-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DgTUdOEgTSs3/TtdJPPrp5nXXi5XF/xlYUZOI7L2d7bddjFRlNqBWSY9Y2+PMlfh
 IS9lv3Mv1nG+HIZJaj321w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001477932-10-000015.txt : 20100405
<SEC-HEADER>0001477932-10-000015.hdr.sgml : 20100405
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100113151156
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001477932-10-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100113

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVINO SILVER & GOLD MINES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000316888
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL MINING [1000]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		455 GRANVILLE ST STE 400
		CITY:			VANCOUVER BC CANADA
		STATE:			A1
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6046823701

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTERNATIONAL AVINO MINES LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950607

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AVINO MINES & RESOURCES LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950607
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
<html>
<head>
    <title>corresp_avino.htm</title>
<!-- Licensed to: INET-->
<!-- Document Created using EDGARizerAgent 5.1.5.0 -->
<!-- Copyright 1995 - 2009 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. -->
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 7%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 7%; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div align="center">
      <table bgcolor="white" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
            <td width="42%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<img src="img001.jpg" alt=""></font></td>
            <td width="21%">
              <div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">T</font>
      604.682.3701</font></div>
              <div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">F</font> 604.682.3600
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td width="20%">
              <div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Suite
      400, 455Granville Stree</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">t</font></div>
              <div><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Vancouver, BC V6C
      1T1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td width="17%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right">
              <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;ir@avino.com</font></div>
              <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;www.avino.com
      </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td width="42%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="21%">&#160;</td>
            <td width="20%">&#160;</td>
            <td width="17%">&#160;</td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">VIA
FACSIMILE: 202-772-9368</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Original
to follow by mail)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">January
12, 2010</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Attention: Karl Hiller &#8211;
Branch Chief</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington,
D.C.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">20549-7010</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Dear Mr.
Hiller:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">RE:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Avino
Silver &amp; Gold Mines Ltd.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2008</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>Filed July 15, 2009</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>File No. 0-09266</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Thank you
for your letter dated November 24, 2009 with respect to the Form 20-F (the &#8220;Form
20-F&#8221;) for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed by Avino Silver &amp; Gold
Mines Ltd. on July 15, 2009. We enclose our responses to your comments. Our
responses are numbered in a manner that corresponds with your comments as set
out in your letter. Once we have cleared these comments with you, we will file
an amended Form 20-F with the amendments indicated below and where applicable
from our first response dated October 20, 2009.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Form 20-F for the Fiscal
Year Ended December 31, 2009</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">COMMENT</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">General</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Please
      submit your letter of correspondence with us dated October 20, 2009, as
      well as all future correspondence with us, on
  EDGAR.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">RESPONSE</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We have
submitted the October 20, 2009 correspondence on EDGAR and will submit all
future correspondence to you on EDGAR.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects, page 42</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">COMMENT</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">D. Trend Information, page
45</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      see that you are proposing to add disclosure under this heading in
      response to prior comment 1, indicating that your management is not aware
      of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that would
      likely have a material effect on your business. The disclosure requirement
      cited in our prior comment uses a different and more expansive threshold
      than expressed in your reply.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Specifically,
      you are required to address matters that are &#8220;reasonably likely&#8221; to have a
      material effect on specific aspects of your financial reporting, including
      income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity and capital
      resources. Under Item 5.D of Form 20-F, you are also required to address
      information that is known and which would cause your historical financial
      information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results
      or financial condition.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Absent
      further disclosure, we would understand that your management had no
      information at the time of filing the document that would create a
      reasonably likelihood that your financial position as of December 31, 2009
      and the activity reported&#160;&#160;in your statements of operations and
      cash flows for 2009 would differ materially from balances and activity
      reported for 2008. Please modify your disclosure as necessary to clarify.
      We reissue prior comment 1.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">RESPONSE</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">At the
time of filing the Form 20-F, management did not have any information that would
cause the financial position as of December 31, 2009 and the activity reported
in the statement of operations and cash flows for 2009 to differ materially from
balances and activity reported in 2008. We propose to amend the Form 20-F to
include the following:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#8220;At this
time, there are no specific trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or
events known to the Company that are likely to have a material effect on the
Company&#8217;s business. However, many factors that are beyond the control of the
Company can affect the Company&#8217;s operations, including, but not limited to, the
price of minerals, the economy on a global scale, land and exploration
permitting, and the appeal of investments in exploration companies. The appeal
of exploration companies as investment alternatives could effect the liquidity
of the Company and thus future exploration, development and financial conditions
of the Company. Other factors such as retaining qualified mining personnel and
contractor availability and costs could also impact the Company&#8217;s
operations.&#8221;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Financial
Statements</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Note 10 &#8211; Share Capital,
page 88</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">COMMENT</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      have read your response to prior comment 4 clarifying that you modified
      warrants that were issued to investors during fiscal year 2007 and have
      given no accounting recognition to the value conveyed. Please identify and
      describe any provisions associated with the warrants or the original
      transaction under which you were obligated to extend the expiry date of
      the warrants under the circumstances you describe. If there were no such
      provisions, explain the reasons that you elected to extend the expiry
      date. Also tell us the fair value of the warrants immediately before and
      after the modification and explain your view as to the materiality of the
      difference relative to your U.S. GAAP
reporting.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">RESPONSE</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
Company was not obligated to extend the expiry date of the warrants under the
original provisions of the Private Placement. As there was no cash cost to
extend the expiry date, management extended this date as it felt the Company&#8217;s
share price would rebound from the recent decline putting the warrants
in-the-money and therefore appealing for shareholders to exercise. The fair
value of the warrants immediately before the modification was nil and the fair
value immediately after was $185,165.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We are
proposing to record the amount of $185,165 in the following table on page 101 of
the original Form 20-F filing as well as add the following note disclosure on
page 102:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(iii)
Under SFAS 123(R) U.S. GAAP requires the recognition of a stock-based
compensation expense associated with the extension of the expiry date of
outstanding warrants whereas Canadian GAAP has no clear guidance on non-service
orientated equity awards. The Company has calculated this expense using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions for the fair
value of the original warrants at the date of amendment and the fair value of
the amended warrants at the date of the amendment respectively: risk-free
interest rates of 3.05% and 3.05%,dividend yield of nil and nil, volatility of
26.61% and 44.12% and an expected life of 0.05 years and 1.05
years.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2008</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2007</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2007</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consolidated
      statements of operations</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Loss
      for year under Canadian GAAP</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(1,538,876</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(885,863</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,684,539</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Future
      income taxes related to mineral properties (ii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">98,653</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(501,083</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Exploration
      expenses (ii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(1,764,719</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(2,332,350</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(10,277,556</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Stock-based
      compensation expenses (iii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(185,165</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Net
      loss for the year under US GAAP (iii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,390,107</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,719,296</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(13,962,095</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Comprehensive
      income (loss) items:</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Unrealized
      gain (loss) on investments (i)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(108,196</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(12,487</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">17,116</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Net
      comprehensive loss</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,498,303</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,731,783</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(13,944,979</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Loss
      per share under US GAAP - basic and diluted</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(0.17</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(0.18</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(0.76</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">COMMENT</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      have read your response to prior comment 5, stating that your functional
      currency is the Canadian Dollar, notwithstanding your disclosure in Note
      3, on page 78, indicating that your operations and financial instruments
      are denominated in Mexican pesos, and your disclosure on page 54,
      indicating that all of your employees are located in Mexico.</font></div>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Please
      submit the analysis that you performed in determining that the Canadian
      dollar, rather than the Mexican pesos, is your functional currency,
      following the guidance in Appendix A to SFAS 52 for U.S. GAAP
      purposes.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">RESPONSE</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In
determining that the Company&#8217;s functional currency is the Canadian dollar, our
analysis included reviewing several factors based on the guidance in Appendix A
to SFAS 52 as follows:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Cash flow indicators</font>
- - All cash is generated by the Canadian parent in Canada in Canadian dollars,
and substantially all cash is held in Canada in Canadian dollars. All cash flow
required for the operations of the Mexican subsidiaries is provided by the
Canadian parent and therefore the negative cash flow of the Mexican subsidiaries
directly impacts the Canadian Parent.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Financing indicators</font>
- - The Mexican subsidies have no source of cash other then the financing provided
by the Canadian parent. The Mexican subsidiaries do not generate any cash and
require ongoing cash infusions from the Canadian parent.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Sales price and sales market
indicators</font> &#8211; None, since there are no sales and the Company is not yet in
production.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Expense indicators</font> &#8211;
Substantially all expenses, other then mineral property exploration costs are
incurred in Canada in Canadian dollars. Most mineral property exploration
expenses are not denominated in the Canadian dollar and this is the only source
of significant foreign currency transactions.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Intercompany transactions
and arrangements</font> &#8211; The Mexican subsidiaries operate as an extension of
the Canadian parent company and there is an extensive interrelationship between
parent and the Mexican subsidiaries. Financial management, strategic and
operational decision making are all provided by the parent to the
subsidiaries.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Conclusion</font> &#8211; The
functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar which is the Canadian
parent&#8217;s currency. The Canadian parent exercises all management control, all
sources of cash flows are denominated in Canadian dollars and the fact
indicators support that the Canadian dollar is the primary currency of
Avino.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
propose to amend page 54 of the originally filed Form 20-F as
follows:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item 6.D
Employees</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#8220;As at
December 31, 2008 the Company has 11 employees located in Mexico, nine with Cia
Minera and two with Oniva. The Company&#8217;s senior management as well as
administrative and corporate services are located in Canada; however, these
people are not considered employees of the Company in a legal sense. Senior
management and administrative staff are contracted by the Company through their
company&#8217;s or through the Company&#8217;s cost sharing agreement for overhead and
corporate services with Oniva International Services Corp.&#8221;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
disclosure on page 78 reads &#8220;The operations and financial instruments of the
Company&#8217;s<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;</font>subsidiaries are
denominated in Mexican pesos (&#8220;MXN&#8221;) and are converted into Canadian dollars as
the reporting currency in these financial statements.&#8221; As this disclosure
indicates certain financial instruments of the Company&#8217;s subsidiaries are
denominated in Mexican pesos, not the Company itself, we do not feel any
amendment is necessary.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Note 23 &#8211; Differences
between Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,
page97</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">ii) Mineral Properties and
Deferred Exploration Expenditures, page 98</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">COMMENT</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Please
      submit the disclosure that you propose to describe the difference in your
      policy for computing DD&amp;A under Canadian and U.S. GAAP, as expressed
      in your response to prior comment
3.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">RESPONSE</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In the
future an additional sentence will be added as follows to the amortization
policy:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Once
production commences, the mine mill, machinery, plant facilities and equipment
are amortized at rates sufficient to amortize such costs over the estimated
productive lives, which do not exceed the related estimated mine lives, of such
facilities based on proven and probable reserves.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="HDR"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">COMMENT</font></font></div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">6.</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      have read your response to prior comment 6, explaining that while your
      stated policy of expensing acquisition costs of mineral properties does
      not comply with U.S. GAAP, there is presently no net difference on your
      financial statements because you have determined that all of the
      acquisition costs were impaired in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007
      and that expenses shown for U.S. GAAP purposes appropriately include an
      amount equal to impairment.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">5</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
      understand from your disclosure in Note 4 on page 83 that amounts reported
      for mineral properties under Canadian GAAP continue to include $9.5
      million or more in acquisition costs. Please submit the disclosure
      revisions that you propose to correct your U.S. GAAP accounting policy for
      acquisition costs of mineral rights, addressing both capitalization and
      cash flow presentation.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td style="WIDTH: 36pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
      </font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Please
      also revise the reconciliations to separately identify the impairment
      charge and include a narrative explaining how you concluded that the costs
      of these properties were impaired; it should be clear how your U.S. GAAP
      accounting is consistent with the guidance in SFAS 144 and EITF 04-3,
      taking into account economic factors and the results of your exploration
      program.</font></div>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
              <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Please
      revise your disclosures to comply with this
  guidance.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">RESPONSE</font></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">For the
financial statement note disclosure for U.S. GAAP differences we propose to
amend the disclosure for mineral properties on page 101 of the original filed
Form 20-F as follows:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(ii)
Canadian GAAP permits the deferral of costs for the acquisition of mineral
properties and exploration expenditures subject to periodic assessments for
impairment. U.S. GAAP requires that mineral exploration costs relating to
unproven mineral properties be expensed. Under U.S. GAAP the acquisition costs
of mineral properties are initially capitalized with an assessment for
impairment under SFAS No. 144 performed at each reporting period. For U.S. GAAP
cash flow statement purposes, mineral property exploration expenditures would be
shown under operating activities rather than investing activities.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In fiscal
January 31, 2007 the Company could not establish the commercial feasibility of
its mineral property exploration prospects and could not generate positive cash
flows from the mineral claims, therefore all mineral property acquisition costs
incurred in the year were impaired and a loss was recorded under U.S.
GAAP.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We
propose to amend the U.S. GAAP reconciliation on pages 99-101 as follows. Note
the &#8216;Consolidated statement of operations&#8217; table also includes the proposed
amendment from Comment 3:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2008</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2007</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Balance
      sheets</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="76%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total
      assets under Canadian GAAP</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">20,126,230</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">21,190,940</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="76%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Deferred
      exploration expenditures and mineral property acquisition
      costs(ii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(14,861,524</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(13,096,805</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="76%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="76%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Total
      assets under US GAAP</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;5,264,706</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;8,094,135</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">6</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div align="left">
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
      </font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2008</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">December
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2007</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January
      31,</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2007</font></div>
            </td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td align="left" valign="bottom">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consolidated
      statements of operations</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="bottom"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Loss
      for year under Canadian GAAP</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(1,538,876</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(885,863</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,684,539</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Future
      income taxes related to mineral properties (ii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">98,653</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(501,083</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Impairment
      loss on mineral property acquisition costs (ii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(9,525,575</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Exploration
      expenses (ii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(1,767,719</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(2,332,350</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(751,981</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Stock
      based compensation expense (iii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(185,165</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">-</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Net
      loss for the year under US GAAP (iii)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,390,107</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,719,296</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(13,962,095</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Comprehensive
      income (loss) items:</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Unrealized
      gain (loss) on investments (i)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(108,196</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(12,487</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">17,116</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Net
      comprehensive loss</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,498,303</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3,731,783</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(13,944,979</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="#cceeff">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr bgcolor="white">
            <td align="left" valign="bottom" width="64%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Loss
      per share under US GAAP - basic and diluted</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(0.17</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(0.18</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
            <td align="right" valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font></td>
            <td valign="bottom" width="9%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 4px double; TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(0.76</font></td>
            <td nowrap valign="bottom" width="1%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">)</font></td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
Company acknowledges that:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">the
      Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in
      the filing;</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">staff
      comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not
      foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the
      filing; and</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
            <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">the
      Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding
      initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities
      laws of the United States.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Should
you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at
(604) 682-3701.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Sincerely,</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Avino
Silver &amp; Gold Mines Ltd.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Per:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
    <div align="center">
      <table bgcolor="white" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
            <td width="22%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">/s/ Lisa
Sharp</font></font></td>
            <td width="78%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td width="22%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;Lisa Sharp,
      Chief Financial Officer</font></td>
            <td width="78%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr><tr>
            <td width="22%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="78%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr></table>
    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">7</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
  </body>
</html>



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>GRAPHIC
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>img001.jpg
<TEXT>
begin 644 img001.jpg
M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`0$`8`!@``#_VP!#``@&!@<&!0@'!P<)"0@*#!0-#`L+
M#!D2$P\4'1H?'AT:'!P@)"XG("(L(QP<*#<I+#`Q-#0T'R<Y/3@R/"XS-#+_
MVP!#`0D)"0P+#!@-#1@R(1PA,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R
M,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C(R,C+_P``1"`!.`0@#`2(``A$!`Q$!_\0`
M'P```04!`0$!`0$```````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1```@$#`P($`P4%
M!`0```%]`0(#``01!1(A,4$&$U%A!R)Q%#*!D:$((T*QP152T?`D,V)R@@D*
M%A<8&1HE)B<H*2HT-38W.#DZ0T1%1D=(24I35%565UA96F-D969G:&EJ<W1U
M=G=X>7J#A(6&AXB)BI*3E)66EYB9FJ*CI*6FIZBIJK*SM+6VM[BYNL+#Q,7&
MQ\C)RM+3U-76U]C9VN'BX^3EYN?HZ>KQ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_\0`'P$``P$!`0$!
M`0$!`0````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1$``@$"!`0#!`<%!`0``0)W``$"
M`Q$$!2$Q!A)!40=A<1,B,H$(%$*1H;'!"2,S4O`58G+1"A8D-.$E\1<8&1HF
M)R@I*C4V-S@Y.D-$149'2$E*4U155E=865IC9&5F9VAI:G-T=79W>'EZ@H.$
MA8:'B(F*DI.4E9:7F)F:HJ.DI::GJ*FJLK.TM;:WN+FZPL/$Q<;'R,G*TM/4
MU=;7V-G:XN/DY>;GZ.GJ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_]H`#`,!``(1`Q$`/P#H/BAX_P!8
MTG7/[%TJ46BQ1I)).H!=R1G`SP!T]ZX+_A8GB_\`Z#US_P!\I_\`$UI_%S_D
MH5U_UPB_]!KAJ]NA2A[.+L>)7JU/:R5SJ8_'_C*:5(HM:NY)'.%144ECZ`;:
MO_\`"1_$G_GOJ_\`X##_`.)KG/#'_(U:5_U])_.O?\G/4U\UQ!GCRNK"G"E&
M7,KZ^IVX'#2Q,7*4VK'C?_"8>/S>?8_[0U'[5MW>3Y*[\>N-N<58_P"$C^)/
M_/?5_P#P&'_Q-=&A/_"XGY_Y<O\`V6NYR<]37G8[BF>&]G:C%\T(R^_H=%'`
M.IS7J/1M'B<GQ`\90RO%+K=VDB$JRLB@J1U!&VF_\+$\7_\`0>N?^^4_^)K+
M\1?\C1J__7Y-_P"AFLVOMZ$85*49N*U2?WGCSJ5(R:YGH>Q_"SQ[JVK:Y+HV
ML7/VKS8FE@E<`,&7&5XQD$9/X5Z_7S?\*?\`DHVF?[LW_HIJ^D*\[&PC"I[I
MZ>#G*=/W@HJG?ZOINE!#J.HVEF),[/M$RQ[L=<;B,U8>XACMS</-&L`7>968
M!0O7.>F/>N0ZR2BJUEJ%EJ4!GL+RWNH0VTR02JZY],@XS59?$6B/;SW":QI[
M06Y`FD%TA6,DX&XYP,GCF@#2HK/?7=(CT^/4)-5L5LI&VI<M<((V//`;.">#
M^1JQ<WUG9V9O+JZ@@M0`3-+(%09(`^8\<D@?C0!8HJ.&>&YMX[B"6.6&10Z2
M(P964\@@C@BH+75-/OII8K2^M;B6(XD2*97*'T(!XH`MT455OM2L-,B$NH7M
MM:1L=H>XE6,$^F2:`+5%1QSQ2P">.5'B8;A(K`J1ZY]*J6VN:1>6T]S:ZK8S
MP6Z[II8KA&6(8)RQ!P!@$\^E`%^BJUCJ-CJ<+3:?>V]W$K;"]O*LBAL`XR">
M<$?G3'U;38]133I-0M%OG&5MFF42-QGA<Y/`/Y4`7**IWFK:;I\T4-[J%I;2
MS'$233*C/SCY03SR1T]:KS^)M!M;B2WN-;TV&:,[7CDNXU93Z$$Y%`&I16;;
M^(=%NUF:VUC3YE@C,LICN481H.K-@\#W-0KXL\..P5?$&E%B<`"\CR3^=`&Q
M12*P90RD$$9!'>AW6-&=V"JHR6)P`*`%HJM9:C9:E!YUA>6]U%G&^"577/U!
MJS0`4444`?.WQ<_Y*%=?]<(O_0:X:NY^+G_)0KK_`*X1?^@UQUC87FIW0MK&
MWDGF/\*#./<^@]S7NTYQA04I.R2/!K)RK22[EWPS_P`C3I7_`%])_.O?N]<#
MX7^'0TVY@U#5+@/<Q,'2"$_*C#IEN_X<5WU?EO%F98?'8J#P\N915F^F_0^A
MRS#SHTWSJUSAD_Y+$_\`UY?^RUW-<,G_`"6)_P#KR_\`9:[FO.SG_F'_`.O4
M/U-\)]O_`!,^?O$7_(T:M_U^3?\`H9K-KU7Q/\.5U&XGO]*G\NZE<R20S'Y'
M)Y.#V)/X?2O,K[3[S3+IK:^MY()E_A<8S[CU'TK]1R;-<)C:$8T9>\DKKKHN
MWZH^<Q>%JT9MR6CZG5_"K_DHVF?[LW_HIJ^CZ^;_`(4_\E&TS_=F_P#135]%
M78N&LIUM&1;DQL(F?[H?'RD^V<56/_BKT_S.S`?PGZ_Y'SMX[^R_$;XJ:KIT
MNIPV=EHEC+%"TTBQB2X7C:"Q`_UAY]D->B?!S78_%?PS33;T^9-8JUA<*?XH
M\83_`,<('_`37/>&?V?K+[)<2^,+DW>HRS%P]E<-MVGU+*"6)SFMSP!\-=5\
M!^-=6N+6[M9/#EXA$<!E<S(004)&W!QEEZ]#FN([3A_`VLR?#_2_B'X?NY"L
MVEAYK?)V[B3Y:LH/J6B/_`A2)X:.@_LPZM>3H5O-5:"ZDW==AN(Q&/\`OGYO
M^!5U?Q!^$%]XM\<0ZQ87EK;65Q'%%J2/(ZO*JL.@5<-\JKU(Y4>E=GX^\+7'
MB;X?7WAW2VMX)IEA6$SL5C4)(C8)`)Z*1TH`\-U__DUWPM_V%'_]#N:NZOK]
M]9?";Q%X$\0/G4M.BM9;.8MD7-L9XBI'^Z"!]./X377:I\*->O?@SHO@Z*[T
MT:C8WC7$LK2/Y14M,<*=F<_O%Z@=#^.Q\2OA<WC;P]IZ6DMO!K-BBQQRRDB-
MTX#*Q`)QW''7Z\`'G7Q`UN^C^&G@#P[;3RP6VHV$!N63@.H1`%)[CG./I3_B
M;\.-*^''A[3O$/AR[OK;48;Q(O-,V2<JQW#T/R_3DUZ+K?PLC\1_#O0]"O+M
M;?5-)MHTBNX074.J!6&#@E3CV/`^E<U)\(_&OB2:VL_&/C".[T>UD#1Q0`EY
M`..<JN&QW);&30!ZOX9U*36?"VE:G,A26ZM(IG4C&"R@FO"?B#X-U?\`X69?
M:UKNAZEX@T*9,Q&PEVM`@`PN`#C;SQP#G.<YKZ&MK>*TM8K:!`D,*"-%'90,
M`5Y-K?PM\5V7BJ^U[P5XH6SDO3^\AO"Q"@DDJ#M;(!Z#;QGK0!7^$,WA>WL=
M>L-`U'6!*8S+-INJ(JM"0"I9=O'H#SGA<BN-^$?_`"2WXD?]@YO_`$1-7IG@
M;X6W/AN_U37-8U5=1UW4(G1I%3:B;N6.>I)..<#CM69X%^%6N^&?!GBW1[VZ
MTZ2XUBU,-NT,CE%8QR+\Y*`@9<=`>]`!^SC_`,D]U#_L*R?^BHJI?&NT?0?%
M7A;QS`K'[)<)!<;3C*JV]1Z<@R#\:H:!\+_BOX6L'L=%\3Z-9VTDIF:-79LN
M0`3EH2>BC\J]0\7>$YO%OP]GT*[EA;4'MT*SM]T7"@$-G&0"002!G!/%`'`7
MEO'XZ_:'M=I\W3?#MK',65LHTGWU(P?[SK_WQ7E_BF*WE^,7B);G0[S6H_M,
MI^RVDK1OGCYLJK'`^G>O?/A5X!NO`VCWJZI<07.J7DX>6:%V9=BC"+E@"<?,
M>G?VKC-4^%7CR+X@ZKXG\.:UI-B]W*YC9Y'+A&QP08F':@#.\':9IT?@KQ[>
MVWA34]!FCT::+_3;AY!,K1R$XW(N,%!Z]>U>5:/<>#(_"FH1:Q8ZI+K[&3[%
M+;LH@0%!LWY8'A]Q/!XQ7T/I/A/XCS:1XAL/$_B'3[^._P!,FM;58R0$E=2`
MS8B4XY[9^E4?#WP>N+?X6:KX4UN:QDO+B[>ZM9[<LZPOY:*IRR@]4.<#H:`-
MKX*:7K.D?#J"#6EEC=YWDMX9>&BA(&`1VYW''^U63^T#<(?!-MI\>H>3=W%V
MICLU!+78'!4`>A93Z9QWQ76_#K1/$7ASPK%I'B*ZL[J6V8K;S6TCOF+LK;E'
M(.0/;'I6/\1?AQ>>*]8TK7]'U..SU?2R&A%PI:)RK;TSC[N&ZG!R/H*`."^%
M5UH$?BS4_%45U9>&]*\M;-=)>\W.7PN6?=CY<@X]_3O]`JRNH92"I&01W%>%
MZE\"];\27=WK6LZUI<&L2X98[*T/D,X[OG&<]_E]SGO[=913P6,$5U<?:;A$
M"R3;`GF-CEMHX&?2@">BBB@#YV^+G_)0KK_KA%_Z#6]\,M7M)],ETQ88H;R'
MYR44`SH?XB>Y'0_A6#\7/^2A77_7"+_T&N0TS4;C2=2@OK5]LL+;AZ$=P?8C
MBNG,\M68Y?["]G9->J[^1Y5/$>PQ3GTOJ?1#,%4LQ"JHR23@`>]<E?\`C0W-
MT=-\,VIU*]Z-+_RQB]R>_P#*J-E8:EX[MTO]5OUM](=CY=A:,<M@_P`;?_K_
M``KL['3[/3+9;:QMH[>$?P1KC/N3W/N:_,94<+E\G&O^\J+[/V4_-[R?DM/,
M]]3J5U>'NQ[]7Z=CC%\%Z_YW]LG7P->/\6W]SMQ]SIT_#'MWJ]8>,GM+I-.\
M3VC:=>'A9\9AE]P>W\OI778XSCBJ]Y8VNHVK6U[;QW$#=4D7(^H]#[BE+-HX
MGW,;!271Q2C**[*VC2[/[T"PWL]:3L_/5/\`KN3JRNH=6#*PR&4Y!'L:X;XF
M:O:6^DQZ8T,4]Y.=R%U!,"CJP]">@_&GW.DZGX-AFOM$O1/ID8+RZ?>/PH]4
M;M^GXUY=JFI7&L:G/?W39EF;..RCLH]@.*][AS(X5<6L5"IS4X:KH[]$UTMN
M]6GW.+'XQPI>S<;2?W6\CI_A3_R4;3/]V;_T4U?2%?-_PI_Y*-IG^[-_Z*:O
MI"OM<?\`Q5Z?YG+@/X3]?\CA?%OQ;\*^#KY["^GN+F^0`O;VD8=DSZDD*#CG
M&<U<\&_$GPYXY>6'29Y4NHD\Q[:X39(%SC/!((R0#@GJ/6O(?A==V^E^/?&T
MFN_8SKZ&5H1.0H>0.YD"EL=3M]\58\&^.IM3^(QTU/!^BZ9K%ZDY>[B0^:KB
M!G'/.,E5SCU/>N([3T#Q+\:O"'AG4Y=.FENKRZA?RYELX@PC8=02S*..A`)K
MHM!\<:%XFT.XU;2;HW$-LK--'MVR)@$X*GN<<=CZUY!\`KO1K*/Q"FKS64.I
M&=0QNBJL4YR`6[;LY%5/AELD\??$*72C$-%-O=>6(AA,&0^5MQQC;NQ[4`>P
M^!_'^E>/K6[N-*M[V%+5U1_M2(I)(SQM9JJ^./B=HO@&[M+?5;74)GND:1#:
MQHP`!P<[G7UKSG]G74K"PT36UO+VVMRUS&5$TJH3\IZ9-5_CU-#+XN\(3I*C
MPLFX2!@5*^8ISGIB@#T3PG\8O"OC#5$TRT>[M+R3(BBO(@OF8&>"K,,]>"0>
M*[^OGOXM3V=Y\4O"+^'I;274C(FY[8JQW>:NS<5_'\*^A*`.&\+?%;0?%WB2
MXT&QM]0AO(5=B;F-%1MC`$`JY.><]*34_BOH&E>.HO"$MOJ$FHR3PV_F11H8
ME>7;MR2X/&X9P#7B?@Z4:'=ZAXO"D)I'B"-;MPN<6TWF1N?4X)7`]34UQ;/+
MXS\!Z_<9-UKNNO?,6ZB,W$2QJ/;:H(]-U`'N'_"Q]'_X6-_P@_V:^_M/_GKL
M3R?]3YO7=N^[Q]WK^=&D_$K0M7\:WWA.-;J#4K1G3,ZH$E*'D(0Q).,GD#@&
MO,/^;O/\_P#/A6&/#-]K_P`3/'5UH\SPZWI5RUY8,AQN=9#E/3D<#/&>O&:`
M/=+?QUIESX_N_!J6]X-1MH1,\I1?)*E5;@[MV<..WK7&WG[0GA.QOKBTET[6
MC)!(T3%88L$J<''[SVKD_AQXB'BOX]7>M>2T+W&F`2Q$?<D6.)7`]MRFN3\)
M1^(Y/'/B0>'->TS1Y_-E\V34&4*Z^:>!N1N<_2@#W/P_\7_#&OZ-J^K*+RQL
M]*$9N'O(U&=^[:%",Q)RN,>XK,L?C]X*O=2%H[:A:HS;5N;B!1$><9X8D#W(
M'O69?PV\OPNU&P^(_BO3KF26\!AOM-7S1#\H,8(1%YRLAQCD$\^G&:I=:EX/
M\+:9,^I>$?%F@0E5MK>YM4:958$_=(R..I))'>@#Z7!!`(.0:X^;XD:1!\0H
M_!3VM^=2?&)0B>3S'YG7?NZ?[/6MWPYJ<6L^&]-U*"W-M%<VZ2)"1CRP1]WZ
M"O#]8GAMOVJK::XECBB786>1@JC_`$8]2:`/9?&'BVP\%:"VL:E#<RVZR+&5
MME5GRW3AF`_6O/O^&C?"'_0-US_OQ#_\=KU6VOM/U(.+6ZMKH)C>(I%?;GIG
M'3H:\(\,(A_:?UE2JE?W_&./N+0!W^L_&/P]HF@:)K-S9:H]OK"226ZQ11EU
M"%0=X+@#[PZ$TGA?XT^$_%6JQ:9;M>6=W,VR%+R)5$C>@*LPS]<5P7[3"A5\
M+!0``+O`'_;&H_CI<6-YXH\)MX?FLY=7,KC?;,K/NWQ^4&(_VM^,^IH`^A**
MR8?$^ASZX^B1:I:OJ<>=UJ)!Y@P,GCZ44`>&?%S_`)*%=?\`7"+_`-!KAC7<
M_%S_`)*%=?\`7"+_`-!K"\)^&G\4ZM):?:5M8(86GFN&7*QJ/7D>M>]2DHT8
MM]CPJT7*M)+N;GPW\1#3M2?2KE\6UT<QECPD@_D"/U`KI=?^)&G:=N@TP"^N
M1QO!Q$A^O\7X<>]<:?!!A\?+X6O+_P`GS#B*Y$60^5RO&>_3K26_@>8P^(Y[
MV\%M#HC&,MY>?.?)P!SQG`_[Z%?/XOA_`8K&?6ZM]4M.C>U^_P`OO.REB\13
MI>RBMKZ]BA+XP\02ZE]O_M.9)APJH<(!Z;.F*[?0_B?:S[8=:A^S2=/M$0+1
MGZCJ/PS7&ZCX6.G^'="U8W8?^U68>5Y>/*P<=<\_I717WPGO;'Q1IVE/?AK2
M^#A+P1?==5+%2N>N!QSSSZ5T8[)\LQ5-0G!1M>S6C5OZZW(H5\53DW%WVW\Q
MOQ%\4Q7PBTG3YUDMAB6>6-LAS_"N?0=?KCTKS^NIT+P6=5O-7:YU".RTS279
M;F[=<]&(&%]\$_EUI/$GA"+2='M-<TO4TU+2+J0Q+-Y9C='YX*G_`'3^7TKK
MRW"X?`48X6D]NO=OOYF6(=6O)U9(M_"K_DHVF?[LW_HIJ^CZ^;_A3_R4;3/]
MV;_T4U?2%9X_^*O3_,[,!_"?J<;XK^%WA7QC=F]U*Q=+T@*US;R&-V`Z9['T
MR1G%6_"WP]\,>#F:31]-2.X8;6N)&,DA'H&/0>PP*Z>BN([3A?$?PA\'>)]1
M?4+NPD@NY7WRRVLIC\P]]PY&3W.,GUK=T7P=H7AW1)M(TFQ6UM9U82E22[Y&
M"2QR2>>,]*W:*`/*?^&>_!7]_5/_``)7_P")K;USX2>&_$-CI%G?-?>5I5J+
M6W\N8*2@`'S?+R>!Z5W=%`'$^%?A1X3\(:@NH:?9RRWR9$=Q<REVC!&#M'`'
MUQGD\\UVU%%`'&:?\,?#VG:-KFEQ?:GMM:)-UYD@8@\X*\<$$Y'7D"K&H?#S
M0]2OO#]W*+A'T'9]C6.0!?E*D;ACG[@]*ZNB@#E/^%>Z)_PL#_A--UU_:OIY
M@\O_`%7E?=Q_=]^M6-%\$Z3H/B75=?LS<&\U0EK@22`IRV[Y1CCFNCHH`Y73
MOA[H.D^,[KQ391S17]TK+(BN/*^;&XA<<$D9Z]2:YF[^`G@V]O)[J9]3\R>1
MI'Q<`#+')Q\OO7J%%`'#:)\)?"FB:3J>EI:S7=GJ6SSX[J3=]S=M*D`%2-QY
M'-9]I\"O`MKJ'VHV%Q.H;<L$UPQC4YST&"1[$FO2:*`&QQI#$D<:*D:`*JJ,
M!0.@`]*X/Q/\'_#'BW7I]9U)K\74P57$4P5?E4*,#:>PKOJ*`.4\%_#W1/`?
MV[^QS='[;Y?F^?('^YNQC`&/OFBQ^'FB:?XWN?%L+77]I7&[>&D!C^8`'`Q[
M>M=710!RGC3X>Z+X\-C_`&PUT/L7F>5Y$@3[^W.<@Y^X*S_#/PA\(>%=234;
M.SEGO(FW12W4I?RSC'`X&??&17=T4`<I:?#S1++QS/XNB:Z_M.;=N#2`Q_,N
MTX7'H/6BNKHH`^>/B_&\?C^9G0JLEO$R$C[P`QD?B"*@\*>)]$\.^%M6@N+*
M6^U#46$4D))1#"!C&\<C[S'CVKWG7/#>D>([80:M8QW"KRC'*LGT88(_.N9_
MX5!X/_Y\[G_P+D_QKT(XJFZ:A-/3L>?+#5%4<X-:GEGC#Q9IVNG1-4TR*:TU
M6R0)+&P)4;2"F'/+8(/7UK0\<>.M*UW0A9Z1!-#+>3K<:AO3:"RJ``#GGD#_
M`+YKT/\`X5!X/_Y\[G_P+D_QH_X5!X/_`.?.Y_\``N3_`!IJOAU;1Z"="N[Z
MK4\DUCQ'87WA'PQID/G?:-,9C<;DPO)!X/>NXA^+>F)XMNIIEN9=&EC1H=T.
M7AF48)"YZ$'_`#S71_\`"H/!_P#SYW/_`(%R?XT?\*@\'_\`/G<_^!<G^-*5
M;#R5FGU_$J-'$1=TUT_`\NT#Q7I5K+XDT_58;AM*UF1W\R!?WD9W,5."?0C\
M14?B+Q+I#>#[#POH`NWM89C/-<72A6=N>`!VR<_@*]5_X5!X/_Y\[G_P+D_Q
MH_X5!X/_`.?.Y_\``N3_`!JOK%#FYM2?J]?EY=#S/X064MUX^AG13Y=I!)+(
MV..1L`_-OT-?0]9.@>&=(\,VKV^DV@@20AI&+%F<],DDDUK5R8BK[6?,MCJP
M]+V4.5A1116!N%%%%`!1110`4444`%%%%`!1110`4444`%%%%`!1110`4444
+`%%%%`!1110!_]D_
`
end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
