What have been the Ministry’s major initiatives as pertains to the mining industry? 

Last year, we were close to completing a consultation process for the harmonious development of mining activity. Based on the conclusion of this public consultation, we worked on the modernization of the Mining Act aimed to make sure Québec remains a leader in the development of strategic and critical minerals and continues to offer a competitive business environment. The idea is to develop transparency and early communication with local communities to achieve better social acceptability from the outset. We tabled this bill at the end of May, and the work will continue next autumn. 

We have also updated the action plan for the development of critical and strategic minerals 2020-2025. We wanted to improve our actions to foster innovation, improve the environmental regulatory framework, and increase the circularity of Québec's battery supply chain. We updated the list of critical and strategic minerals from 22 to 28, thus adding high-purity iron, high-purity silica, aluminum, manganese, apatite, phosphate, and germanium. The aim is to leverage the development of these minerals with an attractive business environment for research, exploration, and exploitation.

What are the objectives of the new proposed Mining Law?

As far as amendments to the Mining Act are concerned, one of the major proposed measures would ensure that mining companies go through the BAPE process (public hearings), which is a positive step for the industry, as it will create greater social acceptability. There will also be the withdrawal of mining exploration from certain areas, although municipalities will have the final say on this. We have come up with balanced positions, especially ahead of exploration. It's early on that we need to improve relations with communities.

What is the Ministry's vision for an integrated battery value chain in Québec?

Efforts have been made to attract investment to the battery supply chain sector from mining to midstream and downstream processes and recycling. We have sought out partners to develop this sector, which is set to grow exponentially over the coming months. In addition to being a resource province, we want to make sure that mineral processing and recycling take place in Québec. There's a very clear interest in Bécancour for the battery value chain, and we want to work on other minerals such as high-purity iron that strongly contribute to steel manufacturing decarbonization. We are recognized worldwide as an ideal partner with strong ESG criteria.

Can you outline the Ministry's innovation and research efforts?

We now have a research network specific to critical and strategic minerals, managed by CRITM, which brings together 300 members of the mining ecosystem. This project is supported with C$11 million for collaborative research projects. We also funded research projects to develop knowledge for mining residues valorization and battery recycling, which are part of a vision of sustainable natural resources development. We are also working with COREM, the Center for Innovation in Mineral Processing in Québec. At the end of 2025, we would have invested around C$50 million in developing research and supporting innovation.

What factors make Québec unique for exploration, and how does the government support juniors?

Québec is a politically stable partner. We are going to amend the Mining Act without distorting its legal content. Our electricity is green, and we are investing to develop innovation. We have launched a new investment fund, NQIM, to develop mining activity in the North. We have put in place an advantageous tax system to help mining exploration activities, particularly for critical minerals exploration.

So, on top of the most diverse resource base in Canada, Québec offers visionary and coherent government policies, while partnering in investments to create a favorable business environment for mining.

Do you have a conclusion for GBR’s audience?

I aim to showcase Québec minerals, make people proud of our resources and practices, and ensure that our minerals are at the heart of the decarbonization of economies. On a global scale, Québec's place as a partner of choice for diversifying sources of strategic minerals will only grow.

As an example, as we intend to collaborate with foreign partners, we have signed a declaration of intent with France to establish a collaboration framework regarding particular knowledge development and investments in the critical and strategic mineral sector.