Mining Roadshow explores opportunities for Northwest at Terrace luncheon

Mining Roadshow explores opportunities for Northwest at Terrace luncheon

Published 5:30 am Friday, September 25, 2026

The BC Chamber of Commerce brought its Mining Roadshow to the Terrace Sportsplex Sept. 23 to highlight the economic importance of mining in the Northwest.

On hand for the event to present the the facts about mining in the province and answer questions was Tim McEwan, the Mining Association of BC’s (MABC) senior vice president of corporate affairs.

“The roadshow showcases the generational opportunity mining presents for British Columbians, focusing on operating mines, suppliers, and First Nations partnerships driving local and provincial economic growth,” McEwan said.

“From well-paying, family-supporting jobs to supplier opportunities and long-term community benefits, the roadshow events give local business owners a chance to hear firsthand how mining supports economic development and creates lasting value in communities where mines and suppliers operate.”

McEwan noted that mining represents $90 billion in total economic activity in Canada, $40+ billion in gross domestic product (GDP), $24 billion in paycheques, 286,000+ well-paying jobs and $12 billion in government revenues.

In B.C. alone, he said, mining supports more than 56,000 jobs, generates $28 billion in economic activity, and supports 4,000 small, medium, and First Nations businesses in every corner of the province generating $5.4 billion in paycheques for British Columbians.

“B.C. has or produces 22 of the 34 critical minerals on Canada’s critical minerals list, including aluminum, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc, and is Canada’s leading producer of copper and steelmaking coal, second largest producer of silver, a substantial producer of gold, and only producer of molybdenum, he said.

“The sector’s 18 operating mines and two world-class smelters drive employment, economic stability, and supply chain activity that reaches every region — from Northern BC to Metro Vancouver, the Southern Interior, and Vancouver Island.”

Bright future

While mining is already a powerful economic driver of the B.C. economy, McEwan noted that it’s on the verge of exploding.

There are currently 31 new mines or extension projects − 24 of which are in northern B.C. − in advanced stages of development that could generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs and billions in economic activity.

“B.C. has the critical minerals, precious metals, and steelmaking coal the world needs, a skilled and educated workforce, cost-effective infrastructure and clean electricity, strategic access to global markets, First Nations partnerships, and development opportunities needed to support Canada’s economic and strategic priorities all within a stable common-law jurisdiction,” McEwan said.

The MABC sees Northwest mining as a major contributor of securing B.C.’s economic future by creating jobs that strengthen communities in every region of the province.

To do so, the organization suggests the Province must set the conditions for success including: continuing to accelerate permitting, investing in First Nations capacity, investing in skills training, building electrical and transportation infrastructure, and protecting existing mining and refining operations.

“Mining is one of the biggest employment and economic opportunities British Columbians will see in a lifetime,” McEwan said. “Nowhere is this more evident than in northern B.C., where mining holds the key to thousands of well-paying jobs, community stability, and long-term economic security.”