Guidelines for Early Mineral Exploration in Manitoba

Activities Requiring Work Permits

  • Exploration activities that have potential to alter or affect Crown Land (use of mechanized/heavy equipment);
  • Timber clearing activities;
  • Some ground geophysical exploration (gravitational, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic sensing), and certain ground geophysics;
  • Line-cutting;
  • Mechanized soil and till sampling;
  • Access trail construction or re-establishment, including, helicopter, drill pad, or laydown clearing;
  • Diamond Drilling;
  • Soil stripping, and Trenching;
  • Some temporary exploration Camps; and
  • Fuel, material and equipment caches (land tenure will be required if the cache is to be in place for more than one field season).

Proponents are strongly encouraged to contact the Permit Office at Permit.Office@gov.mb.ca for additional details in applying for a mineral exploration work permit.

A Work Permit Application is reviewed internally by an advisory group of Subject Matter Experts (SME) across several provincial Branch and Departments such as Crown Lands, Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife, Mining, Oil and Gas, Historic Resources, Consultation, Enforcement Services, Environment, and Parks. These areas of government review and assess the potential impacts of the proposal and identify any resource or environmental concerns for mitigation.

In some cases, a Work Permit Application will trigger Manitoba’s constitutional duty to consult prior to making a decision on a permit application. Depending on the nature of the consultation, and Indigenous community(ies) involved, a longer timeframe may be required to ensure meaningful consultation before a work permit can be issued. Crown consultation timelines can also be influenced by Proponent’s relationship with the Indigenous community established through early and ongoing engagements on the proposed project or agreements established prior to submitting a Work Permit Application.

In areas covered by Resource Management Agreements, a review may also be required by the Resource Management Board (RMB). The applicant should note that normally the RMB has 45 days to review and provide comments on applications.

A work permit issued detail the mineral exploration activities to occur and will outline the conditions that must be followed while working within a defined area.