MABC Report Confirms Province-Wide Employment Benefits from Mine Operations

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 25, 2011) - BC mining operations were responsible for supporting an impressive 16,590 mining supplier jobs across the province in 2010, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) Economic Impact Analysis released today by the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC). "What this report tells us is that for every worker employed at a mining operation, there are at least two more employees supported at companies supplying that operation," said Patty Moore, Chair of the Mining Suppliers Association of BC. The report found that in addition to the 16,590 mining supplier jobs, there were 8,195 directly employed at operating mines, 12,917 employed in mine construction, exploration and transportation, and 8,001 induced jobs, which combined for a total of 45,703 jobs supported by BC mining operations in 2010.

Although the report found that positive spending and employment impacts do occur locally, many of the 16,590 mining supplier jobs supported by BC mining operations are with firms based in other areas of the province. "It is important to remember that many BC communities benefit from a single mining operation," said Moore. "The Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton had a feasibility study drafted by a firm in Vancouver, conveyor systems from a company in Surrey, belting from a firm in Burnaby, explosives from a company in Williams Lake, fuel and steel balls from companies in Kamloops and haul truck tires from a company based in Vernon," added Moore.

The Economic Impact Analysis was commissioned by MABC and conducted by PwC to measure direct, indirect and induced economic impacts of mining in terms of output, GDP, employment and government tax revenues. A copy can be found at: www.mining.bc.ca.

The Mining Suppliers Association of B.C. comprises suppliers, contractors and consultants to the B.C. mining industry who are committed to promoting the sustainability of this valuable resource sector.