Regarding proposed changes…

Regarding proposed changes the MOE is presently addressing, it is a relief to see that the Ontario government is taking seriously the fact that companies are not viewing Ontario as a viable place to operate a business. I work in the mineral exploration industry in Ontario and the present regulatory climate does not promote discovery and development.

Current regulations outlining the permit process are to say the least confusing and disconnected between Ministries. Ministerial interpretation of governing legislation has engendered a general fear of reprisal and an ongoing inability to adopt a "common sense" approach where necessary leading to an ultra-conservative operating mandate. The policies today are simply that complicated and do not promote comfortable decision making. Policy change is welcomed!

Many of our mineral development policies are derived from British Columbia policy. British Columbia has separated mining ventures into two categories; Major Mines and Regional Mines. Varying compliance levels are attached to these similar but different levels of resource development. Ontario does not have this distinction between a small operation and a large operation so far as mineral development is concerned. Bulk sample advanced exploration regulation has stringent limitations that do not support ongoing development/production or continued business operation without advancing to a generally unaffordable level of compliance for a relatively small operation. The small operator is usually squeezed out at this stage and jobs are knowingly lost simply due to policy.

The proposal of "Small Mine" policies considering environmental and public safety will provide an intermediary level of development for the mineral exploration industry and benefit Ontario through job creation. This type of policy could provide for sustained operation of resource development whereby companies might further consider Ontario as a great place to operate instead of the bad taste of regulatory over-policy that lessens those assurances necessary to build confidence toward successful operation of a business venture in Ontario.