EDITORIAL — Now you see it . . .

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (EMPR) is no more. Without warning, British Columbia’s new premier, Glen Clark, ordered an end to a ministry that has served the province well ever since it joined confederation, in 1871.

Gone, too, is the position of mines minister. Today, anyone seeking to use any government service related to mining is being directed to something called the Ministry of Employment and Investment.

The reaction from the mining sector was swift and unequivocal. “We are disturbed, perplexed and disappointed, and we are questioning what they (Clark’s New Democratic Party government) will do next,” said Wayne Livingstone, head of the province’s Mining Association.

Considering that mining is one of the top three industries in the province and one of the largest earners of foreign exchange, this reaction is understandable. Mining also provides high-paying jobs, plenty of tax revenue, and spin-off benefits to local communities.

EMPR was, in this respect, a revenue-generating ministry far more worthy of being preserved than some others that survived Clark’s reorganization. The Ministry of Women’s Equality, for example, could easily have been rolled into the Ministry of Labour. In this day and age, women don’t need a government ministry to remind them they are “equal.”

Clark’s action is perceived as yet another manifestation of the ambivalence that has traditionally characterized the relationship between the New Democratic Party and the mining industry. The industry has still not forgotten the misguided actions and insufferable arrogance of David Barrett and his NDP government of 1972-75, which drove the mining industry to near oblivion.

Furthermore, the end of EMPR as a separate ministry is demoralizing for all the men and women who have, over the years, served the mining sector well. For the most part, the mining industry was pleased by the quality of service provided by mining professionals in the ministry, including geologists with the Geological Survey.

The mining industry is naturally concerned about what Clark will do next. After all, the 38-year-old premier recently ordered forestry industry executives to create thousands of new jobs, or else he would “take action” (whatever that means) — and this from an NDP government that has been anything but supportive of the forestry sector. The only positive is that mining will now fall under Dan Miller (the minister of Employment and Investment), who has earned some respect from the resource sector. Miller also has clout in cabinet, unlike former mines minister Anne Edwards.

It should be remembered that Clark was appointed, not elected, premier; he took over the post after Michael Harcourt resigned in the wake of a bingo-charity scandal involving several party members.

The demise of EMPR as its own entity would not be so alarming if the premier had consulted with the industry before he proceeded to pull the ministerial rug out from under its feet. But this did not happen.

Yet, while the mining industry did not have a say in this matter, it will have a say when the next provincial election rolls around, sometime this year. Granted, Clark probably isn’t counting on votes from mining executives. But he should keep in mind that mining is the lifeblood of many communities. It also employs thousands of well-paid workers — many of whom are represented by unions — who have much to lose if mining is not recognized for the important role it plays in B.C.’s economy.