Honourable Bill Bennett
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MINING EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD
Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett (right) and Mining Association of B.C. president and CEO Michael McPhie recognized efforts to promote sustainable development in the British Columbia mining sector during the 2006 Mining and Sustainability Award gala on Nov. 28, 2006. This year’s winner was Polaris Minerals Corporation, which was recognized for creating positive, mutually productive relationships with local communities and First Nations.
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Polaris Minerals Corporation representatives and community partners celebrate after receiving the 2006 Mining and Sustainability Award on Nov. 28, 2006. Pictured are: (front, from left to right) Chief Bill Cranmer, Namgis First Nation; Marco Romero, Polaris Minerals president and CEO, Chief Judith Sayers, Hupacasath First Nation; Tyson Touchie, chair of Eagle Rock Aggregates and director of Eagle Rock Materials (Ucluelet First Nation); (rear, from left to right) Roman Shklanka, chairman, Polaris Minerals; Michael Beley, director of Orca Sand and Gravel and Eagle Rock Materials; Garry Ullstrom, senior financial officer, Namgis First Nation; Gary Nordin, director, Polaris Minerals.
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MINISTER OF STATE PARTICIPATES IN 2006 CHINA MINING CONGRESS
November 14 - 16, 2006
An agreement that will see some of British Columbia’s world-leading environmental mining technology used in China was commemorated as Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett (far right) and provincial officials attended the 2006 China Mining Congress in Beijing from Nov. 14 - 16 to strengthen British Columbia’s trade relationship with Asia. The Minister joined Brad Marchant, President and CEO of BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc. (second from right), Andrew Smith, Senior Trade Commissioner from the Canada Embassy (far left), and HE Changming (second from left), President of Jiangxi Copper to celebrate the signing of a joint venture agreement between Jiangxi Copper and BioteQ to build a water treatment system at the Dexing Copper Mine. This is the first year provincial delegates have participated in the Mining Congress, which is Asia’s largest mining exhibition with over 2,000 delegates.
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SULLIVAN MINE REPORT CONFIRMS UNPRECEDENTED INCIDENT
October 30, 2006
Fred Hermann, British Columbia’s Chief Inspector of Mines, released his report on the investigation of the tragic incident that claimed four lives at the decommissioned Sullivan mine in May at a press conference in Cranbrook on Oct. 30, 2006. Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett and Health Minister George Abbott expressed condolences to the families of the victims and the communities of Kimberley and Cranbrook. The ministers were joined by BC Ambulance Service CEO Fred Plateel, Coroner Bruce Chamberlayne, and Ricci Berdusco, Regional Director of the Mining & Minerals Division Health and Safety Office. Hermann has concluded that the tragic circumstances that led to the fatalities at a water sampling shed May 15 - 17, 2006 was an unprecedented incident caused by an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.
From left to right: Fred Hermann, Ricci Berdusco, Minister Bennett, Minister Abbott, Fred Plateel and Bruce Chamberlayne.
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NEW COAL MINE TO STRENGTHEN NORTHEAST ECONOMY
October 6, 2006
TUMBLER RIDGE - B.C. Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett joined company officials, mining industry representatives and other dignitaries to officially open Western Canadian Coal Corporation’s Wolverine mine on Oct. 6, 2006. The Wolverine mine is a metallurgical coal mine located northwest of Tumbler Ridge, and is among the coal mines that are strengthening the Northeast by creating new jobs and generating new investment in British Columbia. The coal industry is a vital part of the B.C. economy, providing more than 3,100 direct jobs and generating an estimated $1.9 billion in 2005.
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From left to right: Western Canadian Coal Corp. President & CEO Gary Livingstone, Prince George – Peace River MP Jay Hill, Mitsui Matsushima President Shoichiro Yonezawa, B.C. Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett, Western Canadian Coal Corp. Chairman John Byrne, Western Canadian Coal Corp. Chief Operating Officer John Hogg and West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan cut the ribbon between two massive trucks to officially open Western Canadian Coal Corporation’s Wolverine mine on Oct. 6, 2006. The metallurgical coal mine is comprised of two deposits and is expected to produce 1.35 million tonnes of hard coking coal in its first fiscal year.
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OCTOBER MINING TRADE MISSION TO OTTAWA
Minister Bennett (far right) is seen here meeting with the Prime Minister and Kootenay-Columbia MP Jim Abbott. Bennett was in Ottawa in early October to meet with representatives from the Federal government in what Bennett hopes will be an accelerated process for mining opportunities.
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SWAMP POINT AGGREGRATE MINES RECEIVES PERMIT
August 23, 2006
STEWART - Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett (second from left) presents a Mines Act permit to Director Ken Carter of Vancouver-based Ascot Resources Ltd. while Ascot Project Manager Hans Smit and consultant Bruce McLean look on. The permit will allow the company to begin development of an aggregate quarry and ship-loading facility at Swamp Point on the Portland Canal. Initial capital investment is estimated at $27.5 million and the facility will have a maximum production capacity of 3.3 million tonnes of aggregate per year.
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FIRST NATION SIGNS FIRST MINING CONSULTATION AGREEMENT
July 27, 2006
HEDLEY - From left to right: Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Tom Christensen and Upper Similkameen Indian Band Chief Richard Holmes descend the stairs to the historic Mascot Mine while touring the facility before signing a historic mining consultation agreement at the Snaza’ist Visitor & Interpretive Centre on Thursday, July 27 in Hedley. This is the first mining-related consultation agreement government has signed shaped by the principles of the New Relationship.
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From left to right: Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Tom Christensen, Upper Similikeen Indian Band Chief Richard Holmes and Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett had a birds-eye view of the historic Mascot Mine site while touring the facility before signing a hsitoric mining consultation agreement at the Snaza'ist Visitor & Interpretive Centre on Thursday, July 27 in Hedley. The agreement ensures that consultation is held before any mining activity is done in the band's traditional territory.
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ANTIOQUI GOVERNOR MEETS WITH MINISTER BENNETT
VANCOUVER - Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett meets with Antioquia Governor Anibel Gaviria. Antioquia is a province of Colombia, South America. The governor was in Vancouver to attend the World Urban Forum and met with Minister Bennett to discuss mining issues.
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MINE RESCUE COMPETITION HONES SAFETY SKILLS
June 8 – 10, 2006
CAMPBELL RIVER – The mining industry in B.C. is one of the safest heavy industries in the province and maintaining that record takes both skill and practice, as demonstrated by the 51st annual Mine Rescue and First Aid competition organized by the Province held in Campbell River.
The Provincial Mine Rescue competition brings together mine rescue teams from across the province to compete in several tasks designed to test their skills in first aid, extrication, fire fighting, rope work and general mine rescue knowledge. Teams compete in either surface or underground competitions.
Steve Hippisley of Highland Valley Copper leads a 'victim' away from the scene after he was let down by rope from the roof of a building during one portion of the annual mine safety and first aid competions held in Campbell River June 8 - 10th.
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In a re-enactment of a serious car accident, members from the NVI Mining, Myra Falls Operations mine rescue team carry a girl thrown from a vehicle to safety.
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Members of the Barrick Gold Inc.- Eskay Creek Mine rescue team and the local fire department respond to the re-enactment of an explosion during the Mine Rescue and First Aid competition held in Campbell River June 8 - 10th.
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MINING WEEK CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF INDUSTRY May 14-20
PRINCE GEORGE - B.C.’s mining industry is seeing some of the strongest growth and investment in decades, creating jobs and opportunities for British Columbians. Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett and Prince George North MLA Pat Bell recently toured Finning’s Prince George Operation with Branch Operations Manager Darcy Frankforth. Finning employs more than 1,100 people at 23 operations throughout the province. In the last two years, the company has added more than 100 employees to its B.C. mining support team located at centres in Elk Valley, the Kamloops area and across northern B.C.
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VANCOUVER - $7.5M GIFT LEAD BY TECH COMINCO CREATES NORMAN B. KEEVIL INSTITUE OF MINING ENGINEERING AT UBC
May 3, 2006
VANCOUVER - Minister of State for Mining Bill Bennett (left) shakes hands with Dr. Norman B. Keevil (right) a source of leadership and inspiration to Canada’s mining industry since 1962.
B.C.’s only mining engineering program has received a $7.5M gift, with a major donation from Teck Cominco Limited, plus contributions from the company’s partners to create the UBC Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering in honour of the company’s former President and CEO, Dr. Norman B. Keevil. The gift will help the new institute quickly become one of the world’s leading mining engineering institutions.
(Photo credit: Martin Dee, UBC Telestudios)
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NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF EXPLORATION AND MINING
April 2006
MACKENZIE - Minister of State for Mining Bennett and Prince George North MLA Pat Bell tour one of Northwest Community College’s School of Exploration and Mining camps on the way back from Minerals North conference in Mackenzie B.C.
Education and practical experience go hand-in-hand when it comes to developing B.C.’s future in mineral exploration and mining. The Northwest School of Exploration and Mining offers a program to deliver basic skills in mining and exploration to rural and First Nations communities in partnership with Smithers Exploration Group and the Northwest Community College.
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January 24, 2006
VANCOUVER - Minister Bennett chats with students at the Student – Industry Networking Event, sponsored by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and Bushrat.net.
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January 24, 2006
VANCOUVER – Minister Bennett (centre) is joined by Dan Jepsen, Association of Mineral Exploration BC (left) Rob Pease President AME BC (right) and BCIT students Erin Edwards (far left) Inderpaul Dhaliwal, and Chad Koshlay (far right) after the Job Fairs Announcement made by Minister Bennett at the 23rd Annual Mineral Exploration Roundup. The two dozen Job Fairs, hosted by the Province, will target communities in resource industry areas, and are scheduled between February and April 2006.
News Release (PDF - 27KB). For more information on the Job Fairs please click here.
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January 25, 2006
VANCOUVER - Minister Bill Bennett, Minister of State for Mining, gives encouragement to students at the Association of Mineral Exploration of B.C.'s Student-Industry Networking Event held at the Exploration Roundup conference in Vancouver.
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January 18, 2006
BURNABY - Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (right) and Bill Bennett, Minister of State for Mining (middle) watch a student process copper in the school lab during a tour of the B.C.I.T. mining program facility.
News Release (PDF - 29KB)
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November 29, 2005
KAMLOOPS - Minister Bill Bennett (right) is joined by Brent Davis, General Manager, Coal and Base Metals (left) and Jim Harrison, BC Mining Sales Manager (centre) for Finning's announcement that it secured the sale of 18 pieces of Caterpillar equipment to Western Canadian Coal for the development of the Wolverine Mine near Tumbler Ridge in northeast British Columbia. Minister Bennett commented, “I want to take this opportunity to commend Finning on its strong support of the mining industry. The equipment procurement, the expansion of its service sector facilities and the opportunity for increased employment for British Columbians is another great example of how mining supports communities throughout British Columbia. Job creation and economic growth in the mining sector are an integral part of our B.C. Mining Plan and this government has been very successful in encouraging, promoting and supporting the expansion of the mining industry in BC.”
The equipment package, valued at approximately C$32.6 million, consists of five Cat 789C haul trucks (190 ton capacity), five Cat 785C haul trucks (150 ton capacity), four Cat D10T tractors, a Cat 16H motor grader, a Cat 992 wheel loader, a Cat 834H wheel dozer and a Cat 385 excavator. The equipment is being delivered during the latter part of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006. It is being used for pre-production stripping and mining operations at Western Canadian Coal’s Wolverine Mine. For more information please click here.
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November 29, 2005
LOGAN LAKE - Minister Bill Bennett discusses future plans for Highland Valley Copper with Wolf Nickel, President and General Manager. Operations at the low grade, low strip mine began over 20 years ago. The recently announced mine extension is good news for the area, with Highland Valley Copper planning on spending more than $1 billion in the local economy over the next 5 years.
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November 29, 2005
HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER - Looking down after a snowfall on the open pit mine at Highland Valley Copper's main pit. Teck Cominco recently announced the approval of a 5-year mine extension plan, shifting the mine closure date from late 2008 to the third quarter of 2013. The mine has approximately 296 million tonnes of reserves grading 0.42% copper.
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November 29, 2005
KAMLOOPS - Minister Bennett (right) is holding samples taken from NewGold's Afton site, after a presentation by Chris Bradbrook President & CEO (middle) New Gold Inc., and Michael W.P. Hibbitts, VP, Exploration & Development. New Gold, formerly DRC Resources Corporation is exploring and developing the Afton Copper-Gold Project, located 10 km west of Kamloops. The Afton Project is estimated to hold 1.6 billion pounds of copper and 2 million ounces of gold.
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November 28, 2005
CACHE CREEK - Minister Bennett grabbed a shovel and pitched right in at Graymont's Pavilion Ts'kw'aylaxw Quarry and Lime Plant. The quarry and plant is located on the Pavilion Reserve, situated between Cache Creek and Lillooet. The plant employs about 34 people, of whom about 28 are First Nations, mainly from the Ts'kw'aylaxw Pavilion First Nation. The Geological Survey Branch of MEMPR and Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation did a small partnership on a geoscience project in Ts'kw'aylaxw territory. The band provided a band member to assist with fieldwork and who also learned some geological skills.
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November 28, 2005
MCLEESE LAKE - Minister Bennett (middle) and Michael McPhie Pres. & CEO Mining Association of BC (left) are shown around Gibraltar Mines property by Robert Rotzinger, General Manger of Gibraltar Mines, located 60 km north of Williams Lake. Robert explains Taseko Mines Ltd. 12-year mine plan for Gibraltar from it's re-opening in 2004. Anticipated annual production is 32,000 tonnes copper and more than 400 tonnes of molybdenum.
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November 28, 2005
GIBRALTAR - Minister Bennett tries his hand at operating a P&H 2800 hydraulic rope shovel, used for production mining; digging blasted rock from the mine pit for processing.
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November 28, 2005
GIBRALTAR - An old electric shovel on display at Gibraltar.
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November 28, 2005
LIKELY - Minister Bennett (second from left) is joined by Michael McPhie MABC (far left) Howard Bradley, Mount Polley Mine Manager and Brian Kynoch, Pres. Imperial Metals Corp (far right) during a tour of Mount Polley - 56 kilometres northeast of Williams Lake, between Polley and Bootjack Lakes. The open pit copper/gold mine was commissioned in 1997 and built by Imperial at a capital cost of $115 million. The operation recently had a re-opening ceremony where 260 colleagues, shareholders, brokers, financiers, employees and family joined in the celebration on September 16, 2005. MEMPR issued a permit amendment for development of the Southeast zone, on Thursday November 24, 2005, which could provide up to an additional 2.7 million tonnes of mill feed.
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November 28, 2005
MOUNT POLLEY - Alexandra Laverdure Director of Policy, MABC (right) is joined by Linda Jane Frew, a Grinding Assistant on C-crew in front of Mount Polley's rod and ball pebble mills. These mills perform the third stage in size reduction of ore; crushing and pulverizing rock during mineral processing, prior to reporting to the Flotation Circuit.
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November 28, 2005
MOUNT POLLEY - A Bucyrus Erie 60R blast hole drill, used in-pit for drilling a pattern of holes filled with explosives and detonated to break the rock. Following blasting of the boreholes, the shot material is loaded and hauled to the crusher or overburden storage locations.
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August 31, 2005
COQUITLAM - Minister Bennett (second from right) is joined by George Turi, recently appointed GM for Jack Cewe Ltd, and tour conductor (left) and Deputy Minister Greg Reimer (second from left) at the Jack Cewe Pipeline Road mining operation, one of the ten largest aggregate mines in Canada producing over one million tonnes per year. The mines central location and superior material quality make Cewe the foremost aggregate and asphalt supplier in the Lower Mainland.
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August 31, 2005
COQUITLAM - A view of the Pipeline Road operation in Coquitlam, shows how Jack Cewe Ltd has integrated its proven track record in high environment standards and environmental issues. In 1997, Cewe spent two years constructing a $2.5 million dollar clarification system at this location, making Cewe the only true producer of environmentally sound aggregate products in the Lower Mainland.
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August 31, 2005
COQUITLAM - Minister Bennett (middle) Greg Reimer (left) at the site, are joined by Brian Weeks of Mainland Sand and Gravel, who explains how they maintain their high environmental standards while continuing to provide construction services and aggregate supplies to coastal BC for over fifty years.
Projects range from major road reconstruction - including excavation, walls, concrete, gravel, asphalt paving, foundations and bridges - to government transportation, local improvement projects and industrial development. Cewe has extensive experience in roller compacted concrete (RCC) and has completed RCC projects across North America.
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Minister Bennett Summer 2005 Northwest BC Mine Tour
Minister Bennett toured key mine sites and surrounding communities in NWBC to learn about the challenges facing the remote mining sectors, and discover the many possibilities and opportunities that exist in mining today. Minister Bennett also met with local First Nations, communities and industry and listened to their concerns and issues. He committed to champion new metal mines and to send messages to investors that BC wants and needs environmentally responsible and sustainable mining. Minister Bennett will be sharing messages from this trip with his colleague Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.
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August 5, 2005
KEMESS - Minister Bennett (left) is shown the Kemess operation by Tony Marconato of Northgate Exploration. He viewed the open pit operations, tailings dam construction and operation, and went on a helicopter tour over the North Kemess site for an aerial view of the proposed access route and Duncan Lake.
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August 5, 2005
KEMESS - Minister Bennett casts a wide glance over the mineral rich area that Northgate is proposing to develop as Kemess North.
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August 4, 2005
STEWART - Minister Bennett and Al Soucie, (left) discuss the potential of Stewart Bulk Terminals after a tour of the facilities.
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August 4, 2005
STEWART - Al and Bill discuss the current facilities and options for expansion to handle increased demand and products from new mines like Klappan, Red Chris and Galore, which include further loading and storage facilities in the foreshore area.
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August 3, 2005
GALORE CREEK PROJECT - Minister Bennett (centre, in blue) is joined by Bulkley-Valley Stikine MLA Dennis MacKay (far right) for a tour of Galore Creek Project, led by Sue Craig, Land and Environmental Manager for Nova Gold Resources Inc., who explains that an estimated $40 million worth of exploration work is being done this year.
The Galore Creek copper-gold-silver project, 75 kilometers northwest of Barrick Gold's Eskay Creek gold-silver mine, is one of NovaGold's most promising advanced stage projects, and is one of the largest and highest grade undeveloped porphyry-related gold-silver-copper deposits in North America.
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August 3, 2005
GALORE CREEK PROJECT - Dennis (far left) and Bill (near right) examine core samples with Scott Petsel, the project geologist (near left, in yellow).
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August 2, 2005
ESKAY CREEK - Minister Bennett (centre, blue) talks with workers at the Eskay Creek mine, an underground mine that produces gold and silver, 50 miles northwest of Stewart, BC.
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July 7, 2005
CHETWYND - Minister Bill Bennett (left) is joined by Jeff Fehn (middle) Pine Valley Mining Corporation Chairman, and Mr. Keehwoe Koo from POSCO (a Korean steel company) at the official opening of Willow Creek Mine site Thursday July 7, 2005. Falls Mountain's Willow Creek mine site is located 47 km south of Chetwynd.
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July 7, 2005
CHETWYND - Minister Bill Bennett, Graham Mackenzie, CEO Pine Valley Mining Corp. (centre) and MLA Peace River South Blair Lekstrom unveiled a plaque commemorating the official opening of Canada's newest metallurgical mine in 20 years.
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