VICTORIA, B.C.: New data from the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) finds that the NDP government’s mineral permitting system is falling behind and putting investment, jobs, and economic growth at risk.
According to AME, the Mineral Claims Consultation Framework (MCCF), introduced in March 2025 to streamline permitting, is now doing the opposite. The median wait time for mineral claims has climbed to 143 days, well beyond the government’s own 90–120 day service standard, with only 14.8% of applications processed on time.
“Today’s data proves this government isn’t speeding up permitting, it’s slowing it down,” said Gavin Dew, Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, Innovation and AI. “Projects are being delayed during crucial week stages, investment is being driven away, and British Columbia is missing a generational opportunity in critical minerals.”
AME also warns that a growing backlog is overwhelming the system, with some claims sitting for up to a year and others delayed months before even reaching First Nations for consultation. “This isn’t just a delay, it’s dysfunction,” said Dew. “When approvals take this long, companies don’t wait, they go elsewhere. And when that happens, British Columbians lose jobs, communities lose opportunity, and our economy falls further behind,” Dew added.
“The NDP likes to talk a big game about mining, but sustaining long-term economic development and jobs in the sector requires addressing bottlenecks like the Claim Staking System,” he said. “This government loves picking winners and losers and running victory laps when major projects are ready to be permitted, but they seem uninterested in creating the fundamental conditions for early-stage investments that plant the seeds for future prosperity. We need long-term thinking and actual execution in order to grow private sector jobs in this province.”
“The solutions are there. The industry is asking for clarity, transparency, and timelines they can rely on,” said Dew. “Right now, this government is putting red tape ahead of jobs, growth, and opportunity.”
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Media Contact:
Francesca Guetchev, Press Secretary
Francesca.Guetchev@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948
