Letters to the Editor Don’t kill the golden goose

The following letter has been sent to Finance Minister Michael Wilson at Ottawa.

Dear Mr Wilson:

There have been rumors in the press that your government is considering cancelling flow-through financing in your next budget.

I seldom take the opportunity to write to members of Parliament, but I feel this subject is too important to my family that I can afford to sit back and let this action happen.

In 1982, when the mining industry suffered the commencement of the great recession, I was forced to venture out on my own and set up a small geological consulting company. Through old established contacts and good old hustling for business, I have managed to participate in the development of two new mines. The first was a gallium- germanium mine in Utah and the second was a gold mine in south- central British Columbia.

All the money for both of these projects was raised through equity financing on the Vancouver Stock Exchange. Currently there are 88 personnel working at Blackdome Mining Corp.’s property northwest of Clinton, B.C., generating tax income for the provincial and federal governments.

As you are aware, hundreds of millions of dollars are raised through the Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges via flow-through financing for exploration projects, which keeps thousands of Canadians employed. While the large Canadian and American mining companies are reducing operations and laying off personnel, the small exploration companies are flourishing t hrough the benefits of flow-through financing.

If your government cancels flow- though financing, it will kill this golden goose that has assisted in employing thousands of people through this great recession. Needless to say, I will be one of those people who will be unemployed. As an independent consultant I will not be able to receive government unemployment benefits.

Please consider the consequences of your action for my family’s future. C. M. Lalonde Lalonde Geological Consulting Ltd. Vancouver, B.C.