The METC is available to individuals who undertake exploration activities in B.C. on or after August 1, 1998. As the METC is a provincial tax credit, it may be claimed only by individuals subject to B.C. income tax.

As of April 1, 2003, eligible individuals who are active members of a partnership may claim their proportionate share of the partnership's tax credit. An active member of a partnership includes a partner that is engaged in a business similar to that carried on by the partnership. Limited partners are not eligible to claim the credit.

The partnership's tax credit is determined as if the partnership were an eligible taxpayer. Only those qualifying mining exploration expenses incurred by the partnership after March 31, 2003 may be claimed.

The individual or partnership claiming the METC must conduct the exploration activity and incur the expenditures.

The credit is available for qualified mining exploration undertaken in British Columbia. The exploration expense must be for the purposes of determining the existence, location, extent or quality of a mineral resource in B.C. It includes expenses incurred in the course of prospecting, carrying out geological surveys, trenching, digging test pits, or preliminary sampling.

A claim form must be submitted with the federal Income Tax return:

•  Individuals use form T88
•  Partnerships use form T1249

Assistance includes reimbursements a taxpayer has received or is entitled to receive, as well as grants, subsidies, rebates and forgivable loans. It does not include the METC.

Qualifying expenditures must be reduced by any government assistance received or receivable. For example, if $100,000 of qualified mining exploration expenses is claimed, and a $10,000 Prospectors Assistance Grant is received, the METC would be ($100,000 - $10,000) x 20% or $18,000.

No, the METC is not eligible for flow-through. However, corporations may flow through exploration expenses to investors, who may be eligible for
the Mining Flow-Through Share Tax Credit. Please contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-663-1511 for more information on Mining Flow-Through Shares.

To view a map of the qualifying Mountain Pine Beetle area, please see the overview map or the detailed area maps or visit the Mineral Titles Online website:

1. Choose either the Mineral Map or Placer Map.
2. Select the zoom-in tool from the menu bar. [ ]
3. Zoom in on the portion of the province where you are searching for a claim (adjust scale at bottom left of the screen to 500,000 or less to view detail).
4. Select 'Layers' from the blue menu bar at the top of the screen.
5. Open the 'Administrative Boundaries' folder from the menu on the right side of the screen and select the 'Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Area' box.
6. Click 'Refresh Map' on the top blue menu bar, or the 'Refresh Map' button on the right side of the screen. The Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Area will be presented in brown.
7. For a complete legend, select 'Legend' on the blue menu bar at the top of the screen. The legend will appear on the right side of the screen.