The Province of B.C. has granted a Mines Act permit for the Barkerville Gold Mine, located just outside of Wells. The mine will provide 30 direct jobs at Bonanza Ridge and 40 more at the QR Mine when it becomes operational next year. About 73,000 tonnes of ore per year will be produced at the Bonanza Ledge Mine, which has a current mine life of four years. The province expects to see eight new mines and another nine mining expansions operational in B.C. by 2015.