Mineral exploration and mine development potential in Ontario: economic guidelines for government policy.

Study results show that Ontario has a strong competitive position in the shield region and in Canada. A marked deterioration is found in the potential value of base metal exploration in Ontario and throughout Canada during the past 20 years, culminating in uneconomic results for 1976-85, the most recent decade analysed. The economic potential of gold exploration, on the other hand, appears to be improving with time. Ontario's taxation policies are shown to have a substantial negative impact on investment incentive. However the three-year tax exempt period for Ontario mining tax, introduced in 1987, is shown to have a significant positive effect on the after-tax incentive for exploration and development. The potential values assessed in the study provide a portrait of the mineral supply process that can be applied when looking ahead to describe the distinctive economic characteristics of mineral exploration and mine development in Ontario for government policy analysis. More generally, the study illustrates the type of data base, evaluation procedure, and economic assessments that can be developed and used on an on-going basis.
Study results show that Ontario has a strong competitive position in the shield region and in Canada. A marked deterioration is found in the potential value of base metal exploration in Ontario and throughout Canada during the past 20 years, culminating in uneconomic results for 1976-85, the most recent decade analysed. The economic potential of gold exploration, on the other hand, appears to be improving with time. Ontario's taxation policies are shown to have a substantial negative impact on investment incentive. However the three-year tax exempt period for Ontario mining tax, introduced in 1987, is shown to have a significant positive effect on the after-tax incentive for exploration and development. The potential values assessed in the study provide a portrait of the mineral supply process that can be applied when looking ahead to describe the distinctive economic characteristics of mineral exploration and mine development in Ontario for government policy analysis. More generally, the study illustrates the type of data base, evaluation procedure, and economic assessments that can be developed and used on an on-going basis.