What is COGMAPS?

Cooperative Geological Mapping Strategies Across Canada (CGMS) is a 10 year vision statement by the National Geological Surveys Committee (NGSC), approved by all of Canada's Mines Ministers in 2000, that focused on the continuing need for reliable geoscience knowledge relating to mineral, energy and groundwater resources, compatible with the Intergovernmental Geoscience Accord. It identified geoscience knowledge as a key competitive advantage, essential to maintaining Canada as a pre-eminent global destination for exploration investment.

The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC, Earth Sciences Sector, Natural Resources Canada) launched a two year COGMAPS project (2003-2005) to formulate and communicate the federal component of a 10 year implementation plan for CGMS, to be co-authored by the NGSC in consultation with industrial and academic partners.

CGMS must contribute to issues and priorities identified by governments. Federal government priorities where public geoscience is a tool that can contribute directly to public good include:

• Improving the Quality of Life of Canadians
• Strong and Safe Communities
• Sustainable Development of Natural Resources
• Development of the North
• Clean Environment
• Aboriginal People
• Communicating with Canadians

At the provincial and territorial level similar priorities are:

• Employment
• Prosperous and safe communities
• Sustainable economic development, especially in resource-producing regions
• Competitiveness of provincial/territorial resource sectors
• Aboriginal People

How do we know that CGMS will contribute to addressing these government issues and priorities, to maintaining and improving the quality of life of Canadians? Over the past decade or more, federal and provincial-territorial government geoscience agencies have demonstrated the societal value of cooperative geoscience; e.g. the National Mapping Program (NATMAP, the Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI), the federal Project Approval System (PAS), the Exploration Technology Program (EXTECH).

The purpose of this Web site is to illustrate the relevance of cooperative geological mapping to Canadian society through a set of cameos and brief, non-technical descriptions aimed at the general public.