Assessment Work Credits

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The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) has amended the Assessment Work Regulation (Ontario Regulation 6/96) to allow additional items to be eligible for assessment work credit.

Effective November 1, 2012

The amended regulation expands eligible assessment work to include:

The amended regulation also:

  • Removes certain limits to the authority of the Mining Recorder to grant an extension of time to file and perform assessment work.
  • Clarifies that assessment work is still required until all requirements are met to apply for a lease.

What You Need to Know

Aboriginal consultation expenses:

  • For the first unit of assessment work on a new claim, Aboriginal consultation expenses may be submitted without geoscience assessment work.
  • Aboriginal consultation expenses may be submitted after the first unit of assessment work only if geoscience assessment work has also been performed and is reported at the same time for the claim.
  • Aboriginal consultation expenses cannot be credited towards the units of assessment work required to take an unpatented mining claim to lease.
  • The value of consultation expenses filed for assessment credit are not reduced based on the age of the expenditures, however only expenses incurred after November 1, 2012 are eligible.
  • The expenses, once approved, can be banked and distributed to other contiguous claims.

GPS georeferencing data for existing unpatented mining claims:

  • Assessment credit of $400 per claim unit will be allowed for providing GPS data on the boundaries of existing ground staked unpatented mining claims in unsurveyed territory.
  • The GPS data must meet ministry standards as outlined in the Georeferencing Standards for Unpatented Mining Claims or the collection and submission of GPS claim data  and a technical report must be submitted to receive assessment credit.  This will assist in verifying the location of existing claims for the planned move to fully electronic, on-line map staking.

Payment in lieu of assessment work:

  • Payments of money instead of assessment work, equivalent to the current year’s assessment work will be permitted in order to maintain a claim in good standing.
  • There are some circumstances, however, when payment in lieu will not be allowed:
    • Payments cannot be applied for the first unit of required assessment or used in consecutive assessment years.
    • Payments cannot be banked or carried forward for future years, or credited towards the units of assessment work required to apply for a lease.

Extensions of time granted by the Mining Recorder:

  • Expansion of the Mining Recorder’s discretionary authority to grant extensions of time to perform and file assessment work will provide more flexibility to maintain a claim in good standing.
  • Extensions of time for the required first unit of assessment work can be allowed.
  • Consecutive extensions of time are permitted.

Assessment Work Credits FAQ

When do the changes to assessment work come into effect?

The changes to assessment work are effective November 1, 2012.

What expenses can I claim with regard to Aboriginal consultation?

Reasonably incurred expenses, such as meeting costs, travel expenses, administration and other expenses, may be submitted for assessment credit.  MNDM has developed an Aboriginal Consultation Cost form and Assessment Work Credits – Eligible Expenses related to Consultation with Aboriginal Communities outlining the various categories of eligible expenses. 

If I did Aboriginal consultation before November 1, 2012, can I claim these expenses?

No. Only costs incurred on or after November 1, 2012 will be eligible for assessment credit.

When will cash-in-Lieu come into effect?

Effective November 1, 2012, holders of mining claims will be allowed to file payments of money instead of assessment work, equivalent to the current year’s assessment work in order to maintain a claim in good standing. Certain restrictions will apply such as payments will not be allowed for the first unit of work on a new claim or for units of work required for lease; payments cannot be applied in consecutive years and payments cannot be banked or carried forward for future years.

Are there changes to how geoscience work is applied to mining claims?

No. Geoscience work applied to mining claims will continue to be credited towards the geoscience work required to take an unpatented mining claim to lease. Only Aboriginal consultations costs and payments in lieu of assessment work will not be credited towards the geoscience work required to apply for a lease.

What if it costs me more than $400 to get the GPS coordinates?

The collection and reporting of GPS coordinates to the required standard are credited at a rate of $400 per claim unit, whatever the actual expenses of obtaining the coordinate data may be.  This assessment credit is provided as an incentive towards clarifying claim locations in advance of the planned move to fully electronic, on-line map staking.  The assessment credit granted can be banked and/or applied to contiguous claims subject to the normal eligibility rules.

Can GPS work be used as units towards leasing requirements?

Yes, if a technical report and supporting data is submitted for assessment credit as outlined in the MNDM Georeferencing Standards for Unpatented Mining Claims, then the value of the work can be used towards the work requirement to bring a mining claim to lease.

Georeferencing Standards FAQ

What do I do if the corner post has been removed or is missing?

Take a picture and GPS coordinates at the location where the post should be (if known) and take GPS coordinates and photos of the nearest line / corner post.

What do I do if the inscription on the post has faded away or is not legible?

Take photos of the post as it is and make sure the picture is as clear as possible. Clearly document the situation with an explanation as to why the inscription is not legible.

Does the inscription on the post need to be in the same picture as the GPS and claim tag?

No, the GPS and the claim post must be in the same photo but the inscription can be on a separate photo.

Can I re-write or re-trace the inscription on the claim post so that it is legible?

NO.  Section 164 (1)(c) States: “Every person who, defaces, alters, removes or disturbs any post, stake, picket, boundary line, figure, writing or other mark lawfully placed, standing or made under this Act; is guilty of an offence against this Act and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both.”

What if I can’t get enough satellites or the are obstacles affecting the strength of my signal?

You need at least 3 satellites to take an accurate set of coordinates. If your GPS cannot acquire a satellite signal, document this as clearly as possible on your map with an explanation of what is causing the loss of the signal and take a photo of your GPS showing the absence of the satellite signal.
You can then try again on the nearest line / corner post to try and obtain a strong satellite signal and take your waypoint.

Do I need to GPS claim posts in surveyed townships?

Taking GPS coordinates of claim posts in subdivided townships is not required as the claim location is governed by the location of the surveyed lot and concession lines.  Coordinates can be submitted along with the Application to Record however they will not be recorded.

My coordinates are in Lat / Long. Do I need to go back and take UTM coordinates?

The coordinates must be in UTM. Coordinates can be converted using a GIS system or an online coordinate converter but only if obtaining the UTM coordinates is not possible.

Is there a due date to perform the georeferencing of claim posts for claims staked prior to November 1st 2012?

No, not at this time but this will be subject to change in the future prior to the implementation of online map staking.

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