Resource World Magazine

D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8 www.resourceworld.com 7 Editor's Comments Ellsworth Dickson Ellsworth Dickson, Editor-in-Chief Email: editor@resourceworld.com T: 604 484 3800 | 1 877 484 3800 I realize that there is an anti-capital- ist movement out there and maybe they have a point in targeting cer- tain events and circumstances around the world; however, it is abundantly clear that the free and competitive market that funds speculative exploration and drives mining activities delivers tremendous benefits to people. It's not just about everything that mining provides that surrounds us in life plus well-paying jobs and tax revenues – mining actually improves our lives. At a recent Resource Breakfast in Vancouver, Frank Armitage, Mayor of the Town of Princeton, British Columbia, (pop. ~3,000) told the audience that the presence of Copper Mountain Mining Corp. has been a 'blessing'. With the downturn in the for- estry sector, the re-opening of the Copper Mountain open pit copper mine pretty well saved the town with the company's 450 jobs and a $50 million payroll. This has led to more businesses opening up and workers can now buy their own homes and stay in their home town in new subdivisions. In addition, BC's capital in Victoria receives some $750 million a year from Copper Mountain. Indirect jobs in related businesses are also created and sustained such as Kal Tire and engine rebuilders for haul trucks. In total, there are over 38,000 direct and indirect mining jobs in BC. Speaking of indirect jobs, the BC north- west coastal port Town of Prince Rupert is booming thanks to its expanded tidewa- ter terminal that has doubled the facility's cargo capacity. In August 2016, exports of metallurgical coal through Prince Rupert's Ridley Terminals totaled zero. One year later exports of metallurgical coal had increased 1,341% in 2017's first eight months com- pared with the same period in 2016. At the Resource Breakfast, the Honorable Michelle Mungall, BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, said that her new government wants to encourage mineral exploration and make sure there is a sustainable mining industry in the province. Another mining lifestyle improve- ment is the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitable Redevelopment Project in Vancouver. Naming rights were granted to Teck Resources which donated $25 million to the $676 million project. About 80,000 donors contributed some $200 million with the balance funded by taxpayers. The Teck Acute Care Centre officially opened October 29 as the core of the Children's hospital. Up north in the coastal Town of Kitimat, Rio Tinto is just completing a multi-million modernization program that will sustain about a thousand well-paying jobs at their aluminum smelter that will last at least another 60 years. The Kitimat smelter pro- duces aluminum with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world and pro- vides employees with a chance to lead a comfortable lifestyle. The above examples are just from British Columbia. There are many examples of lifestyle improvements around the world such as senior mining company Goldcorp, a signatory to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which has spent US $20 million on community investments, donations, sponsorships and infrastructure investments. Less than 2% of children in India have access to zinc and ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts), an inexpensive life-saving treat- ment. That's why Teck Resources partnered with UNICEF Canada to improve access to and use of zinc as a treatment for diarrhea in three states of India – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. The part- nership aims to save the lives of 150,000 children by 2018 and 50,000 lives annually going forward. n Mining improves people's lifestyles

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