The first glimpse of Ontario's new Mining Act is being called a good first step by an industry leaders toward eliminating land use conflict and misunderstanding between industry, First Nation people, private property owners and government.
Ontario Prospectors Association executive director Garry Clark called the first draft of the legislation a "good compromise" by Queen's Park to represent all interests.
"We didn't get everything we wanted but they did a really good of balancing everybody's concerns."
Bill 137 was introduced April 30 for first reading and will go to committee for further public consultation after second reading. The government is intent on making the Mining Act law by this fall.
A big feature concerns land rights for private property owners in Southern Ontario. Land owners have the right to withdraw property from prospecting. In the North, land owners can do the same but only after a mineral assessment has been done by government.
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