Alberta named top mineral exploration jurisdiction: Fraser Institute report Read mor

[Johnnny]

Quebec's streak of three straight years on top of rankings ended

Alberta named top mineral exploration jurisdiction: Fraser Institute report

Alberta has been named the most attractive jurisdiction for mineral exploration and development in the world, according to a new report from the Fraser Institute, released Wednesday.
This ends a three-year run for Quebec as the top choice, according to the Survey of Mining Companies: 2010 Mid-Year Update.
The survey of international mining executives was conducted between June 1 and June 30. It is based on the opinions of mining executives representing 429 mineral exploration and development companies on the investment climate of 51 jurisdictions around the world.
Alberta, which had been ranked fourth in the previous survey moves to the top spot and Finland, which was third, moves into second.
Overall, the top 10 jurisdictions are Alberta, Finland, Quebec, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Chile, Newfoundland and Labrador, Botswana, Alaska, and Nevada.
The bottom 10 scores went to Ecuador, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Russia, Colorado, Indonesia, and Tasmania.
"After ranking Quebec as the best place in the world for mining investment for three years in a row, it appears that miners' confidence in the province has been shaken by increases in mining taxes which were announced without consultation in Quebec's spring budget," said Fred McMahon, co-ordinator of the survey and the institute's vice-president of international policy research.
In a news release, McMahon said the results of this updated survey make it clear that governments that change mining policies in mid-stream without consulting the industry "risk driving away investment.

"

​

 

[Bar Sinister]

That may not necessarily be good news considering that mining companies tend to prefer regions that have low royalty rates and slack environmental controls. I am not sure if that is why Alberta is ranked so highly, but it certainly would not surprise me.

As long as everyone has the same right to vote six times what is the big deal?