exploring William Lake and Pickard said his company is planing to invest up to $12 million more during the next five years.

“We are really happy to be doing business in Manitoba,” Pickard said.