Registration - In-house Organization

Subject Matters

• Aboriginal Affairs
• Constitutional Issues
• Education
• Employment and Training
• Energy
• Environment
• Financial Institutions
• Fisheries
• Health
• Immigration
• Industry
• Infrastructure
• Internal Trade
• International Relations
• International Trade
• Labour
• Major Projects Management Office
• Mines Ministers Conference
• Mining
• Pre-Budget Consultation
• Regional Development
• Regulatory reform
• Science and Technology
• Small Business
• Social Responsibility and e3 Plus
• Taxation and Finance
• Transportation

Subject Matter Details

Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution

• Aboriginal affairs: the federal government should resolve outstanding land claims in order to bring certainty to Aboriginal communities and the mineral industry regarding land use management. For example, the PDAC supported passage of Bill C30, Specific Claims legislation.
• Request that the Income Tax Act be amended to include a definition of the term 'new mine'. The PDAC is recommending that a new mine be defined as a resource property on the site of a former mine that has been shut down or inactive for a continuous period of at least 60 months/5 years. This would encourage exploration around former mines.

Policies or Program

• Branding Canada in the world of mining: the federal government should work with the mineral sector to promote Canada as one of the most attractive places to explore, to mine and to process minerals, and as a centre of excellence in geoscience education, training, financing, exploration, services, supplies, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development and mining.
• Clarify those types of mineral exploration activities and costs that are eligible for tax deduction as Canadian Exploration Expense (CEE) under flow-through share rules, for instance, the costs of community consultations, environmental baseline studies and feasibility studies, and issuance and compliance costs.
• In 2009, the federal government announced Building the Canadian Advantage: A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector. The PDAC has developed a CSR program for the mineral exploration industry called e3 Plus and the association is interested in the content of federal social responsibility guidelines and regulations that may affect the mineral sector.
• Investment in geoscience mapping: the federal, provincial and territorial governments invest in public geoscience in order to increase our knowledge of Canada’s mineral resources and to encourage exploration activity. The PDAC supports the federal Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program and continues to recommend a long-term commitment to investment in geoscience mapping.
• The federal government should develop government resource revenue sharing agreements with aboriginal peoples in order to promote sustainable communities. The PDAC believes that if governments shared a portion of revenues, derived from natural resource extraction, with aboriginal peoples, these revenues would provide economic benefits to aboriginal communities; form a basis for aboriginal communities to build towards economic self-sufficiency, and facilitate direct participation in the mineral industry by aboriginal peoples.
• The super flow-through share program or Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) was initiated by the federal government in 2000 to encourage mineral exploration in Canada. The program has been renewed annually through the federal budget. The PDAC is recommending that the program be established on a permanent basis with annual reviews of the program's benefits. This would provide certainty to companies and to investors.

Regulation

• Clarify consultation protocols and permitting requirements for mineral resource activities regulated by federal law. Uncertainties regarding government consultation requirements, community engagement, and project permitting are a deterrent to mineral exploration investment and community growth. The complexity and length of permitting processes in Canada are significant barriers to the mineral sector’s ability to successfully make the transition from an exploration project to an operating mine. Many companies and communities are working together on formal and informal arrangements that lead to improved relations, regular engagement and business opportunities; however, government owes a constitutional duty to Aboriginal peoples regarding consultation. The PDAC believes it is essential that Canada’s governments work towards clear regulatory procedures or policies that satisfy all affected parties and clarify industry requirements for community engagement.

Communication Techniques

• Written communication
• Oral communication
• Grass-roots communication

Government Institutions

• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
• Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• Environment Canada
• Finance Canada (FIN)
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAITC)
• Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
• Industry Canada
• Members of the House of Commons
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
• Privy Council Office (PCO)
• Revenue Canada (RC)
• Senate of Canada
• Statistics Canada (StatCan)
• Transport Canada (TC)
• Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
• Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

Address:
135 King Street East
Toronto, ON  M5C 1G6
Canada

Telephone number: 416-362-1969  Ext. 222
Fax number: 416-362-0101