In 1971, the Provincial government stopped the granting of placer mining claims in B.C. because officials claimed they were being used in some cases for homesteading.

Deputy Mines Minister Kenneth Blakey said the government took the step because people were taking out claims at the nominal cost of $2.50 per year and failing to use the land for placer or surface mining. “If someone is going to live on some land, they should do it through the lands branch,” Blakey said. “But people have been squatting and it’s become very troublesome.

He added squatters were using placer mining claims to erect cabins and live in them and “some of them had pretty nice homes.”

A person who acquired a placer mining claim would get no title to the land in question, but that apparently doesn’t faize those who are using this method to circumvent the Land Act. The council prohibited placer mining claims until May 1, 1972.

Do you think this practice still goes on? I can tell you first hand, that it may not be prevalent among placer miners, but many creeks and rivers are being overrun by trailer living. I had to forfeit one of my claims because the problem became so bad.

Not only are these “squatters” inhabiting our creeks and river systems, leaving there garbage but they now seem to be invading all the public rest stops along our highways.

This is one of the major reasons that areas are being gated, not because of the influx of miners. What do you guys think?