PDAC suprised that 25% of Canadians support mining

A recent survey says that 25% of Canadians are strong supporters of mining while 15% say they are anti-mining, the Prospectors and Developers Associaiton of Canada reported today.

“This was somewhat of a surprise to our members,” said PDAC president Jon Baird in a statement.

Baird says his perception is that people who live in big urban centres are usually more sensitive to criticisms of the mining because they don’t have direct experience in the industry.

“Most mining activity takes place in remote corners of the country,” Baird pointed out.

The Angus Reid survey was conducted in June 2009 and also found that those who were pro-mining were also the most informed.

The survey also found that 96% of Canadians agree that mining is important or very important to the economy while 4% say mining is not important.

A quarter of respondents had invested in exploration, mining or oil and gas stocks.

Only about 11% of respondents were aware that Ontario is the most explored province.

Two-thirds support sharing tax revenue from mining with First Nations people.

The survey also asked people what they thought of Ontario’s proposed Bill 191, the Far North Act, which proposes to protect 50% of Northern Ontario, prohibiting mining and exploration there.

About 56% of respondents say the land should be evaluated for its mining potential before it’s set aside as protected land.

The survey was conducted in June and has a margin of aierror of +/- 1.9% 19 times out of 20.