"Mining in this province has come a long way in the last few years, partly as a result of rising commodity prices …" Those words are found in the news release that accompanied the release of the government's 68 page pamphlet on BC's Mining Plan. It should have stopped there and saved the cost of printing the rest of the piece since little else can be found in the document that is new. On January 19th Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer wrote about the differences between the pamphlet and the report of the caucus committee on mining that the government refused to release. The public doesn't have access to the caucus report and never will; however, if Campbell gets a second term, surprises in the caucus mining report will no doubt be revealed as they are implemented with no forewarning. Recall the surprises in his first term like expanding gambling, cutting services to children and familes and selling BC Rail.

The sanitized version of the Campbell government's mining report rests on four "cornerstones":

What's new about any of that? What is government changing by way of its actions? It isn't telling. The news release claims "14 broad strategies and over 50 actions to support the four cornerstones". Action 1 starts with: "Host four regional mining and community forums each year beginning in 2005." Further "actions" go on to talk about hosting other meetings, producing videos and creating awards. Look at "action 11": "Improve compliance of worker safety requirements through a newly-developed mine site inspection and audit program." Wouldn't you think that a responsible government would already assure compliance with worker safety requirements?

How about "action 26" as an example of a bold initiative: "Continue to examine regulatory requirements to find additional opportunities for appropriate reductions while ensuring the integrity of environmental, health and safety standards, reviewed biannually starting in 2006." Who are they trying to kid? The propaganda exercise must depend on few if any actually reading the report.

Action 27 says the government will "Invest in frontier geoscience surveys in BC to increase mineral exploration." That's amazingly hypocritical from a government that was criticized by the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines for cutting the BC Geological Survey.

Action 46 is a good one: "Ensure that land use planning and plan implementation continue to be informed by relevant and peer-reviewed science." Is anyone suggesting that land use planning should not be informed by relevant science?

The mining report is nothing but fluff; however, an industry that finances "its team" is unlikely to criticize them on the eve of an election. The public deserves to know the contents of the caucus report and what deals have been made if the government is elected to a second term.