The Challenge
The Mineral Tenure Act of BC dates from the early 1870s and is a lax regulatory framework that applies to the exploration for mineral deposits. The antiquated system of free access ignores proper consultation and obligations to conservation of ecological values, First Nations’ title and private property. The existing legislation undermines land use planning and leaves the economy and the environment vulnerable while ignoring community and individual rights.
Conflicts over mining and mineral exploration in B.C. have made headlines over the past several years, and continue to attract widespread media attention. The Flathead River Valley, Clayoquot Sound, Fish Lake (Prosperity Mine), and endangered mountain caribou habitat have all been featured in the media as places where mining interests, First Nations rights and title, and environmental concerns collide.
