: Specific-reyiew: process to land- « Use decisidns.i inthe .ptovince.1::.-; Page Ar0 7 Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 25, 1992 ining industry will get fair brak, says Premier Last week in the first part of an interview with Victoria cor- respondent Hubert Beyer, Premier Mike Harcourt talked . abaut the state of the province's finances. This week, the subject fs int- dustrial development. BEYER: The. Mining Associa- tion of British Columbia recent- ly released. a document which contained: some. dire forecasts for the industry, It basically said that. unless.something was done and some government help was forthcoming, mining might be a sunset industry and could, by the end of the decade, be reduced to something in the order of 25 per cent of what it is today. You have undoubtedly been briefed on the matter,-Is there sqmething: government can do to assist the mining industry? HARCOURT: We're starting to do that. We're trying to remove large areas of uncertain- ty that are interfering with ex- ploration. We're starting to do that with the new Commission of Resources and Environment, with a proper one-process to ‘The rules are the same for everybody: pay your fair share of taxes, treat your employees fairly, don't mess up the environment, and we'll get along just fine.” review major projects, so we don’t have federal and provin- cial environmental panels, and the people don’t like that and sue in the courts, and things go on endlessly. We’re going to try to bring some predictability and time- ‘think that'll: be very. helpful. And [ think sitting down and agreeing to negotiate set- tlements with the aboriginal in- junctions, and road blocks that Home people put on a show TERRACE solving their greatest obstacle — visibility, It’s a common problem because the businesses are based al home and so- lack the presence, identification and customer recognition a storefront can offer.: - “Marketing is the key. It’s hard to reach your customers. A lot of people don’t know you're there,’ says Elreen Toovey of the Terrace Home Based Business Association. The association is one of those ways of raising visibility — as it offers a place where home. based business owners can ex- change ideas and get advice. ‘*Home based. businesses can join the chamber of commerce but we felt. we. needed an association, too,’’ said Toovey. The association also hold business fairs to altract large numbers of people. : The next such, fair is ‘April 4 at the New Terrace inn between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. These fairs. have been held in the arena banquet. room in the past but the move was made so more tables can be added, says Toovey. There'll be room for 32 tables, : This Easter, Easter- Sealed With Care —Homebased.. open for business, businesses here are working on. Premier Mike Harcourt has plagued exploration is going to be very helpful. Bringing aboriginal people in to be employed in joint ventures in mining and exploration, and servicing barges, and operating heavy equipment, will bring greater economic benefits’ to both the mining industry and aboriginal people. So that’s another uncertainty we’re star- ting to take care of. BEYER: Those measures have an indirect effect on the in- dustry. What about financial i in- centives? HARCOURT: Well, I made it very clear we’re not bringing in succession duties, which can take away from venture capital; we're not bringing in super royalties; we're. going to have a predictable tax system; we're establishing a climate where in- vestment is welcome, And the ground rules are very simple for any investor whether they’re off-shore or domestic, whether it’s mining or forestry, or tourism, ‘The rules are .the ‘same for: everybody'“pay your fair share of taxes, treat your employees fairly, don’t mess up the environment, and we'll get along just fine. So, I think we’re providing some stability, some predic- tability, a welcoming invest- ment climate, a well-run government that allows the en- trepreneurs of the province to go.out and explore. BEYER: | heard you mention those three: stipulations for in- vestors at. British Columbia “Hotise in London recently, and - T believe there were a number of -* entrepreneurs in the room. How ‘was their reaction to your in- vitation that British Columbia is provided they abide by the three basic rules you mentioned? HARCOURT: The response was good, and it was the same in New York. So was the response in Tokyo and Hong Kong. They know British Col- umbia has tremendous resources, very skilled citizens, one of the best locations in the world, if not the best, in terms of easy access to Europe, North, Central and South America and Asia. ~~ ; We're beautifully positioned. And we have a huge and well- endowed province in terms of natural resources. So, I think there are still great oppor- tunities in mining, oil and gas. There are great opportunities in Asia to off-load. In Japan, for example, a great number of their industries in forestry, mining, fisheries and agricultures are running out of skilled labour, running out of land, running out of ‘energy, running out of natural resources. Well, we’ve got all four here in B.C. So, we can see a number of Japanese joint ventures with cur own mining industry, att te ee,