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Activities are undertaken within
the context of provincial mineral and energy resource sector policy
frameworks and supporting legislation, regulations and programs. These
frameworks guide program and service initiatives and
significantly affect mineral and energy resource development and management.
The activities can generally be grouped under four lines of
business: Resource Assessment; Resource Development; Resource Management and
Policy and Executive Support. Responsibility for these lines of business are
shared between the Department's three branches -
Energy,
Industrial Benefits
and Mines
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Resource Assessment
Resource assessment encompasses all those activities that precede resource
development - e.g., developing assessment information through geoscience
surveying, mapping and documentation; promoting and disseminating
information which encourages and supports or enhances resource exploration,
investment decisions and exploration permitting. The
Geological Survey of
Canada provides some baseline geoscience data for both mineral and
energy resource assessment. The mineral and petroleum industries also
provide geoscience data. Most geoscience mineral data is
created, maintained and distributed by the
Geological Survey Division of the
Mines Branch. In addition, the Energy Branch and the Canada-Newfoundland
Offshore Petroleum Board
(C-NOPB) also conduct
independent assessments of provincial petroleum
resources. Electricity resource responsibilities neither include nor require
either resource assessment or physical exploration activities and, unlike
the lead role played in promoting mineral and energy resources,
electricity resource promotion is mainly a facilitation activity undertaken
with the support of Hydro and limited to assessment of the potential of
publicly controlled resources.
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Resource Development
Resource development
builds on the activities of resource assessment. Resource development projects tend
to be long term and capital intensive and as such can generate significant economic
and employment benefits. These projects can be important catalysts for rural area growth.
Some of the activities in this area are undertaken through strategies
involving multiple stakeholders. Others are sole responsibilities. Regardless of
the approach, activities are specifically directed to promoting, and/or
facilitating well-planned, responsible mineral and energy developments,
including mining and mineral processing.
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Resource Management
In the on-land area of the province,
Mines and Energy is solely responsible for ensuring industries follow
appropriate mineral and energy resource management practices, and comply
with relevant regulations. It facilitates well-planned,
responsible mineral and energy resource management activities including
exploration, mining and mineral processing and is responsible for monitoring
all aspects of these activities. Mineral and onshore petroleum resource
management activities also include title allocation, administration and
ensuring compliance with site development and rehabilitation requirements.
The Energy Branch discharges its operational management and administration
functions for offshore petroleum activity under a federal-provincial joint
regime administered by the C-NOPB. However, in the electricity sector,
involvement in resource management is indirect and implemented
through the Public Utilities
Board (PUB), Hydro and
potentially through management of royalty agreements.
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Resource Policy and Executive Support
Government's emphasis on energy and mineral resource development, and its
full and fair benefits policy, requires integration and coordination of
Departmental and government policy frameworks. Policy decisions directly
affect investment climate. Therefore, policy frameworks have to be developed,
monitored and continually updated to ensure they remain sensitive to the
globally competitive, capital intensive nature of the mineral and energy
sectors. Stability and predictability of policy frameworks and supporting
resource rights and regulatory processes are also key factors in attracting
and sustaining resource exploration and development investment and
activities. All areas of Mines and Energy contribute to related mineral and
energy policy frameworks and supporting legislative, regulatory and
programming activities. Through working closely with key stakeholders to
address concerns, Mines and Energy develops strategic policy for mineral and
energy resource assessment and coordinates and facilitates sustainable
development and management. Based on these frameworks, it
directly and indirectly develops, monitors and/or initiates supporting
regulatory and benefit optimization and maximization activities including
royalty revenues.
Executive support activities are also provided throughout the Department
and coordinated with the Minister's
office. Information, research and special project support and advice on
policies and programs affecting the Department's mandate is directly and
indirectly provided to other government departments and agencies.
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