BC mining rights act approved

A bill that supports the introduction of mining initiatives to attract investment and create jobs in the mining sector has been approved by the British Columbia legislature and now awaits final approval.

According to a B.C. government release, the Mining Rights Amendment Act, Bill 12:

* assures appropriate access to lands for responsible mineral exploration; * ensures fair compensation and arbitration processes for holders of claims and licences who are affected by expropriation for parks, while safeguarding against nuisance claims; and

* will enable the development of effective regulations to govern permitting processes for mine development

“This is balanced legislation that will support the mining industry’s goal of creating 22,000 new jobs over the next 10 years, while preserving the integrity of B.C.’s environmental regulations,” says Energy and Mines Minister Daniel Miller.