Dear Editor,
Prospecting and exploration in B.C. result in economic activity that supports small business, First Nations, and many families, by creating safe jobs and helping drive B.C.’s economy forward.
That’s why we cannot afford to send a message to geologists and investors that would have them look elsewhere to place their money.
This is why we have to be sure to find out what happened at Mount Polley, and how to best ensure it does not happen again, while we send a message to investors, prospectors, and entrepreneurs that B.C. is still open to geology exploration and eventually safe mine development.
Unfortunately, around an incident like the Mount Polley mine breach, there are those in this province who want to load up one side of the scales so that we lose the balance that has been moving exploration and our economy forward.
We need to ensure that B.C. is a place where people can still dare to dream and believe that their exploration efforts can be fruitful.
Yes, we have to explore and open mines with care, but the safeguards, proper permitting, and environmental checks and balances are all in place.
Investigations into the Mount Polley incident may cause us to tweak and refine these regulations, and rightly so.
But let’s ensure that we continue to focus on the balance that has encouraged investors, entrepreneurs, planners and geologists alike to stay in B.C. and help grow our province for future generations.
Christopher Law, Port Moody