PDAC e-News and Activities, July 7, 2003, No. 11

Page Index
Thayer Lindsley International Discovery Award instituted by PDAC
Surprise funding for northern geoscience
International Council for Minerals and Metals (ICMM)
Securities Committee comments on B.C. Model
Securities reform material in one place
Brief to Mines Ministers Conference now being prepared
Special summer rate at Royal York Hotel for PDAC members
Plans for PDAC Convention 2004
Patricia Dillon receives CIM Distinguished Service Medal
Former Ontario mining and lands commissioner dies
North Atlantic & International Geochemical Symposia

Surprise funding for northern geoscience
Geoscience chair Mary-Claire Ward is delighted to report that $4 million has been allocated for geoscience funding in the North over the next two years. The federal Minister of Indian & Northern Affairs Robert Nault made the announcement at the Northern Mines Ministers Conference in mid-May following a presentation by Mrs. Ward on the importance of geoscience programs to the North. An advertisement acknowledging the funding and thanking Mr. Nault was featured in the Hill Times of June 3, 2003.

International Council for Minerals and Metals (ICMM)
At the invitation of the International Council for Minerals and Metals (ICMM), the PDAC has joined the organization and is the sole representative of the exploration sector, including junior and mid-size companies. ICMM is an international association which focuses on sustainability and is made up of the world’s major mining companies and national associations, including commodity associations. President Bill Mercer and executive director Tony Andrews participated in ICMM meetings in London, U.K., May 27-30. An account of the meeting has been prepared by Bill and Tony. For a copy, please contact Saley Lawton.

Securities Committee comments on B.C. Model
The Securities Committee has sent in its comments to the B.C. Securities Commission about the proposed B.C. Model. At the core of the proposal are continuous market access and the elimination of the need for prospectus offerings. While there is much to be commended in the proposal, the PDAC is concerned that it represents a significant departure from approaches being proposed by other securities regulators and that ‘interface’ issues would require attention. The BCSC is anxious to receive comments on the B.C. Model, and members are encouraged to send in their own comments in the spirit of healthy debate. The proposal is online at http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/bcproposals/. The PDAC’s commentary is at http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/sr/BC-Model.html.

Securities reform material in one place
The need to reform Canada’s securities regulatory system has gathered considerable momentum over the past year and is now firmly in place on the political agenda. There are currently three separate initiatives underway in the country to determine how best to improve the system. For the benefit of its members, the association is maintaining an online library to house submissions, background documents, and commentary on this topic, particularly as it relates to the mineral industry. If we’ve missed something, please let us know Saley Lawton).

Brief to Mines Ministers Conference now being prepared
The primary topics that will be included in this year’s brief to the Mines Ministers Conference have been identified as: a) the need for securities regulatory reform; b) security of title; c) the future of the “super” flow-through program; and d) portability of professional status. Other items include: aboriginal partnerships; geoscience funding levels; cumulative impact of protected areas, special management zones and access; and increased presence of Department of Fisheries & Oceans. Issues director David Comba is coordinating the development of the brief. If you would like more information, please contact him at David Comba. The mines ministers will be meeting in Halifax on September 29 and 30.

Special summer rate at Royal York Hotel for PDAC members
The Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto is offering PDAC members a special rate of $119 per night for Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights during the months of July and August (subject to availability). If you’d like to take advantage of this offer, call 1 800 441 1414, identify yourself as a member of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada and ask for the special appreciation rate of $119.

Plans for PDAC Convention 2004
The technical program for next year’s convention (March 7-10) will include sessions on: commodities; diamonds; gold; nickel; geophysics; China; and new discoveries. A call for papers for the open session will be published on the association’s website in August. The planning committee, chaired by Joe Hamilton and Kerry D. Smith, has been discussing improvements to the trade show and will be instituting a ‘spotlight on exhibitors’ feature on the Tuesday afternoon of the convention. There will be no technical sessions that afternoon. Also in the planning stages is a presentation area for exhibitors to talk about their products or services. Watch for details at http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/index.aspx.

Patricia Dillon receives CIM Distinguished Service Medal
Congratulations to director Patricia Dillon who was presented with the CIM Distinguished Service Medal at the association’s annual meeting in May. The award recognizes Pat’s dedication and commitment to CIM to promote and increase the value of CIM membership to professionals in the mining and petroleum industries and her leadership of the association in 2000. Pat was the first woman president of the CIM.

Former Ontario mining and lands commissioner dies
Grant Ferguson, Ontario’s mining and lands commissioner from 1973 to 1990, died on May 27, 2003, in his 78th year. Before becoming commissioner, Mr. Ferguson directed the legal services branch for the province’s Department of Lands and Forests.

North Atlantic & International Geochemical Symposia
The North Atlantic Minerals Symposium (NAMS) and the International Geochemical Exploration Symposium (IGES) will be held in Dublin, Ireland, August 29-September 3, 2003. Program and registration details are at www.conferencepartners.ie/igesandnams2003.

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