The Manitoba government announced June 11 that it has established a new nine-member committee to advise it on issues related to mining and mineral exploration in the province.
The committee is chaired by Shastri Ramnath, executive chair and co-owner of Orix Geoscience Ltd. and CEO and director of Exiro Minerals Corp.
Other members include Vale manager of corporate and Indigenous Affairs for Manitoba and Ontarion Ryan Land, Hudbay Manitoba Business Unit exploration director Neil Richardson, Alamos Gold sustainability and external affairs vice-president Colin Webster and Global Li-Ion Graphite Corp. president John Roozendaal.
“Mining is a long-time net contributor to Manitoba’s economic prosperity, and there is tremendous potential for wealth and job creation in the sector,” said Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen in a news release. “These highly qualified individuals will help us to attract investment and create jobs, better respond to the needs of business and industry, and develop the sector in a sustainable way.”
“The goal of this working group is to position the province to attract the investment it needs to discover and develop new mineral deposits in order to create economic opportunities for all Manitobans,” said Ramnath.
“To better attract investment to Manitoba, we need to make changes to how we regulate, plan and manage our mineral resources,” said Pedersen. “Reconciliation with Indigenous communities and partnerships with other levels of government are also key to strengthening our mining economy. The committee will be asked to consider these important relationships in their recommendations to government.”
