TO THE MINING CONTEXT IN QUEBEC
THESE 5 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS WILL ENABLE YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CURRENT ISSUES AND WAYS TO PROTECT OUR ASSETS:
What is a "claim"?
It is a mining property title conferring the right to explore on a determined area.
Concretely, a CLAIM or mining concession is the method used by prospectors and exploration companies to obtain access to the minerals in the ground of the targeted region. This rule gives the company the exclusive right to explore for mineral deposits in a region, for a specified period.
What is a TIAM?
It is a territory deemed incompatible with mining activity, according to the Mining Act, because the viability of the population concerned and their existing activities would be compromised in various aspects (e.g., ecological, residential, tourism, agricultural).
What is an existing activity?
It is, for example, a popular cross-country ski trail, with a reception chalet for outdoor enthusiasts.
What will be the fate of our existing activities?
Regarding cross-country skiing: yes, this trail could be protected by a narrow corridor prohibiting mining activity, but around this corridor, there would be no protection.
What about other existing activities?
The same rules would apply for the entire resort sector.
• If there were no buildings around the lake, a mining company could settle there.
• If the riparian strip of the lake is entirely occupied by dwellings, the maximum protection zone is limited to 600 metres from the body of water.
in
conclusion
According to current rules, an “open pit” mining site with a length of 2 km can be built 600 metres from a lake whose perimeter is all built up. But if part of the riparian strip has not been developed, the mining site could be installed directly on the edge of the lake.
The cross-country ski trail and the lake are just two (very important) examples that demonstrate how our existing activities are under threat. However, given the extent of Crown Lands and Reserves in Quebec, and given the context of growing interest in the exploitation of new minerals, one could unfortunately believe that this is the delimitation – in perpetuity – of a “huge private club” for the mining industry. Our wildlife reserves like Papineau-Labelle and La Vérendrye are good examples: since there is currently very little infrastructure in these places, the entire territory would be subject to mining activity.
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