VICTORIA — After 2025 resulted in a record-breaking $751 million in mining exploration spending, the B.C. government is now taking things one step further when it comes to permits.
Beginning April 1, exploration permits will be processed within 40 to 140 days, depending on the complexity of the proposed activity. Factors will include consultation with First Nations, the size and complexity of the proposed project, the extent of ground disturbance and other variables, a release reads.
This will be achieved through a combination of improvements, including clear up-front guidance, systems changes and process transparency.
A new permit-escalation process will also be introduced.
If timelines are not reached, the application will be escalated to the chief permitting officer for a decision within 14 days.
To support this initiatives, the ministry will receive a budget lift of $1 million and a further $2 million to support the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF).
Last year was B.C.’s strongest exploration year on record, the release notes. Exploration spending grew 36 per cent over 2024, for one of the strongest single-year jumps on record, and by nearly 64 per cent over the long-term average from 2016-24. Exploration drilling totalled almost one million metres, an approximate increase of more than 300,000 metres from 2024.
“The Association for Mineral Exploration BC has been calling on government to allocate more capacity funding for permitting and the MCCF implementation,” said Todd Stone, president and CEO, Association for Mineral Exploration BC, in a statement. “To that end, we thank government for their provision of $3 million in additional funding for permitting. This is a key initiative to assist prospectors and junior miners in particular. AME will continue to work with government to make sure that these dollars are put to use immediately and efficiently to help deliver on the government’s promise of fixed permitting timelines for all explorers.”
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