British Columbia mining on the march

The evidence continues to indicate that British Columbia's mining industry is on the road to recovery.

Exploration spending edged up last year to C$55 million, from C$40 million in 2002 and a rock-bottom C$25 million in 1999, although the B.C. Mining Association has set a C$100 million target for the province to replace mines that will shut down over the next few years.

But the feared demise of th...