VICTORIA – New Democrat mining critic Scott Fraser confronted the B.C. Liberal government in the legislature about a plan to impose mining permit fees, which would have seen many junior miners, placer miners and prospectors run off their claims and out of business.

Now, the government is backtracking on this plan, and has committed to creating an exemption for small companies.

“We are pleased to see the Liberal government reconsidering this wrongheaded decision,” said Fraser. “People in the industry told us right away that this was a bad plan that would unfairly target the smaller operators that form the backbone of the industry.”

This week the industry is celebrating B.C. Mining Week with events held throughout the province.

“New Democrats support the jobs and economic benefits of mining in this province, and this is why we questioned the government repeatedly on the fees it was quietly planning to implement. We applaud the exemption the government has committed to, and congratulate the many people who joined us in letting them know that punishing fees on small operations would hurt the whole industry,” said Fraser.

John Horgan and B.C.’s New Democrats support strong economic development in B.C. with a balanced approach that respects our air, land and water.