New mineral claim consultation framework brings opportunity and new challenges for nations (wildsite)
Last month, British Columbia unveiled a new framework that will guarantee First Nations are consulted about mineral claims on their land. It’s a big step forward in bringing BC.’s antiquated mining laws into the 21st century, but as to whether or not it will succeed — the devil will be in the details ...
... as significant as this progress is, it doesn’t come without its challenges. Nearly 7,000 mineral claims per year are registered on average in BC. For First Nations to robustly consult on each claim would be a huge administrative burden. Without an increase in funding, they are likely to be overwhelmed, which could lead to delays and frustrations for all parties involved.
One approach could be to
allow First Nations to define areas within their territories in which
exploration is not acceptable to them. This has the potential to
decrease the administrative burden the new framework brings, and reduce
uncertainty in the mineral exploitation industry ...
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