VANCOUVER – A wide-ranging plan to expand on recent government and industry successes supporting sustainable, responsible mining in British Columbia was announced by Minister of Energy and Mines Richard Neufeld and Minister of State for Mining, Pat Bell.

Minister Neufeld (left) spoke to an audience at the Queen Elizabeth Park on January 18, 2005. The park, now a wonderful recreation area used by local residents and visitors from around the world, was previously a quarry, a mine site where rock was dug to build Vancouver's first roadways.

Minister Bell (top) and Minister Neufeld announcing the BC Mining Plan, January 18 2005, in Vancouver at Queen Elizabeth Park. Minister Bell spoke about the Mining Plan's goals including a number of specific actions that will ensure that BC is globally competitive.

Minister Neufeld (bottom), referred to the resurgence of mining as a sunrise industry rather than sunset, and that the mining industry is doing quite well in the province of British Columbia along with high commodity prices.

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