Rex Murphy pontificates about Canada’s resource industry
The theme of AME BC Roundup 2016 is Innovation in Exploration
Rex Murphy will give the keynote speech at Roundup 2016. — Photo courtesy Rex Murphy
Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) Roundup 2016, which runs January 25 to 28 at the Vancouver Convention Centre East, will start off with a bang with popular speaker and commentator Rex Murphy as the Sunday, January 24 chair's welcome speaker.
“There isn't a title to my talk, but the theme of it is that there's lot of stuff that Canada does, not only in mining and mineral exploration, but in resources in general, and many people have it all upside down,” said Murphy. “They don't understand the importance of the resource industries to this country's economy and society.”
Murphy, who hails from Newfoundland & Labrador, said he saw the importance of the resource industries when the cod fishery collapsed in that province, throwing thousands of people out of work.
“The fisheries, like all resource industries in Canada, are important not only economically, but also socially and psychologically,” said Murphy. “A steady job that pays well benefits more than the person doing the work. It keeps families together.”
Murphy said the resource industries have experienced great technological progress in Canada in recent years.
“So why are many Canadians so ashamed of this progress?” he said. “It's thanks to progress that we have access to all of the products that we use and even depend on. They're made of metals that come out of the ground, and they're made with energy sources that Canada is so richly endowed with.”
Murphy said his experience with mining in Newfoundland was “second-hand, but intense.”
“When I was growing up in Newfoundland, I was familiar with the mines at Buchans,” he said. “And I knew many of the men who worked in the mines. It was hard, hard work. Back then, it was common to see men worn out at the age of 50 and walking only with the assistance of a cane at 60.”
But mining has made good use of modern technology and it is no longer the back-breaking industry it used to be.
“The work then was severe, but now it's much easier,” said Murphy. “I don't understand why the hyper-environmentalists and the professional opponents of resource development have these Dickensian fantasies about how horrible the work is.”
Murphy said Canadians need to have a balanced view of the resource industries.
“Everything we treasure comes from primary development,” he said. “They provide all the essential elements of civilization. We've all benefited, but somehow the debate has tilted the scales against the resource industries. Some people are obsessing over small details.”
Other keynote speakers at this year's Roundup are Patrick Evans, president and CEO of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.; Randy Smallwood, president and CEO of Silver Wheaton Corporation; Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review; Sean Kerklaan, CEO of Fatigue Science; and Ross Beaty, chairman of Pan American Silver Corp.
The theme of AME BC Roundup 2016 is Innovation in Exploration.
“As the mineral exploration and development industry continues to work through the current downturn, we reflect on the importance of networking, professional development and relationship building with our partners, stakeholders and competitors,” say the event's organizers.
For more information on Roundup 2016, visit http://amebc.ca/roundup
