Natural Resources committee  As a junior group of companies, we only have the one project right now that is of a size to warrant engaging in community support, etc. Certainly, our aspect regarding community benevolence and helping the community is there. As an example, there was a first nation in northeastern B.C. that had a gas station with a tank that was kaput.

Natural Resources committee  I don't think the duplication of review helps either party. As far as regulatory purposes go, I think there should be more of a collaboration between the first nations and the companies with regard to the EA process. I see that as being important. Of course, we're both sourcing individuals for professional guidance, and both sides are basically sourcing the same information.

Natural Resources committee  Can I answer that question? We've actually got a policy right now in the EA process with the Kaska Dene in British Columbia that I think a lot of people could take advantage of: we actually send all of our draft materials to the first nations long before that stuff actually gets handed in to the government offices.

Natural Resources committee  That's correct. I think that if they understood the impact and what is involved in the financing of projects, they'd understand that once we actually know that something of economic value is there, the bar changes. As soon as you know there something of economic value, the bar changes, and you have to start looking at participation agreements, etc.

Natural Resources committee  You know, in the last five years in particular the bar has shifted, and I don't understand it anymore. We thought we understood. We need some direction from the Canadian government to understand exactly.... Our thought on the duty to consult, for instance, was employing people at the early stages and giving them the understanding of what is going on.

Natural Resources committee  That's correct.

Natural Resources committee  It's an interesting question, because it's a double-edged sword. Since 2008, the international markets have basically blown up, and it's been much tougher getting dollars to finance projects. They want to see a lot more certainty in a project from the production end right now, rather than at the junior resource side, so it's been a lot tougher for the junior exploration side to raise capital.

Natural Resources committee  I think the process itself—trying to harmonize interprovincial and federal government policies—makes total sense, because then you're dealing with the proponents at both stages together, instead of having to deal with one and then the other, and then finding out that the other one still wants further....

Natural Resources committee  The harmonizing that's going on in British Columbia, although under way, is still a little convoluted, in that the actual policy guidelines themselves still show some challenges. They're a little ways apart from one another. In our case, for instance, we were entering into the EA process in British Columbia only to find out that the harmonization between the provincial and federal governments wasn't adequate for us to actually be able put in the application successfully.

Natural Resources committee  As mining exploration companies, for the most part our field workers are first nations, aboriginals. We try to maintain a right of first refusal. Do we help in the training process at the exploration level? Yes, we do. It's pretty limited at the exploration level. With Cliffs Resources, however, it will be a different situation altogether.

Natural Resources committee  I would like to thank you all for the opportunity to speak here today. My name is Ron Coombes. Here's a little of my history: on both sides of my family tree I'm a fourth-generation Canadian, and I'm very proud to be a Canadian. I represent the Waterfront Mining Group of public companies, as president and CEO.