Canada’s miners must seize political opening, Gratton says

“So those that aren’t in the system, get in it.

Canada’s mining industry has won the political support needed to reverse years of decline, outgoing Mining Association of Canada (MAC) president and CEO Pierre Gratton said Tuesday.

Companies now need to turn that backing into new mines.

Gratton, who has led MAC for more than 15 years, used his final address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade to highlight faster project reviews and proposed tax breaks for mine investment.

“The only thing in mining walking into the sunset right now is me,” he told a lunchtime audience at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront hotel.

Canadian copper output has fallen 23% and nickel production 44% over the past decade, he said.

But Ottawa’s recent policy shift gives miners a chance to rebuild those supplies as Canada and its allies seek alternatives to Chinese-dominated supply chains.

Success will depend on getting projects built while preserving the community trust that helped win government support.

31, with MAC senior vice-president Ben Chalmers taking over Jan.

Gratton first joined MAC in 1999 and led the Mining Association of British Columbia from 2008 to 2011 before returning to head the national association.

When he entered the industry, Gratton didn’t want all his friends to know where he was going.

He feared they’d think he was selling out.

“It didn’t take me very long to really fall in love with this industry, and I mean that sincerely,” he said.

Canada’s mining industry has won the political support needed to reverse years of decline, outgoing Mining Association of Canada (MAC) president and CEO Pierre Gratton said Tuesday.

Companies now need to turn that backing into new mines.

Gratton, who has led MAC for more than 15 years, used his final address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade to highlight faster project reviews and proposed tax breaks for mine investment.

“The only thing in mining walking into the sunset right now is me,” he told a lunchtime audience at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront hotel.

Canadian copper output has fallen 23% and nickel production 44% over the past decade, he said.

But Ottawa’s recent policy shift gives miners a chance to rebuild those supplies as Canada and its allies seek alternatives to Chinese-dominated supply chains.

Success will depend on getting projects built while preserving the community trust that helped win government support.

31, with MAC senior vice-president Ben Chalmers taking over Jan.

Gratton first joined MAC in 1999 and led the Mining Association of British Columbia from 2008 to 2011 before returning to head the national association.

When he entered the industry, Gratton didn’t want all his friends to know where he was going.