The Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals is introducing new fixed permitting timelines for mineral exploration.

Beginning April 1, exploration permits will be processed within 40 to 140 days, depending on the complexity of the proposed activity, the ministry announced this week.

Factors will include consultation with First Nations, the size and complexity of the proposed project, the extent of ground disturbance and other variables. This will be achieved through a combination of improvements, including clear up-front guidance, systems changes and process transparency, the ministry said.

A new permit-escalation process will be introduced. If timelines are not reached, the application will be escalated to the chief permitting officer for a decision within 14 days. The ministry will receive a budget lift of $1 million to provide extra staff to support this initiative, and a further $2 million to support the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF).

“The Association for Mineral Exploration BC has been calling on government to allocate more capacity funding for permitting and the MCCF implementation,” said Todd Stone, president and CEO, Association for Mineral Exploration BC (AME).

“To that end, we thank government for their provision of $3 million in additional funding for permitting. This is a key initiative to assist prospectors and junior miners in particular. AME will continue to work with government to make sure that these dollars are put to use immediately and efficiently to help deliver on the government’s promise of fixed permitting timelines for all explorers.”

“We are fulfilling our pledge to introduce fixed permitting timelines for B.C.’s vital mineral exploration sector,” said Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals. “These timelines, backed by new investment, respond to industry feedback, while still protecting the environment and respecting reconciliation with First Nations, and will drive even further investment in the booming mining industry.”

“The Mining Association of B.C. is pleased to see government commit new resources to improve the implementation of the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework and reduce permitting timelines for the province’s exploration industry,” said Michael Goehring, president and CEO, Mining Association of B.C. “Today’s exploration and development projects are tomorrow’s mines, and both require accelerated permitting processes to seize the biggest jobs and economic opportunity British Columbians will see in a lifetime.”

Last year was B.C.’s strongest exploration year on record, the ministry said. Exploration spending grew 36% over 2024, for one of the strongest single-year jumps on record, and by nearly 64% over the long-term average from 2016-24. Exploration drilling totalled almost one million metres, an approximate increase of more than 300,000 metres from 2024.

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