What are some of the key topics of discussion for the QMA and its members so far in 2023?

There have been a lot of discussions in the media in Québec about the rise in the number of claims, and the increase in exploration projects in the southern part of Québec and north of the St-Lawrence River in regions where the population is unaccustomed to mining activities. Indeed, most of our mines are in three distinctive regions, in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, the North Shore, and the Nord-du-Québec region. Since the adoption of the Québec Plan to develop critical minerals and the EV battery value chain, the government of Québec has promoted and indicated where different deposits of critical minerals could be found in Québec which has attracted the attention of new juniors looking for graphite to the southern part of the province. This has generated an increase in claims and consequently concerns within the local population who tend to think that a claim will automatically become a mine.

Since the last provincial elections, local groups opposed to mining in the south have asked our new Minister to modify the Mining Act and to change the claiming process. They claim that the local populations have not been informed or consulted and should have the right to say no to mining in their region. In response to this situation, the government has decided to launch public consultations on mining activities in Québec. Increasing the social acceptability of mining development in Québec being a priority of our Association, we welcomed the initiative. And, since our members want to initiate an ongoing dialogue with the public and host communities to gain a better understanding of their concerns, needs, and expectations, we participated in the discussions with an open mind.

Is that shift towards more exploration in the south the main story in Québec these days?

We cannot decide where the deposits are. When the government opted on pushing for more critical minerals exploration, they put out a map that clearly showed the graphite deposits in the south of Québec. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of disinformation from groups that say that a claim equals a mine and that juniors could be working in people’s backyards without permission, which is incorrect. Last year, there were over 250,000 active claims in Québec, and less than 1% had real exploration works with heavy machinery. We are sorry to hear a negative discourse and many shortcuts in the media in that regard. In January, I participated in a mining forum organized by the Municipal Union of Québec and was surprised to hear people and municipal representatives talk about the mining as though our industry still operated as in the past. It showed their lack of knowledge of the mining industry’s current legal obligations and best practices and all the efforts made by the industry to reduce its environmental footprint. This confirms once more that we must communicate better and promote today’s mining practices.

We also took part in the consultation process organized by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, which will lead to changes – or not – to the Mining Act. So yes, that shift in exploration is leading to a lot of pressure right now.

How can Québec remain an attractive province for mining investment in the near term?

From now on, the legal operating permit is no longer sufficient; social license, acquired through social acceptability resulting from dialogue, better knowledge of stakeholders, and consideration of concerns is necessary.

Even though municipalities and opposition parties are asking for a moratorium on claims, which would be very damaging to the future of our industry in Québec, the Québec government continues to promote Québec as an important player in the development of critical minerals and the EV battery value chain. The government is working hard to attract companies to come and process minerals in Québec and produce EV battery components. This has generated a lot of interest from investors and that is positive for our industry. We still do not know the conclusion of the consultations and what will be its impact on investors’ interest in Québec, but we are hopeful because our government is working for more mining development.

Investments have increased in the last two years in exploration, mine construction, and development, and I hope the current talks will not hinder that positive cycle. Investors like stability, and now, we are not in the most predictable environment. But the mining industry is in a great spot now. The frenzy around critical minerals is attracting people to our sector. Québec is in a great position to become a mining jurisdiction capable of producing the necessary minerals for decarbonization and helping the rest of the world decrease its GHG emissions.

What will be the main objectives for the QMA in 2023?

Making sure that we continue to develop great mines and that our industry is recognized as a big contributor to the decarbonization of the economy. We will work hard to better communicate our best practices and legal obligations. We hope to gain the population’s confidence and get the general understanding that it is better to mine here in Québec than in other lesser responsible jurisdictions.

Remember that history shows that mining projects can develop with respect for local populations. Mining companies wish to remain partners of the communities in which they operate, and this is why they are in favor of this reconciliation of uses, and actions are taken daily to adhere to it.

The mining companies active in Québec have committed to the population to do things right and to be respectful and responsible. Combined with access to the territory, in compliance with the rules and processes in force, Québec is on the right track to remain among the best mining jurisdictions in the world.