The Government of Canada is investing $100 million over five years (2008-2013) in its new Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program to provide the geoscience information necessary to guide investment decisions leading to the discovery and development of new energy and mineral resources. GEM will be delivered federally by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) and the Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP), Earth Sciences Sector (ESS), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). GEM funding announced August 26th, 2008 by the Prime Minister of Canada is $12M for the first year, and $22M in succeeding years.

GEM will focus mainly on mapping the Arctic and will use modern geological methods and standards to identify the potential for energy and mineral resources. In large areas of the North, there is insufficient public geoscience information to attract and guide effective private sector investment. While new geological mapping is important to all three territories, the need is particularly acute in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories; for example, adequate geological knowledge exists for only about one third of Nunavut. GEM will also fill critical information gaps in the knowledge base needed to increase exploration investment in the provinces. About 75% of the federal funds will be allocated for public geoscience in the North, and 25% in the provinces. In the latter case, GEM will operate on a co-funded basis. In addition, GEM will emphasise the training of the next generation of Canadian geoscientists required to remedy the current and future capacity gap, and contribute to the creation and retention of prosperity and well-being in Canada's North.

GEM will be delivered via two Strategies: GEM-Energy and GEM-Minerals. Partnered project portfolios are in place in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and most of the Provinces, after extensive consultations with jurisdictional geoscience agencies. Discussions are in hand with the remaining Provinces.

For further information, please consult the GEM-Energy and GEM-Minerals Web site, or contact the following: