The province含羞草研究社檚 plan to accelerate critical mineral extraction projects 含羞草研究社� at least its first phase 含羞草研究社� continues to draw diverse reactions, namely for a lack of competitive fiscal policy.

Governments around the world consider minerals such as copper and nickel critical in the production of electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines: technologies deemed necessary to reduce greenhouse gases.

On Jan 22, coinciding with Premier David Eby含羞草研究社檚 appearance at a gathering of B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Association for Mineral Exploration, the provincial government announced its first-phase strategic plan, promising a new critical minerals project advancement office and the release of a critical minerals atlas to support exploration and land-use planning.

Michael Goehring, Mining Association of British Columbia president and chief executive officer, said in a statement Monday that the strategy recognizes the 含羞草研究社済enerational opportunity含羞草研究社� that critical minerals offer, as well as emphasizes the need to support First Nations partnerships and economic reconciliation. However, he also criticized the model for carbon tax pricing by the province.

含羞草研究社淭he mining sector believes the (strategy) lacks the foundation of a competitive fiscal framework,含羞草研究社� Goehring said in pointing to the government含羞草研究社檚 transition to an output-based carbon pricing system.

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While B.C.含羞草研究社檚 mining and smelting industry supports what Goehring calls a 含羞草研究社渃arbon price signal,含羞草研究社� it currently pays the highest carbon tax in Canada and the world, while having the lowest GHG emissions globally. But there is no further opportunity to decarbonize, because 含羞草研究社渮ero-emission haul truck technologies are not expected to be commercially available before the end of the decade, at best,含羞草研究社� Goehring said.

It is 含羞草研究社渋mperative含羞草研究社� that 含羞草研究社渆xisting and prospective critical mineral mines含羞草研究社� pay a carbon tax competitive with Ontario and Quebec, he added.

Keerit Jutla, Association for the Mineral Exploration president and CEO, said his organization welcomes Eby含羞草研究社檚 acknowledgement that more action is needed, and that it is 含羞草研究社渋mperative that greater emphasis is placed on competitiveness and the fiscal and regulatory policies that will attract investment in mineral exploration and mine development.含羞草研究社�

Jutla also urged speed, if B.C. wants to remain competitive with its provincial peers. Lamenting B.C.含羞草研究社檚 declining contribution in mineral exploration measured in dollars, Jutla is calling on the provincial government to step up its financial investment.

含羞草研究社淲e believe an investment of $50 million over three years is required to sufficiently fund and implement a strategy to the same level as our other provincial peers and truly complement the federal critical minerals strategy,含羞草研究社� Jutla said.

Black Press Media reached out to the provincial government for comment.