The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Hudbay believes revenue from its mines should be shared with affected First Nations _ as long as the funds are taken from taxes and fees already going to the provincial government. That statement from John Vincic, vice-president of investor relations and corporate communications, clarifies the company's position amid heated aboriginal protests. 'Hudbay is on the record as supporting government resource revenue sharing,' Vincic told The Reminder last week. Asked what 'government resource revenue sharing means,' Vincic said: 'It is the government sharing revenue it receives from taxes and/or royalties related to resource extraction in the province of Manitoba with First Nations.' Until now, some had misinterpreted Hudbay's position as a willingness to share profits directly with First Nations. It's unclear what impact, if any, the clarification will have on aboriginal protests that have been targeting Hudbay's Lalor and Reed mines. The Pukatawagan-based Mathias Colomb Cree Nation argues both mines are on its traditional land and thus require the approval of the band before proceeding. See 'Deserve' on pg. Continued from pg. Chief Arlen Dumas has said his people 'deserve our share of resources' because under no treaty did they 'relinquish our sovereignty' or 'cede our title to the minerals.' Vincic said Hudbay remains willing to discuss such concerns with First Nations and the province in an organized round-table format. 'The Manitoba government has proposed (this format) and there is support for it from many First Nations governments,' he said. 'Industry is eager participate.' Despite that willingness, aboriginal protests and land claims are evidently undermining mining investment across Manitoba and Canada. Reuters recently reported that for the first time in six years, a survey showed no Canadian provinces among the top six mining jurisdictions in the world in 2012-13. Companies that participated in the survey were concerned about land claims, according to the news agency. 'I would say one of the big things that is weighing on mining investment in Canada right now is First Nations issues,' Ewan Downie, chief executive of Premier Gold Mines, which owns projects in Ontario, told Reuters. A Manitoba government spokesperson recently argued that legislation, regulation, policy and tax structure are in place to support sustainable mineral exploration and mine development in the province. 'That policy includes honouring the Crown's responsibility to consult, including effective engagement of First Nations,' the spokesperson told The Reminder.
