Permit to Prosperity
BC’s permitting process is one of the longest in the world. That has a real cost.
Thirty-one mining projects are currently in advanced development across BC — covering critical minerals, precious metals, and steelmaking coal. These projects have the potential to generate $90 billion in economic output through their construction alone. . Roughly 82 cents of every dollar generated would stay in BC.
But with a permitting process that currently takes 12 to 15 years, many of those projects risk moving to competing jurisdictions.
12–15
Years to permit a mine in BC
$36B
In near-term investment at stake
302,000
Person-years of employment
$11B
In potential tax revenues
The Challenge
Delays in permitting are costing BC jobs, investment, and revenue
BC’s mine approval process is slow, duplicative, and difficult to predict. Federal and provincial reviews overlap. Timelines shift. When a comparable jurisdiction can approve a project in half the time, investors have a decision to make — and BC often loses.
The core problems are duplication and poor coordination. Federal and provincial review processes often run in parallel rather than together, creating overlapping referrals, inconsistent timelines, and confusion about who is responsible for what. There is no single, predictable path through the system — which means applicants face multiple rounds of review with shifting expectations and no clear end date.
It currently takes 12 to 15 years to permit a mine in BC. Comparable jurisdictions — including some in Australia and the United States — can approve similar projects in roughly half that time, while maintaining strong environmental standards. That gap is a competitive disadvantage. When investors have alternatives, delays translate directly into lost projects.
An unpredictable, under-resourced permitting process puts First Nations at a disadvantage too. The scope of work required to meaningfully participate in a single major mine review is significant. Without adequate government funding for governance, technical, and administrative capacity, Nations are forced to respond to multiple complex referrals without the tools to do so on equal footing. Streamlining the process — and properly resourcing First Nations participation — is part of the same fix.
BC has 31 world-class mining projects on the books. If permitting uncertainty pushes even a fraction of that investment to other jurisdictions, the province loses jobs, tax revenue, and long-term economic momentum at a time when demand for these minerals is accelerating globally. The IEA projects the world will need up to six times more minerals and metals by 2040. BC won’t be the only option on the table.
Faster Approvals. Same Standards
MABC is calling for a 7-year permitting timeline — cutting the current process roughly in half — while maintaining BC’s world-leading environmental protections. That means joint project tables, a single coordinated review process, and priority designation for critical mineral projects.
Resources
The research and data behind this campaign. Dig into the full reports or share what’s relevant.
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