Mineral Titles News, Notices and Announcements
Last updated on April 23, 2024Latest news and announcements from the Mineral Titles office.
April 23, 2024 - Planned service interruption, BCGW, April 28, 2024
The BC Geographic Warehouse (BCGW) will not be available on April 28th starting at 6 AM.
This affects all government mapping applications such as MTO, ILRR, iMapBC and the spatial data downloading service.
April 08, 2024 – MTO Payment Screen Redirecting to Invalid Domain Site
When attempting to make a payment in MTO users are redirected to a page that indicates the domain name for the payment service has expired. The payment company has been alerted and is working to resolve it as soon as possible. It appears that the payments are being processed, please do not try to register a payment a second time as this may result in redundant charges. If you notice additional charges on your statement please contact the Mineral Titles Branch and we will work to rectify these errors as soon as we are able to do so.
March 18, 2024 - Mineral Titles Online
Mineral Titles Branch is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation will be updating Mineral Titles Online (MTO) with more modern technology. Work to upgrade our technology is starting soon and more details will be provided as this work moves forward. MTO is the online registry of mineral, placer mineral and coal tenures in BC. For future announcements, please follow News, Notices and Announcements on the Mineral Titles Branch website.
Why is MTO being replaced?
- MTO was implemented in 2005. Over the years, as technology has advanced, users have complained that the system has not kept up accordingly.
- In spring of 2023, Mineral Titles Branch hired EY Canada to complete a service design project assessing MTO. The findings of the project confirmed that “the application has limited functionality and utility, with no capacity for improvement or innovation”.
- In the Declaration Act Action Plan released in 2022, the Province committed to modernize the Mineral Tenure Act in consultation and cooperation with First Nations and First Nations organizations. Changes to MTO are needed so that the digital system is to be ready to implement future legislative changes.
- On September 26, 2023, the British Columbia Supreme Court (in Gitxaala v British Columbia) declared that the provincial Crown’s conduct in establishing an online system allowing automatic registration of mineral claims without creating a system for consultation breaches the obligations of the Crown to First Nations.
- The ruling requires the Province to establish a consultation regime (or for the province to amend legislation) within 18 months.
As the online registry for mineral, placer, and coal tenures, the new MTO must:
- Continue to provide a reliable and trusted registry for mineral, placer and coal claims, leases and notices. This is foundational to ensuring a responsible mining exploration and development industry in the province.
- Contain the functionality and capability to respond to future needs, including changes to the MTA developed through consultation and collaboration with First Nations, and engagement with Industry.
- Support reconciliation and strengthen government-to-government relationships with First Nations.
- Meet the needs of users now and in the future. MTO users will be engaged in the system replacement.
- Improve transparency, confidence, and user satisfaction.
For more information about Mineral Tenure Act modernization, please visit https://engage.gov.bc.ca/mtareform/
For information about the Mineral Titles Online system development, please visit News, Notices and Announcements
Donna Myketa
Chief Gold Commissioner and Executive Director
Mineral Titles Branch
March 8, 2024 - Moratorium in the Ehattesaht Hay-na Mining Deferral Area and the Lax K’naga Sts’ool Mining Deferral Area.
On March 7, 2024, orders were made under the Environment and Land Use Act to establish a five-year moratorium on certain mining activities within the Ehattesaht Hay-na Mining Deferral Area and the Lax K’naga Sts’ool Mining Deferral Area, as well as an indefinite pause on the registration of new mineral and placer claims in those areas.
The moratorium restricts existing tenure and permit holders from engaging in mining activities, with exceptions allowed for reclamation, monitoring, protection, control, or treatment efforts.
For further information regarding the moratorium, please see the March 2024 press release.
For additional information on reforming the Mineral Tenure Act, please see the March 7, 2024, update.
Resources:
November 30, 2023 - Regional mines public engagement portal
The ministry is introducing the Regional Mines Public Engagement Portal, which will provide a platform for sharing information and receiving feedback regarding Mines Act applications for regional mines and exploration activities.
The portal allows users to view Regional mine permit applications and determine which ones are open for public comment. The statutory decision maker retains the authority to determine which applications will be open for public comment, depending on the nature and complexity of the application.
The portal will improve public access to application information and will provide system links to other ministry databases. The platform includes an interactive map with user-friendly features, and it will support the submission of email comments directly to the appropriate regional mines office.
The portal was published on November 27, 2023 at the following location: www.gov.bc.ca/minesengagement
Any questions about the mines public engagement can be sent to any regional office.
September 22, 2023 - Yale Panning Reserve Closed Until Further Notice
In consultation with the Fraser Health Authority, signs have been installed at the Yale Recreational Panning Reserve stating that the subject area is closed until further notice. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has received a report from a member of the public who suspects they may have found mercury while hand panning at the site. Fraser Health in collaboration with other relevant agencies continue to review this matter.
Mercury is a heavy metal that may be present in the environment. Though levels of heavy metals in the environment are generally low in British Columbia, even small exposures can result in negative health effects. For more information about the hazards of mercury exposure please see the BC Centre for Disease Control site:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/lead-mercury
May 24, 2023 - Mineral Titles Branch, Vancouver Office
The Vancouver office of the Mineral Titles Branch will be closing to walk-in traffic on Fridays. Closures start on May 26, 2023 and will continue until further notice.
We will continue to provide phone and email support Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 am - 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm.
Contact us at:
email: mineral.titles@gov.bc.ca
Voice-mail: 1-866-616-4999
We encourage you to take advantage of self-serve resources in the MTO Help documents.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
August 9, 2023 - website update: Recreational hand panning page
An updated Recreational hand panning page has been posted. The updated page combines information from Information Update No. 2 - Recreational Hand Panning for Placer Minerals (PDF, 46.3KB) and offers an interactive map of the panning reserves.
June 20, 2023 - Temporary Moratorium on New Claim Registration in the Southern Incomappleux Area
On June 19, 2023, the Province approved a temporary moratorium on the registration of new mineral claims in the Southern Incomappleux area through an Environment and Land Use Act order for a period of two years, with the possibility of extension.
The two-year moratorium on the registration of new mineral claims will provide an opportunity for further engagement regarding the future stewardship of the area.
This moratorium does not impact current mineral tenure holders in the area from carrying out work or continuing to develop their tenures.
For further information regarding the Incomappleux Valley, please see the January 2023 press release.
If there are any questions, please reach out to Kathie Wagar, Regional Director (kathie.wagar@gov.bc.ca
June 20, 2023 - Only one login session per client number in effect as of June 22, 2023
As of Jun 22nd, 2023, MTO will only support one login per client number. Attempting to login to additional sessions using the same client number will result in the original session being logged out. This is to increase the fairness of claim acquisition within the province of BC.