Phase 1 of a newly made-in-B.C. Critical Mineral Strategy was rolled out by the BC NDP government Jan. 22 “dead-on-arrival,” said BC United’s Shadow Minister for Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka.

The Strategy arrived without “real carbon tax relief in place,” Shypitka said.

“After seven years under the NDP, B.C.’s mining sector continues to suffer due to our province’s complete lack of tax and regulatory competitiveness, ongoing goalpost shifts, and permit paralysis, resulting in capital fleeing the province,” he said. “Despite having the lowest emissions, B.C.’s mining sector is shelling out the world’s highest carbon taxes under the NDP’s ‘CostBC’ scheme.”

A joint Office of the Premier and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation media release stated the first phase of the Critical Minerals Strategy launches key actions, including:

* taking action to expedite critical minerals projects and maximize federal funding opportunities through a new Critical Minerals Project Advancement Office;

* a B.C. critical minerals atlas to provide world-class geoscience data that is always current, and to support exploration and land-use planning;

* alignment of Provincial and First Nations Energy and Mining Council critical minerals strategies, and continued engagement with First Nations across the province;

* B.C. to work in partnership with First Nations and industry to identify and advance critical-mineral infrastructure like the North Coast Transmission Line that is essential to critical-mineral development and growth, supported by a $36-billion BC Hydro capital plan; and

* taking action to ensure the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, a new Energy and Mines Digital Trust project that empowers major mining operators in B.C. to be more transparent about where and how their products are made.

In addition to opening up opportunities to develop additional critical minerals in B.C., the strategy also focuses on new ways to add value to the sector by growing downstream opportunities, such as processing and manufacturing, as well as battery recycling, that will see mined materials put back into the supply chain, the release stated.

Future actions to expand B.C.’s Critical Minerals Strategy are expected to be delivered in the coming months. Next steps include actions to support First Nations participation in projects, economic analysis and support for First Nations’ capacity building to develop and refine policies and actions. An important part of the work ahead will be ensuring that the strategy is aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Shypitka pointed out unlike the NDP’s ineffective approach, Kevin Falcon and BC United’s Resource Prosperity Plan will unlock B.C.’s critical metal and mineral resources by:

• Ensuring competitive tax rates for B.C.’s mining sector, scrapping excessive carbon taxes;
• Streamlining review and approval processes for quicker, responsible project development; and
• Positioning B.C. as a key provider of low-carbon minerals and technologies essential for a sustainable future.

“In stark contrast to the NDP’s seven years of neglect for the mining sector, BC United has a plan that ensures competitive tax rates for the mining sector, eliminates excessive carbon taxes, streamlines project development processes for efficiency, and positions B.C. as a key provider of low-carbon minerals and technologies crucial for a sustainable future,” added Shypitka

“It’s why we’ve committed to scrapping the NDP’s destructive ‘CostBC’ plan and are focused on real climate results while providing more jobs, higher incomes and lower taxes.”

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