Canada and Panama explore FTA

During his Latin American tour (Mexico, Panama and Ecuador) Canadian Minister of Trade, Michael Fortier, discussed the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement with Panamanian President Martín Torrijos. If it came to fuition, said agreement would considerably strengthen Canada-Panama relations to both their benefit.

Panama is host to several Canadian companies such as Scotiabank, Teck Cominco, Inmet Mining and SNC Lavalin, and educational entities like McGill University, St. Clair College and Durham College. These entities hire locals and thus vitalize their economy.

More info

Mining center would boost jobs in Canada

I encourage people to read the article that follows. It is about a community that is actually upset at the government for not allowing a mining center in their neck of the woods. These folks, for a change, are hitting center when they realize the economic development that this mining center can bring to their area. Congrats for knowing what's good for them and their families.

Full article

Canada's mining industry leads sustainable development

Kudos to the MINING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA's (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) for their initiative on Sustainable development.

VANCOUVER - A new study by Five Winds/Strandberg Consulting indicates that the MINING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA's (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative has positioned Canada's mining industry as a leader in sustainable development."MAC won a Globe Foundation award in 2005 for its work on TSM," stated Gordon Peeling, president and CEO of MAC. "This new study reaffirms that TSM is effective, credible and enabling our members to demonstrate their commitment to improved sustainable development performance."

For more info click here

Technology: New device makes mining safer

By: MATT HARTLEY
June 18, 2008 at 3:26 PM EDT
Believe it or not, the next evolution in mine safety technology has a lot to do with remote-control garage door openers.
Steve Barrett is president and chief executive officer of Active Control Technology Inc. (ACT), a company that until recently specialized in high-tech remote control garage door openers, but is now on the verge of rewriting the rulebook on mining safety.
If Mr. Barrett has his way, ACT's ActiveMine systems will help mining companies prevent tragedies such as the Sago Mine disaster that killed 12 miners in West Virginia in January, 2006.
Today the Burlington, Ont., company — which took the lead spot in the technology sector of the 2008 TSX Venture 50 ranking — is on its way to becoming one of Canada's rising technology stars by specializing in wireless mesh communications networks that work in the deep, dark recesses of coal mines.

Click here for more info

Mining Association of Canada pays almost $11 billion to Canadian Government in 2006

VANCOUVER, June 18 /CNW Telbec/ - A new report released today by The Mining Association of Canada indicates that the industry paid almost $11 billion to Canadian governments in 2006, a significant increase from 2005. The Canadian mining industry operates approximately 180 producing minesin Canada, with an important focus upon metals such as gold, copper and nickeland non-metals such as coal, potash, diamonds and oil sands. The industry alsocomprises 38 non-ferrous smelters and refineries producing refined aluminum,copper, nickel, zinc and other metals. These three components of the industry,generically known as "the mining industry", together employ 180 thousandworkers and, according to the study by ENTRANS Consultants, paid the followingamounts to governments in 2006:
Royalties and Similar Payments $2.33 billion
Corporate Income Tax $3.96 billion
Personal Income Tax $1.86 billion
Total $8.15 billion

The paper also highlights a significant year-on-year increase in thesepayments. Payments in 2006 increased by approximately 50% over the$5.5 billion payment total of 2005, reflecting the global price increases innatural resources during this period.

For more click