We’re excited to launch our latest report, Assessing the Economic Benefits of Mining in British Columbia.
Anticipated economic benefits—such as jobs, tax revenue, and community investments—play a key role in justifying mining projects in British Columbia. However, these projections are rarely audited or verified, and research shows they are often overstated during environmental assessments (EAs). Studies also find that post-EA economic underperformance and project delays are common, driven mainly by market factors rather than regulations.
This brief identifies key issues in how BC assesses and monitors mines’ economic benefits and offers recommendations to improve transparency, accountability, and rigour. Ensuring equitable benefit distribution, especially for Indigenous Nations, is essential. The findings draw on peer-reviewed research and interviews with 12 experts across multiple sectors, who largely agree that BC’s EA and permitting systems require reform to better track and enforce economic performance.
To close the accountability gap in BC’s mining sector and ensure that economic forecasts translate into real public benefits, we recommend policy reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and trust. Key outcomes include:
- Improved public trust and policy legitimacy
- More accurate forecasting
- Greater accountability for proponents
- Better-informed project approvals
- Stronger alignment between critical minerals strategy and real-world outcomes
Read the full report here!
Contacts: Jessica Dempsey
