Mr. Speaker, representatives of the mining industry and mining communities are in Ottawa as part of their Keep Mining in Canada campaign. I bid them welcome.
Although mining contributes greatly to the economy, the sad fact is that today the Canadian mining industry is in serious trouble. Domestic mining exploration expenditures for 1992 valued at $385 million were at their lowest levels since 1967. Even with the improvements in the past two years they are still only expected to reach $675 million this year, well below the $800 million level generally regarded as the threshold required to maintain reserves.
As a prospector and mining consultant, I want to assure the House that it is not easy to drive prospectors out of the bush. It has taken many years of wrong headed federal government policies to do that. Major changes must be made.
I ask my hon. colleagues to give a sympathetic ear to Keep Mining in Canada representatives, not just this week but all year round.