Latest news with #naturalresources
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Excess of 100 priority projects': Sask. Premier Scott Moe behind federal bill to remove project hurdles
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe speaks to the media during a scrum after a televised leaders' debate in Regina, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has given his support for federal Bill C-5. 'All projects can move forward in Saskatchewan,' Moe told reporters Wednesday during a meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Lloydminster Alta./Sask. 'The very fact Bill C-5 has been introduced is an admission this hard work does have to happen,' Moe added. Bill C-5, which the Liberals have coined the 'One Canadian Economy' bill, proposes to recognize provincial regulations with the aim of making it easier to improve the mobility of goods and services, as well as labour. It also seeks to speed up the development of major projects deemed to be in the national interest. It's the provisions proposing to grant cabinet new powers, with the intention of centralizing approvals for new natural resource projects that are being heavily criticized as undermining Indigenous rights and environmental protections. There's widespread concern among opponents that if Bill C-5 becomes law, projects could be greenlit without adequate consultation, something prairie premiers have been calling for quite some time. 'If we have to build another pipeline with federal taxpayer dollars, that would be a failure of the process,' Premier Smith said Wednesday. 'The federal government simply cannot put so many barriers in the way that all the private sector proponents are scared out of the realm.' 'And the only way for them to come in is to build at six times the original cost. That shouldn't be the only way things get built in this country,' she added. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith address the media during a joint press conference in Lloydminster on Wednesday, June 18. (Chad Hills/CTV News) Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed the bill ahead in the House of Commons with the possibility it is passed before the end of the week. 'This legislation is enabling and creates the possibility of these projects,' Carney said Thursday during a press conference. 'It creates the possibility [and] a very clear process, which has at its heart consultation.' Indigenous leaders have been critical of the bill. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told CTV's Power Play its passing may override environmental protections. 'Seven days is not enough time to look at a big bill like this that impacts,' she said. 'First Nations aren't about stalling anything. In fact, they want prosperity, but not at the expense of their inherent rights.' Carney believes the legislation respects Indigenous rights. 'At the heart is, not just respect for, but full and full embrace of free, prior and informed consent,' he said. 'It has to be seen in parallel with very major measures this government is taking to, not just support those partnerships, but also to finance, equity and ownership in these nation building projects. [Including] Indigenous peoples, groups and right holders.' Business experts recognized the concerns of the legislation but welcomed the move in the midst of global uncertainty. 'This is a bit of an authoritarian approach to things,' national leader of economics and policy practice, PwC Canada Michael Dobner told BNN Bloomberg. 'But we are in an economic emergency situation.' Moe says there are dozens of projects waiting in the wings for approval which are facing federal barriers the bill aims to remove. 'We don't have one or two or three projects that are a priority,' he said. 'We have literally in excess of 100 projects that are a priority for [Saskatchewan] to continue to be a wealth creator to a strong growing nation of Canada.' The House of Commons is scheduled to adjourn for the summer Friday, and the Senate is slated to rise by next Friday, June 27. Parliamentary business in both chambers would then be paused until September, barring an emergency recall. - With files from David Prisciak, Luca Coruso-Moro, Rachel Aiello and Joshua Santos
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Stakeholders fault Tanzania for cutting tourism budget
Tanzania's tourism players say the decision to cut down the budget allocation for the next fiscal year will undermine the country's very policy targeting to raise the number of visitors. The Tourism Confederation of Tanzania (TCT) expressed its disappointment after the budget allocation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism was slashed from Tsh596.1 billion ($230 million) to Tsh317.4 billion ($122.4 million) in the 2025/26 financial year. This is despite tourism sector earning Tanzania $3.9 billion in 2024, becoming the highest forex earner for the country. TCT said in a statement the country will struggle to implement its marketing plans and expanding key enablers for tourism.'This trend undermines the long-term sustainability of the ecosystems and wildlife that are the foundation of Tanzania's global tourism competitiveness,' the TCT statement said. Tanzania lowered its budget from the initial figure of Tsh57.04 trillion ($22.09 billion) to Tsh56.49 trillion ($21.88 billion), according to figures tabled by Finance minister Mwigulu Nchemba. For tourism, players say there shouldn't have been a cut. Nature-based tourism accounts for over 70 percent of Tanzania's annual tourism earnings, sourced from tourists visiting wildlife parks and other nature protected areas, beaches, historical and cultural heritage sites. TCT also listed the 10 percent withholding tax imposed on tourism retained earnings as a harmful tax on reinvesting in upgrades, expansion and staffing. It further argued that foreign exchange controls would also prevent operators from quoting and settling their charges on dollar and euro, a situation which is critical for pre-bookings and packaged group tours. The government has imposed a control on local transactions using the dollar with a directive to Tanzanian companies, including tour operators, to stick to the shilling. Under the new regulations by the Bank of Tanzania, tourists should use Tanzanian shilling to pay for services. Read: Tanzania raises budget to $19bn on polls, Afcon costsThe confederation's CEO Lathifa Sykes said that it was curious that the government allocated a big budget for development of infrastructure to host the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 2027, but overlooked tourism-related businesses, which would shoulder the logistical burden of the continental event.'You know the situation which hotels, transport companies, tour operators and cultural providers would face without getting support to upgrade or scale up their services in preparation for the 2027 tournament?' she posed. Dr Nchemba allocated Tsh574.8 billion ($221 million) for the preparations of Afcon 2027, with Tsh179.8 billion ($69 million) to be spent for renovation of stadiums in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Read: Exit the Paris Olympics, enter Afcon 2027; We can pull it off!Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda have been selected to jointly host the Afcon games between June and July 2027. TCT had proposed the establishment of National Conservation Trust Fund, which would mobilse three to five percent of total tourism earnings, then eliminate the current taxes and levies, including the tourist development and bed night levies. Some 5.3 million tourists visited Tanzania in 2024, official figures show. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Gold Resource Corporation Adds to Board of Directors
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 18, 2025-- Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the 'Company') is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Peter L. Gianulis to its Board of Directors. Mr. Gianulis has spent over 25 years as an advisor, investor, and/or insider in numerous natural resource companies, including successful exits in companies such as Hathor Exploration Limited, CGA Mining Limited, and Northern Orion Resources Inc., among others. He has served as CEO of Allegiant Gold Ltd. since 2019 and as the President of Carrelton Asset Management, Inc., a natural resource-focused private equity and hedge fund, from 2005 through the present. Since December 2018, he has served as a director and a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of Organto Foods Inc. Mr. Gianulis was a director of Orea Mining Corp. from March 2009 to December 2023 and was a Partner of the Salomon Brothers Hedge Fund Group. Mr. Gianulis holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego in Quantitative Economics (Math) and Biology. He also holds an MBA in International Finance from Cornell University and a joint master's degree from ESADE in Barcelona, Spain. 'We welcome the addition of Mr. Gianulis to our Board and look forward to his valued input as we focus on optimizing our operations in Mexico,' stated Ron Little, interim Chair for Gold Resource Corp. About GRC: Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer, and explorer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Base metals, critical to the United States, are also produced as a by-product. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the Company's focus is to unlock the significant upside potential of its existing infrastructure and large land position surrounding the mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and to develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA. View source version on CONTACT: Allen Palmiere Chief Executive Officer 720-459-3854 KEYWORD: AFRICA AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA UNITED STATES CANADA NORTH AMERICA AUSTRALIA COLORADO INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MINING/MINERALS NATURAL RESOURCES SOURCE: Gold Resource Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/18/2025 07:04 PM/DISC: 06/18/2025 07:02 PM
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
Gold Resource Corporation Adds to Board of Directors
Article content DENVER — Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the 'Company') is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Peter L. Gianulis to its Board of Directors. Mr. Gianulis has spent over 25 years as an advisor, investor, and/or insider in numerous natural resource companies, including successful exits in companies such as Hathor Exploration Limited, CGA Mining Limited, and Northern Orion Resources Inc., among others. He has served as CEO of Allegiant Gold Ltd. since 2019 and as the President of Carrelton Asset Management, Inc., a natural resource-focused private equity and hedge fund, from 2005 through the present. Since December 2018, he has served as a director and a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of Organto Foods Inc. Mr. Gianulis was a director of Orea Mining Corp. from March 2009 to December 2023 and was a Partner of the Salomon Brothers Hedge Fund Group. Mr. Gianulis holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego in Quantitative Economics (Math) and Biology. He also holds an MBA in International Finance from Cornell University and a joint master's degree from ESADE in Barcelona, Spain. Article content 'We welcome the addition of Mr. Gianulis to our Board and look forward to his valued input as we focus on optimizing our operations in Mexico,' stated Ron Little, interim Chair for Gold Resource Corp. Article content Article content About GRC: Article content Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer, and explorer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico. Base metals, critical to the United States, are also produced as a by-product. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the Company's focus is to unlock the significant upside potential of its existing infrastructure and large land position surrounding the mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and to develop the Back Forty Project in Michigan, USA. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
National Post
3 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Major projects bill to be swiftly studied in committee after Conservatives vote to fast-track it
OTTAWA — The minority Liberal government's major projects bill is headed to a House of Commons committee to be studied on Tuesday and Wednesday, after the Conservatives voted to fast-track the legislation and for it to pass second reading late Monday evening. Article content Around 11:40 p.m. on Monday, C-5 was adopted at second reading in the House of Commons by 304-29 votes. The Liberals and Conservatives voted in favour of the bill, with only the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May voting against. Article content Article content C-5 would give the federal government sweeping powers for five years to quickly approve natural resource and infrastructure projects once they are deemed to be in the national interest, as well as break down internal trade barriers and labour mobility issues. Article content Article content According to the motion that was adopted to fast-track the legislation before Canada Day, the bill is referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities where members will hear from witnesses and amend the legislation. Article content That process is expected to last two days. As of Tuesday morning, the committee had not released a list of witnesses that will appear later that day. Other witnesses will be testifying on Wednesday, where the meeting is expected to extend into the evening. Article content Still according to the fast-tracking motion, the committee's report is set to be presented to the House on Thursday and the vote at third and final reading will likely happen on Friday — the last calendar day before all MPs will be going back to their ridings for the summer. Article content Article content In parallel, the Senate is currently conducting a pre-study of C-5. Article content Senators heard from Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday, will be hearing from Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty on Tuesday and other officials on Wednesday. Article content The Senate would ensure a final vote on C-5 takes place on June 27, at the latest. Article content However, at least one Senator is determined to slow down the process. Paul Prosper, a former Assembly of First Nations' regional chief, said he would be putting forward an amendment to slow down the process with respect to the major projects section of C-5. Article content On Monday, Prosper said he will be doing that 'in hopes that more rational minds prevail in terms of consulting with Indigenous groups.' Article content
