AME BC History - 2000s
2000
In January 2000, the growth of Cordilleran Roundup over the past two decades as a world-class meeting for the mineral exploration and mining sector continued, with over 2000 participants. Roundup had become AME BC’s greatest revenue generator. President Lindsay Bottomer noted that the globalization of exploration and mining over the last decade had given members an opportunity to work elsewhere and compare the Canadian and North American industries to those of other countries and to recognize the advantages that North American jurisdictions enjoy. In particular, provinces like Quebec and Manitoba had maintained healthy levels of exploration. Both provinces had acknowledged the important role of mining in the economy of non-urban areas; the need to facilitate exploration access to most of the provincial land base while balancing the interests of all other land users; and providing certainty for business investment.
Throughout the year 2000, the BC mineral exploration and mining sector, including AME BC, lobbied diligently to create a better business environment, focusing on land access requirements, securities legislation/regulation reform requirements, and the continuance of improved relations with First Nations. A new business plan for AME BC was developed and adopted in early 2000. Collaboration between AME BC and BCIT resulted in the creation of a jointly-offered prospector’s course providing credit for first-year geology. A grant from the Ministry of Energy and Mines also provided for the offer of an advanced prospecting course for the spring of 2002. Two hundred copies of an AME BC-sponsored 50-page report by Dave Barr, entitled Growth and Recent Decline of the BC Mineral Industry – Recommended Remedies, were widely distributed.
2001
In 2001, in closing his report on the year 2000, the first positive outlook in a decade, President Donald McInnes extended his thanks to Sheila Holmes, retiring after 20 years of service to AME BC as secretary, and also to Bruce McKnight, Sally Howson, James Moors, and recently hired Theresa McKee and Colleen Giroux Schmidt for their contributions during the past year.
The most significant change in 2001 was the election of a new BC Liberal government, winning 77 of 79 seats. It promised to improve the business climate of BC and the response of the new government was rapid and dramatic, particularly in the areas of government organization, taxation, and labour issues. Personal income taxes were reduced by 24% and corporate taxes by 18%. The PST on machinery and equipment for the mining, forestry, and energy industries was eliminated, and a staged elimination of the corporate capital tax was introduced. In addition, a new 20% BC flow-through share tax credit was established, which being fully harmonized with the federal program, provided BC with the most attractive exploration tax credit program in Canada. When combined with the 15% federal Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, BC mineral exploration investors would receive tax rebates and deductions, bringing net cost down to 37% of their investment. AME BC, in conjunction with the Mining Association of British Columbia, also participated in detailed discussions and submissions to government in four key areas. These were: Mineral Titles (“one post” and map staking and competitive bidding for land); the BC Geological Survey (funding, focus, and effectiveness); deregulation (including permitting, thresholds, timelines, reverse onus, etc. in the areas of exploration and finance); and land use planning (including renegotiating the terms of the mineral sector’s participation, as well as park creation, Special Management Zones, and handling conflict between different pieces of legislation).
In addition, AME BC continued to focus on improved relations with First Nations. AME BC was also involved with several BC community outreach programs in addition to presentations by President Donald McInnes or Executive Director Bruce McKnight in several communities, including Smithers, Terrace, Mackenzie, Nelson, Kamloops, and Prince Rupert.
2002
The 2002 Cordilleran Roundup was very successful, having sold out 100% of its booth spaces by the end of 2001. With a record attendance of 2,400 participants, arrangements were made to hold it at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina in the future to accommodate increased attendance and to bring the trade show and technical sessions together under one roof. Land use concerns for the mining sector were accommodated by Bill 54, the two-zone model for mining. The two-zone model finally recognized that one could not plan for the discovery of hidden resources within previous limitations. In the parks zone, mineral exploration and mining were forbidden. In the other zone, mineral exploration and mining were subject to laws and regulations designed for the sector. The recovery of mineral exploration in BC began as exploration spending hit $39 million, but it was recognized that in order to be sustainable, spending would have to rise to $100 million or more. Dan Jepsen became Executive Director of AME BC and Shari Gardiner was the first woman to become President of AME BC. The retirement of Bruce McKnight and departure of James Moors resulted in a 50% turnover in staffing. Leilah Tate joined the AME BC staff in early December as Director of Information and Member Services. A review of AME BC’s strategic plan noted good progress since 2000, including the development of a competitive benefits package for members; updating and printing of 2000 copies of AME BC’s Safety Manual; development of environmental principles which could be adopted by members; contributing to the Environmental Excellence in Exploration (E3) initiative of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada; and development of a community engagement manual for explorationists, focusing on First Nations communities in BC, which could also be applied worldwide.
2003
In 2003, mineral exploration expenditures continued to recover, reaching $62 million. AME BC held the twentieth annual Roundup conference, attracting over 3,000 participants. In early October, AME BC relocated to the eighth floor of 889 West Pender Street, following the sale of the Mining House in August for $1,750,000. The staff was increased to six: Dan Jepsen, Juliana Wong, Leilah Tate, Sarah Weber, Colleen Giroux Schmidt, and Rhonda Schultz. Dan Jepsen toured the province extensively and held membership meetings about AME BC’s strategic plan. AME BC’s 175 volunteers on 15 committees were extremely active in achieving success for the industry, particularly on land issues under a responsive government. By far, the largest committee was the Roundup Committee with 28 members and chaired by Randy Turner, which was actively involved in preparation for Roundup in January 2004. The First Nations and Community Relations Committee, with 15 members and co-chaired by Michael Gray and Harlan Meade, was particularly active in completing AME BC’s Statement of First Nations Treaties; securing $100,000 through the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs for training programs in exploration and prospecting for First Nations; developing 10 Principles for First Nations Relations as a guide to AME BC’s efforts to foster positive relations with First Nations; securing $25,000 for the funding of the community and First Nations guidebook; and assisting in Mining Review’s successful “First Nations” issue. The Land Use Committee, with 16 members and co-chaired by Bob Carmichael and Bob Quartermain, was also active with the approaching termination of the Land Resource Management Planning Tables, scheduled for mid-2004. The Golf Committee, which had its 11th annual Golf Tournament, had 147 golfers, and generated $9,605 in net proceeds to AME BC. Two new committees in 2002-03 were the Geoscience Committee and the Rocks to Riches Geoscience Program and Management Committee, both of which were government-sponsored. The many other Chamber committees were equally active, as described in the summaries in AME BC’s first annual report.
2004
In 2004, BC experienced a long-awaited period of revitalization in exploration investment, business certainty, and government support. Metal market increase in the prices of copper (45%), gold (13%), zinc (24%), and silver (34%), sparked by a growing metal demand from China, coupled with a business-oriented political climate, supported a dramatic increase in mineral exploration, reaching $128 million in expenditures, the highest since 1991, and the first year over $100 million since 1996. Three mines opened and thirteen were in the permitting process. Claim staking reached a 13-year high of 46,802. Membership of over 2,700 individual members and 100 corporate members, coupled with increased staff and a record attendance of 3,900 participants and the renamed Mineral Exploration Roundup, contributed significantly to project output with significantly increased Chamber revenues. By late 2004, AME BC had net assets of over $2 million, of which about $1.5 million was protected in the building legacy fund. Noteworthy were the efforts of the 25 volunteers on Land Use Tables, which officially terminated on December 31, 2004. A sustained focus was anticipated on full implementation of Bill 54 and the Two-Zone Land Use system for mineral exploration and mining. AME BC’s committees also fostered improved relations with the tourism industry and First Nations. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Tourism Associations of BC and the Mining Association of British Columbia was completed and through the generous support of the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, a first draft of the Aboriginal and Community Engagement Guidebook was completed, for release at Roundup 2005. In addition, AME BC acted as an acceptable intervener in the Weyerhauser/Taku/Haida case completed in late 2004: a landmark case providing vital clarification of the roles of government, industry, and First Nations in the key areas of consultation and accommodation. AME BC also held a series of meetings with Coastal First Nations bands to discuss their interest in fostering a positive investment climate for mineral exploration and mining in coastal BC. AME BC also took a leading role in promoting the need for renewed geoscience funding in BC, having received a one-time grant of $1.168 million in 2003 to administer the delivery of targeted geoscience. AME BC also completed and adopted a new Five-Year Strategic Plan.
2005
In January 2005, Roundup attracted over 5,200 participants. Premier Gordon Campbell announced a $25 million commitment to geoscience research in the province and in April, Geoscience BC, the association created from the grant, made its first call for proposals for new projects. Mineral Exploration, Mining and Aboriginal Community Engagement was released in August and a joint Chamber/BCIT Aboriginal Minerals Training Program was launched with Dr. Jim Morin as head. In November, the membership approved resolutions to change the name and bylaws of the association to better reflect its mandate: to serve the mineral exploration community in BC. Despite its 93 year history, the Chamber was confused with the Mining Association of BC by members, media, First Nations, governments, and public because of the word “Mines” in Chamber of Mines. On December 8, 2005, the name of the association was changed to the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC).
2006
In 2006, AME BC continued its drive to provide leadership on mineral issues, pursue the development of working relationships and partnerships both inside and outside the sector, and be a driving force of advocacy for the mineral exploration community. AME BC membership hit a record of over 3,620 individuals and 190 corporations, numbers to be eclipsed again in 2007.
Mineral Exploration Roundup attracted 5,400 from 28 countries, and featured the first trade show participation by a Canadian Aboriginal community, the Tahltan Central Council, marking a new era of cooperation, understanding, and appreciation of the minerals sector.
In close cooperation with the Mining Association of BC and the provincial government AME BCexecuted a number of key initiatives focused on promoting the BC mineral sector. These included a Trade Mission to Toronto that included the opening of the TSX, three visits to Ottawa focused on the need for a streamlined mine permitting process, and formal participation at China Mining 2006 in November. In a year in which $265 million was spent on exploration in the province, BC had climbed in the Fraser Institute’s ranking of jurisdictions in its Annual Survey of Mining Companies, up from 44th out of 47 jurisdictions in 2002/2003 to 23rd out of 64 jurisdictions in 2005/2006. BC had moved from 5.7 % to 17.6% of Canada’s share of mineral exploration in only five years.
AME BC's inaugural Salary Survey was received very favourably, and the fourth edition of Safety Guidelines for Mineral Exploration in Western Canada was released. With the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, AME BC launched a nationwide safety survey that builts on AME BC's 26 year record of promoting safety awareness in British Columbia and Yukon. The new Stepping Stone newsletter aimed at increasing understanding between First Nations and the mineral exploration and mining community. AME BC's magazine was also rebranded Mineral Exploration as a voice for the BC-based mineral exploration community. In December, the inaugural Crisis Communications Workshop was held.
At the end of 2006, President & CEO Dan Jepsen and Chairman Rob Pease thanked the dedicated Executive, Directors, 220 volunteers, and 10 staff members for making 2006 a very productive year.