On-line mineral claims staking will be available

Ed Byrne, Minister of Natural Resources, said his department is moving forward with an initiative to allow the mineral industry and the general public to stake mineral claims on-line. In the spring session of the House of Assembly, an amendment to the Minerals Act was passed to allow on-line access to the provincial mineral rights data base and mineral claims staking to be done through the internet. This new computer system, Mineral Rights Administration (MIRIAD) system, is expected to be launched in October.

"This initiative will mean that members of the mineral industry and the general public who wish to stake mineral claims no longer have to do so in person or through the mail," said Minister Byrne. "Once the system is operational, access to this service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The introduction of this internet-based system will modernize the province�s process for mineral claim staking and will create greater administrative efficiencies."

The on-line system will require the exclusive use of map staking. Since the province switched to map staking from ground staking in 1995, map staking has proven to be the more effective and efficient method for administering mineral land tenure. Map-staked claims have boundaries that are precisely determined by a universally-accepted grid system, whereas ground-staked claims have boundaries established on the ground by blazing and flagging. While the majority of the current license holders have staked their claims using the map- staking method, there are currently a limited number of ground-staked licences. A procedure has been developed to convert the remaining ground-staked licences to map-staked licences without decreasing the portion of the claim and without any cost or disadvantage to the existing licence holder.

"In addition to this province, only one other province now offers the ability to stake mineral claims on-line. This is certainly an initiative supported by the mineral industry, and assists our efforts to be competitive," said the minister.

"The mineral industry continues to be a bright spot in our provincial economy, and its positive impacts are felt throughout all regions of the province," stated Minister Byrne. "Some 120 companies are now involved in exploration activity in the province, and this year we expect exploration expenditures to total $31 million. This tells us that growth in this sector is inevitable."

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-5282

2004 06 09                                         9:55 a.m.