VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – Canada’s mining lobbies have outlined seven top priorities at the seventy-third Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference, currently under way in Winnipeg, Manitoba, urging federal and provincial leadership to take action to regain Canada’s former title as the top mining destination in the world.

The Canadian Mineral Industry Federation (CMIF) detailed the policy priorities on Monday that it believes will help the industry overcome current challenges.

“As the downturn is still being felt by the mineral exploration and mining industry, action is required to ensure Canadians are able to capitalise on the great opportunities that lie ahead,” stated Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada president Bob Schafer.

President of the Mining Association of Canada Pierre Gratton added that the mining sector’s ability to continue its role as a powerful economic driver and top employer in regions across the country, is in large part dependent on the decisions made by Canadian governments.

“There are incredible opportunities to achieve shared goals when it comes to socioeconomic development, innovation, protecting the environment and solidifying Canada’s leadership in mining – let’s work together to seize them,” Gratton advised.

According to the lobby groups, Canada’s top policy priorities are:

1. Financing for early-stage exploration: CMIF asks that all jurisdictions in Canada maintain and enhance fiscal incentives. In particular, the Ministers are asked to support the renewal of the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit and to sustain the flow-through shares system. These measures have helped Canada attract billions of dollars in investment and have led to the creation of thousands of jobs in remote areas of the country.

2. Regulatory environment: The Ministers should ensure that the recently announced federal review results in an effective regulatory process that the public has confidence in, and that it improves the competitiveness of the industry and attracts much-needed mineral investment to Canada. Federal-provincial coordination in this area is critical and provinces are strongly encouraged to participate fully in the review.

3. Aboriginal affairs: CMIF recommends that governments support efforts to enhance the participation of Aboriginal people in the industry through investments in health, education and skills training, as well as government benefits and resource revenue sharing. CMIF also recommends that governments examine and address challenges related to how they are implementing the duty to consult.

4. Addressing the costs of operating in remote and northern Canada: CMIF recommends that a northern infrastructure fund be created within the proposed Canada Infrastructure Bank, and that strategic fiscal incentives be established to help offset the high costs of exploring and operating in remote parts of Canada.

5. Climate change, clean technology and innovation: The federal government should invest C$50-million over five years in the Canada Mining Innovation Council’s Towards Zero Waste Mining strategy to achieve mutual goals of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and environmental impacts, and to support the transition to a lower-carbon future.

6. Land withdrawals: Removal of highly prospective areas is reducing the attractiveness of Canada as an exploration destination. CMIF is calling on all jurisdictions to ensure that mineral potential is factored into all land withdrawal decision-making processes.

7. Strengthening Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference: CMIF encourages Mines Ministers to undertake a study to understand how similar meetings are used as a means to drive improvements in government and industry performance.