The mining industry is growing in British Columbia.
B.C. mines and smelters that have been operating for many years are making major investments in modernization, four new mines are in construction, several more are in advanced permitting and mineral exploration spending is rising.
Billions of new investment dollars are flowing into B.C., all creating wealth for the province and thousands of jobs and business opportunities for British Columbians and their families.
As the mining sector embarks on a period of growth not seen in a generation, it is more important than ever to find new and better ways to dig the minerals that are critical to a clean and green economy out of the ground.
Over the last couple of decades, the mining industry in B.C. has undergone dramatic changes in the way it approaches sustainability, environmental obligations and relationships with its communities of interest.
Today, the sector is the safest heavy industry in the province, it is a major investor in research and development and it’s a leading employer and contractor of First Nations. As well, through B.C.’s internationally recognized Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mining, it is continuously improving environmental management and reclamation practices.
But there is more we can and should do.
It is for this reason that the Mining Association of BC is implementing the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative (TSM).
Developed by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), TSM encourages industry to develop new best practices and demonstrate continuous improvement in a number of critical fields of sustainable management, including tailings management, aboriginal and community relations, safety and health, energy and greenhouse gas management and biodiversity.
TSM improves industry’s performance by aligning its actions with the priorities and values of Canadians; it also provides a way of finding common ground with communities of interest in order to build a better mining industry, today and in the future.
TSM is based on a set of guiding principles that are, in turn, supported by performance elements and indicators.
Reporting on the performance elements and indicators is done at the facility level allowing interested parties to track the performance of individual mines and smelters.
Reporting and performance are also verified by independent third parties, which provide a high level of confidence in the reported results.
One of the most important and innovative aspects of TSM comes from the input and guidance provided by an external communities-of-interest advisory panel.
The panel includes representatives from labour, aboriginal organizations and communities, NGOs, mining communities and the investment sector.
The panel, which held its founding meeting in March 2004, meets twice a year.
Its mandate is to help the mining industry and communities of interest improve the industry’s performance, to foster dialogue and to help shape TSM goals.
TSM is not new to B.C.
It is being employed at several mines that are members of the Mining Association of Canada, such as Teck Resources’ operations at Highland Valley Copper, Elk Valley and Trail, as well as Breakwater Resources’ Myra Falls operation on Vancouver Island.
However, many of B.C.’s mines are not MAC members, and bringing TSM to the Mining Association of BC will allow all of our province’s active mines to benefit from this initiative.
TSM is a natural next step as the industry continues its efforts to mine responsibly and provide the metals and minerals that are essential for our daily lives.
Pierre Gratton is president and CEO of the Mining Association of British Columbia. The association was established in 1901 and is the predominant voice of mining in B.C., reflecting the needs and interests of the province’s coal, metal and industrial mineral companies.