Federal Budget 2018

PDAC is pleased to provide recommendations for Federal Budget 2018 that will help Canadians participate in the labour market and ensure that businesses are more productive and competitive at home and abroad. As an industry that operates across the country—in urban, rural and remote areas, and is the largest private sector employer of Aboriginal peoples—the minerals sector is uniquely positioned to offer economic opportunities to all Canadians.

PDAC Recommendations for Budget 2018

PDAC recommendations

Renewal of METC for three years

Given the importance of the METC to catalyzing investor interest in super flow-through shares and the need for certainty for proponents, PDAC recommends that the government maintain flow-through shares and renew the METC for a minimum period of three years.

Effective, efficient, and balanced regulation

Ensure that Canada’s regulatory regimes are effective, efficient, predictable and balanced in order to reduce uncertainty, delays and costs that undermine Canada’s investment climate.

Support for innovation

PDAC recommends that government support innovation in the minerals sector by:

  • Collaborating and investing in CMIC to implement the TZWM innovation strategy
  • Investing in the testing and de-risking of new exploration techniques and technologies
  • Significantly expanding rigorous geological studies (mapping, petrophysics, geophysics etc.)

Support for remote and northern Canada

The federal government should support northern and remote mineral exploration and development by:

  • Ensuring that the proposed Canada Infrastructure Bank facilitates investments in remote and northern projects to enable the discovery and development of mineral resources, by establishing a dedicated pathway or “Northern Desk”
  • Funding the resource road proposals submitted by all three territories using federal infrastructure programs administered by Transport Canada

Investment in Indigenous communities

PDAC recommends the federal government support efforts to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the minerals industry through:

  • Foundational social investments (housing, water, infrastructure) to improve health and educational outcomes for Indigenous communities
  • Targeted funds for skills training and entrepreneurship to assist Indigenous Peoples in securing employment and seizing business opportunities