VANCOUVER, BC – Michael Goehring, President and CEO of the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC), made the following statement in response to the BC Government’s release of the new made-in-BC Output-Based Carbon Pricing System (BC OBPS):
“The Mining Association of BC welcomes the new BC Output-Based Carbon Pricing System from the BC government. BC’s mining and smelting industry has long supported a price signal to reduce GHG emissions. The new BC OBPS is better policy for mining and smelting operations that will continue to incentivize GHG emission reductions, while improving the competitive position of BC’s critical mineral sector.
The new BC OBPS will help lower GHG emissions and will support innovation and the adoption of new technologies to further decarbonize our critical mineral mines and smelters, which already have among the lowest GHG emissions in the world, due to their use of clean electricity.
We are pleased the provincial government recognizes the need for fiscal policy adjustments to help attract and retain investment in BC’s mining and critical mineral sector. The BC OBPS marks a step forward in narrowing the competitiveness gap between BC, Ontario and Quebec, while maintaining BC’s position as a climate leader. A more competitive mining sector is good news for the tens of thousands of workers in urban and regional centres, small towns and First Nations communities who stand to benefit from high-paying, family-supporting jobs that have sustained British Columbians for generations.
With the right policies in place, BC can be a world leader in supplying critical minerals vital to clean technologies and fighting climate change. Developing BC’s critical mineral resources means billions in economic development and thousands of high-paying jobs, in addition to the opportunity to accelerate economic reconciliation with First Nations.
Critical minerals offer British Columbians a generational opportunity. MABC looks forward to working with the provincial government and the Critical Minerals Advisory Committee to propose further fiscal policy improvements and other measures to advance BC’s critical mineral sector.”
About the Mining Association of British Columbia
MABC is the voice of British Columbia’s steelmaking coal, metal and mineral producers, smelters and advanced development companies. Our industry benefits all British Columbians and supports more than 35,000 jobs and over 3,900 small, medium and indigenous affiliated businesses in every corner of the province through an annual spend of $3.7 billion on goods and services. Our members’ products have among the lowest carbon footprints globally and are helping the world transition to a cleaner, low-carbon future; safely and responsibly.
For more information
Jayne Czarnocki
Director, Communications
Mining Association of British Columbia
Cell: 778-957-2597
Email: jczarnocki@mining.bc.ca
