FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FINAL REPORT OF MINING STANDARDS TASK FORCE GETS HIGH MARKS

February 11, 1999

The Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists Geoscientists/Conseil canadien des géoscientifiques professionnels (CCPG/CCGP) strongly supports the recommendations of the Mining Standards Task Force (MSTF) of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Ontario Securities Commission, aimed at strengthening Canada's leadership in the global mining industry. The final report of the MSTF was released February 2, 1999.

Fundamental to the recommendations in the report is the concept of the Qualified Person, a geoscientist or engineer licensed by one of the self-regulating professional associations in the Canadian provinces and territories. Legislation in five provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland) and one territory (Northwest Territory) require geoscientists (including geologists, geophysicists and geochemists) to be licensed. New Brunswick currently has legislation before the house and Nova Scotia is working on legislation. When the MSTF recommendations are put into practice and the pending legislation approved, geoscientists in these jurisdictions will meet the requirements of Qualified Persons and, provided their experience is suitable, will be able to submit reports to securities regulators and the Canadian stock exchanges.

"It is unfortunate that Ontario and Quebec, home of two of the largest mining stock exchanges in Canada, do not yet have legislation to license professional geoscientists. The strong, unequivocal recommendations of the MSTF in favour of licensure in these provinces will undoubtedly rectify this situation in relatively short order," said Gordon Williams, Chair of CCPG/CCGP. "We strongly support licensure of professional geoscientists in all provinces and territories."

The CCPG/CCGP is the national federation of the provincial and territorial professional associations that license geoscientists. Its main purposes are to assist its member associations in developing compatible national standards for registration and professional practice, and to promote mutual recognition of professional qualifications, among Canadian provinces and territories and internationally.


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For further information: contact Gordon Williams, Chair, CCPG/CCGP, at (403) 247-3225.