News release

Mining Matters Conference Focuses on Industry Investment

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

Many Nova Scotians may not think of mining while sitting in their living rooms or driving to work every day. But the minerals industry here in Nova Scotia helps retrieve minerals that are critical to everyday life including the gypsum used to build homes, the zinc used in some sunscreens and the gravel for roads and driveways.

Nova Scotians have an opportunity to learn about the area's many minerals and the province's mining industry at the two-day Mining Matters 2007 conference at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel in Halifax on Nov. 13 and 14.

"Savvy investors see real potential for growth in Nova Scotia's minerals sector," David Morse, Minister of Natural Resources said today, Nov. 5. "This province has a bountiful supply of minerals that has always added to its economic base. But we need to better understand the modern-day industry and our place in it, as investors and as world-class suppliers."

Mining Matters is an annual conference hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and members of the mining industry. This year's event has the theme from Rocks to Riches and will focus on increasing interest and on investment in the industry.

The first day of the event includes presentations by Department of Natural Resources' staff, members of the private sector and representatives of other Atlantic provinces. The discussions will highlight Nova Scotia's rocks and mineral deposits and help demonstrate the significance of near-record levels of exploration currently taking place across the Atlantic provinces. Admission to the sessions and to industry displays is free. A luncheon, featuring keynote speaker Michelle Landreville, executive director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia, costs $20.

The second day's itinerary has been devoted to a mining investment symposium. The symposium will include a series of short talks featuring Nova Scotia-based mining companies doing business here and internationally, and to the national and international companies doing business in Nova Scotia. The talks will highlight company exploration, human resource issues, market forecasting and investment opportunities. The day will end with an open-microphone, panel discussion. The day's luncheon guest speaker will be Greg McCoach, a Canadian entrepreneur and investor who has published The Mining Speculator newsletter since 2001.

"It's an exciting time for our minerals industry," said Mr. Morse. "The more Nova Scotians know and understand what is going on around us, the better equipped we are to move forward with plans that target growth, as individuals, as businesses and as a province."

For more information on the conference see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/natr and click on the Mining Matters 2007 link.