Budget 2014

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada recommends the Government of Canada include measures in Budget 2014 to support a vibrant and competitive Canadian mineral exploration and development industry. The recommendations include measures to alleviate the capital crisis, address the infrastructure deficit particularly in northern and remote regions of the country, and support for investments in public geoscience information.

Restore Financial Health of the Junior Sector

PDAC is calling on the Government of Canada to renew the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) to sustain capital flows for mineral exploration, the lifeblood of the mining industry. PDAC also recommends the creation of a targeted METC for remote/northern regions to encourage investors to support projects in these regions, which face costs several times higher than for comparable activities in southern Canada. To further restore liquidity to the junior exploration sector, PDAC calls for the creation of a $500 million venture capital fund for grassroots exploration and the revision of flow-through regulations. Read more

Support Development in Northern and Remote Regions Through Creation of a Northern Infrastructure Fund

Existing federal financing mechanisms for infrastructure development fail to recognize the unique realities of northern Canada. The PDAC supports the establishment of a dedicated Northern Infrastructure Fund to help finance the transportation, energy and community infrastructure necessary to support resource development in northern and remote regions. Read more

Geoscience Investments Support Mineral Exploration

Geoscience concepts and techniques are used at almost every stage of the mineral exploration lifecycle. Government investments in geosciences stimulate exploration activity, increase the potential for mineral discoveries and promote economic growth. Programs like Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals pay dividends and the rate of return is often a multiple of the initial investment. Read more