May 12, 1999
(Mines and Energy)

The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Mines and Energy. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Mining Week

I wish to inform the House that this week of May 10 to 16 is Mining Week in Canada. This year's theme is "Mining Makes It Happen," referring to the importance of mineral products in our everyday lives and the very significant contribution that mining and mineral exploration brings to our provincial economy.

As you are aware, government introduced considerable incentives for mining and mineral exploration in our province in the 1999 Budget.

Under the Junior Company Exploration Assistance Program (JCEAP), as announced in the 1999 Budget, government provides $1.5 million annual funding and the program provides 50/50 cost-sharing of the eligible costs of advanced exploration projects to a maximum of $100,000 per project.

To date, four junior companies exploring in St. Lawrence, Twillingate, south-central Newfoundland and the Springdale/King's Point areas have benefitted from this initiative, receiving contributions totalling $308,000 for advanced projects costing $965,000. Several other applications are being considered and we expect full subscription by fiscal year's end.

This incentive program has been warmly received and commended by the mining and mineral exploration industry which fully appreciates the fundamental importance of mineral exploration.

Under the expanded Prospectors Assistance Program, approximately 51 prospectors are receiving financial support. These grass-roots projects have diverse targets and are located throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

This program has increased from $100,000 to $250,000 this year. To date, $130,000 has been granted to respective prospectors. This program has been highly successful and we anticipate many more participants during this field season.

The Prospectors Assistance Program, in cooperation with the Bay St. George Campus of the College of the North Atlantic, also supports prospectors training. Twenty-six applicants have been accepted for a two-week course which begins May 28, 1999.

Under the Dimension Stone Incentive Program, no projects have yet been approved, but several are being considered for cost-sharing to a maximum of $50,000 per project. We also anticipate full subscription to this program.

Today, I will table the specifics of the aforementioned Prospectors and Industry Assistance outlining the names of the companies and individuals who have received assistance under this program.

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PROSPECTORS & INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS -

1999-2000

Junior Company Exploration Assistance Grants

COMPANY / AREA / PROJECT                 CONTRIBUTION                  PROJECT COST

Burin Minerals Ltd.
St. Lawrence
Blue Beach North-Fluorspar                            $100,000                                $319,000

Noveder Inc.
Twillingate
Wild Cove - Base Metals/Gold                        $ 10,270                                 $ 27,400

Mountain Lake Resources Inc.
South Central Newfoundland
Valentine Lake - Gold                                     $100,000                                  $330,000

Major General Resources Ltd
King's Point-Springdale
Hammerdown/Rumbullion - Gold                      $ 98,000                                   $288,000

Total                                                              $308,270                                  $964,400

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PROSPECTORS GRANTS

NAME                                RESIDENCE

Graham Bishop                    Corner Brook
Leroy Smith                         Arnold's Cove
Paul Crocker                       Cape Broyle
Roland Quinlan                    Birchy Bay
Tom Lush                            St. John's
Dan Kelly                            Marystown
Albert Stone                        Marystown
Larry Quinlan                       Birchy Bay
Wilbert Bailey                      Shoal Harbour
Michael Basha                     Flatrock
Tony Stead                          Labrador City
Patrick Connors                   Labrador City
Peter Rogers                        Labrador City
Ray Elliott                            St. Anthony
Roy French                          Carbonear
Steve Baldwin                      Gander
Thoman Gosine                    Mount Pearl
Tony Hawco                        Mount Pearl
Leonard Muise                     Stephenville
Alexander Stares                  Benton
Donald Cormier                   Stephenville
Carl Wade                           Gambo
Calvin Pottle                        Whiteway
Barry Sparkes                      Glovertown
Bill Power                            New Perlican
Brian McGrath                     St. John's
Frank Pollett                        Gander
Jerry Layden                        Deer Lake
Lai Lai Chan                        St. John's
George Lannon                    Placentia
Gary Lewis                          Grand Falls-Windsor
Herb Froude                        St. John's
Glen Deveraux                     Terranceville
Karl Krats                            Labrador City
Kenneth Lewis                     Baie Verte
Keith Poole                          St. Lewis
Gerald Hull                           Paradise
Allan McBride                      Terra Nova
Angus Bradley                      Gander
Stephen Greene                    Fogo Island
Boyce Payne                        Stephenville
Jim Bouzane                         St. John's
Kevin Mercer                       Badger
Joseph Walsh                       Marystown
Sherry Dunsworth                 Pasadena
Jamie Meyer                         Pasadena
George Warford                   Upper Island Cove
Perry Young                         Corner Brook
James Crocker                      Benton
Calvin Crocker                      Benton
Todd Holloway                     Labrador City

Total Contributions to date                              $129,929.78

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PROSPECTORS TRAINING COURSE - APPLICANTS ACCEPTED

NAME                               RESIDENCE

Peter Bettney                       Gander
Calvin Coish                         Grand Falls-Winsor
Jacob Davis                          St. Albans
Nelson Doucette                  St. John's
Anthony Drew                     St. Albans
Stanley Fiander                    Tors Cove
Tom Gavin                            Coachman's Cove
Kevin Goodyear                  Clarenville
Robert Hedd                        Winterton
Lloyd Hicks                          Port Hope Simpson
Varrick Hillier                       Gander
Allan Hollett                          Bay d'Espoir
Raymond Hynes                   Gander
Leslie T. Ledrew                  Gander Bay
William Lowe                       Port Saunders
Robert MacGillivary             Grand Falls-Winsor
Ivan Mesher                         St. John's
Bill Power                            New Perlican
Wade Powers                      Winterton
Eddy Quinlan                        Birchy Bay
Lawrence Reid                     Chapel Arm
Shawn Robinson                   Corner Brook
Roland Rumbolt                    Deer Lake
Stephen Simon                     Margaree
Vincent Tarrant                     St. Lawrence
Terry Woodland                   Shoal Harbour

1999 05 12 2:40 p.m.