Exploration is essential to the mining industry. It’s considered the first stage of the mining cycle and vital to the discovery and development of new mines. For without exploration, there are no discoveries. Without discoveries, there are no new mines. Without mines, the economic benefits generated by the industry for communities around Canada and elsewhere would eventually be greatly reduced, and potentially disappear.
The PDAC prides itself on the advocacy activities we undertake on behalf of our members and the mineral industry. This is especially true with the Government of Canada, and provincial/territorial governments often in coordination with regional associations. PDAC members understand the role the mineral industry plays in ensuring a fully functioning modern society for future generations. They stand together—8,000 strong—and understand more can be achieved collectively than separately.
Individuals and companies join the PDAC as members for more than personal and professional reasons, or even a discount at our annual convention! A strong, vibrant and large membership, acting together in concert, allows the PDAC to advocate for the industry, to educate and work with government and non-profit organizations, as well as to promote a responsible and sustainable Canadian mineral exploration and development sector. The PDAC also encourages leading practices in technical, environmental, safety and social performance in Canada and internationally. An example is the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act.
In late 2012, the PDAC joined forces with MAC, Publish What You Pay-Canada and the Natural Resources Governance Institute (formerly the Revenue Watch Institute) to form the Resource Revenue Transparency Working Group (RRTWG). The working group was a ground-breaking collaboration between the mining industry and civil society that worked together to build a ground up framework to government, in addition to ensuring legislation meets industry’s mutual goals of increased transparency and accountability. RRTWG released its final recommendations in January 2014, which were intended to provide Canada's federal and provincial governments with a blueprint for a payment reporting framework, and on June 1, 2015, the Government of Canada’s Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act came into force.
We’re proud of the work we’re doing at the PDAC. Our results affirm that there is strength in numbers and more can be achieved if we band together and speak with one voice. As the country prepares for an election, we are taking this time to layout our industry’s priorities over the next year. This past July, Canada’s exploration and mining industry—PDAC and our sister associations—asked governments at the Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference (EMMC) to turn their attention to several key areas that are challenging the sector during this period of economic downturn and uncertainty. These challenges included:
- Address challenges in the transition to Canada’s new regulatory regime and clarify the duty to consult
- Address the higher costs of operating in remote and northern Canada
- Help juniors to secure access to capital
Our membership participation enables the PDAC to be the voice of the mineral exploration community and the broader minerals industry—a voice to be heard and sought by the government of Canada, ambassadors and visiting international mines ministers. Join us, and lend us your voice so we can continue to advocate on your behalf to improve our industry in Canada and around the world.
For more information on a PDAC membership, and its benefits, I invite you to visit the members page on our website.