Obviously, government budgeting is dear to my heart, but we're about to go into the process of reviewing ITI's budget and reviewing ITI's proposals for going forward in the next year. I don't think this is a question of a dollar-for-dollar in the Department of ITI that is going to advance mineral exploration alone. I appreciate the effort to look for creative solutions, look for ways to advance this. It is something that is already one of the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly. All of us know that this continues to be an anchor industry, and everyone is seeking solutions to see it advance. There is a lot of work happening. We are renewing the mineral development strategy. That's from way back in 2013. It's time to look at a new one. We are looking, again, as I said, at doing regional mineral development strategies to be led by regions themselves, to seek what supports they need to do that. There is the pathfinding; there are the road maps; there are mineral resources. It's not necessarily about whether there are enough dollars out there. This work is happening. I want to assure the Member that the work is happening; the work is under way. We know areas that are in need of some supports. We're trying to put our efforts into them, and I have every faith in my colleagues that, as we do the main estimates for ITI, if there is an area that I have described that doesn't have the resources, then I will have every chance to detail that and explain it in the course of the reviews. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Caroline Wawzonek on Question 618-19(2): Mineral Resource Exploration and Development
In the Legislative Assembly on March 1st, 2021. See this statement in context.
Question 618-19(2): Mineral Resource Exploration and Development
Oral Questions
March 1st, 2021
Page 2207
See context to find out what was said next.