Natural Resources
May 17, 2016
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources:
Provincial Government Encourages Development of Future Prospectors
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to highlight our government’s support for mineral prospectors in this province and to inform residents of ongoing registration for the upcoming Prospectors Training Course.
The Provincial Government is partnering again this year with College of the North Atlantic to offer the course, which qualifies those who complete the program for a Genuine Prospector designation under the province’s Mineral Act. A Genuine Prospector can stake up to 30 claims a year without having to pay a security deposit.
The Prospectors Training Course is intensive and field-oriented and provides training in prospecting and sampling methods, rock and mineral identification, basic geology, and mineral deposit types. This year’s course is being held at the Bay St. George campus in Stephenville from May 30 to June 10. Applications are being accepted up until May 23, and I invite anyone who has a keen interest in prospecting to find more information on the Department of Natural Resources website.
By encouraging prospectors, our government is providing a basis for future mineral development. We support the mining sector through such areas as prospector training and mentoring, the mineral incentive program, public geoscience, the core storage program, promotions, and efficient and transparent regulation.
The mineral industry employs over 7000 people in the province, the majority of them in rural areas, and there is significant investment in exploration, development and mine operations.
We are committed to achieving long-term sustainability in the mining industry. The Prospectors Training Course supports this goal by providing educational opportunities to encourage growth and development in the mining sector.
2016 05 17 2:00 p.m.