The Fraser Institute, a Canadian economic think tank, is now conducting its annual survey of how miners and explorers rate the investment climate of jurisdictions around the world. The results identify the countries, states, and provinces whose mining policies and taxation structure are predictable and transparent and thus create the lowest barriers to investment in the mining sector. You are invited to participate in the 2010 Survey of Mining Companies send an email to [email protected]

The institute says the survey creates accountability and transparency in mining policy. “No longer can political leaders or NGOs use bad policy to frustrate development and cost the industry many millions of dollars without the public knowing about it.”

The results of the summer update survey can be downloaded at: http://www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/display.aspx?id=16438

Mining ministries around the world pay close attention to the survey. In particular, the interest shown by Canadian public officials has helped put most Canadian provinces at the top of the policy heap, though more work needs to be done. With the survey attracting strong attention across the world, the survey has become an important tool for improving mining policy globally.

Government officials may not fully understand the impact of policy decisions and find the survey a highly useful source of information. Many say they use the survey to determine weak spots in their regulatory regime and correct them.

The institute says you “can complete the survey on line in less than 15 minutes.” To thank you for your participation, it will send you a free copy of the survey when it is released and automatically enter you in a draw to win C$1,000.

The survey is produced by the Fraser Institute’s Global Centre for Mining Studies. It says “miners often face badly designed regulatory/taxation regimes and ill-informed opposition from some NGOs. The Fraser Institute believes the best tonic for misinformation and poorly designed policy is good research backed by objective evidence, vigorously communicated.”

The institute’s Global Centre for Mining Studies’ mission is threefold:

• 1) Measure the impact of mining and exploration, positive and negative, on prosperity, employment, the environment, infrastructure, and other indicators of well-being
• 2) Develop best-practices frameworks that benefit local communities and the mining and exploration industry. Without profits and the incentive to invest, the industry cannot produce the minerals the world needs and the investment crucial to so many nations
• 3) Create public support for sound mining and exploration policies through a strong communications program.