Resource World Magazine

A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 www.resourceworld.com 47 MINING GEoSciEncE Bc rEcEivES $3 Million rESEarch fundinG Bill Bennett, British Columbia's Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review, announced that Geoscience BC will receive $3 million in funding to continue its work to support and attract resource exploration, develop- ment and investment. The funding will support the continuation of Geoscience BC's newest project, Targeting Resources for Exploration and Knowledge (TREK). Started in 2013, it will provide data on the under-explored central region near the Cariboo to exploration companies and lead to new mineral-staking activities. Geoscience BC is an industry-led, non- profit society that works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil and gas investment to BC through the collection, interpretation and distribution of geoscience data. Geoscience BC data directly contributed to the discovery of a new ore zone, leading to the expansion of the Huckleberry Mine and extending its mine life to 2019 The government announced new eco- nomic and community development agreements (ECDAs) that will enable four First Nations in the Bulkley-Nechako area to receive a share of mineral tax revenues col- lected by the Province from the expansion. In northeast BC, water monitoring and sourcing projects by Geoscience BC have led to significant natural-gas opportunities and resulted in more than $100 million in industry investment in infrastructure for sustainable water use. The Government of BC founded Geoscience BC in 2005, and since that time has provided more than $50 million in fund- ing. In June 2013, government committed to working with Geoscience BC to establish long-term funding for the society and the $3 million will provide support to the soci- ety. BC is the only province in Canada that uses an organization such as Geoscience BC to assist in the delivery of geosciences. "We are committed to working with Geoscience BC, industry, communities and First Nations to ensure BC's mining indus- try continues to grow. The data provided by Geoscience BC will lead to new dis- coveries and support new investment and economic activity," said Bennett. Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, said, "Further to the commitment in my June 2013 mandate letter, I am pleased to have funding extended to Geoscience BC. Geoscience BC's research activities have helped grow the mining sector and diver- sify the economy – especially in areas impacted by the mountain pine beetle." Robin Archdekin, President & CEO, said, "In this time of financial restraint, the government has shown an ongoing support of Geoscience BC and the continued delivery of programs focused on attracting invest- ment in British Columbia. The funding will be put toward new projects that contrib- ute to the public geoscience framework to promote BC's minerals and oil and gas explo- ration and development sectors." n

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