Québec

As MiningWatch celebrates our 10th anniversary we are pleased to also be celebrating the one year anniversary of Quebec’s new voice on the mining industry “La coalition pour que le Québec ait meilleure mine!”, roughly translated as “The Coalition to Put a Better Face on Quebec Mining.” (There’s a double-entendre in the name as mine means ‘appearance’ or ‘face’ as well as ‘mine’ in French.) MiningWatch is an active member providing our input, analysis and a small partner support grant to the Coalition.

MiningWatch has applied to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency for funds to participate in the review of the environmental assessment of Quebec’s most advanced uranium project. The Matoush Project is located in north-central Quebec near Mistissini, 550 km north of Montreal and within the area covered by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement between the Quebec Cree and the federal and provincial governments.

One of MiningWatch Canada's fundamental principles is that mining activiities, including exploration should only occur with the support of local communities. Our uranium policy also calls for a moratorium on new uranium projects.

Quebec is one of the world’s most important mining jurisdictions with mineral production of 4.5 to 5.5 billion in 2006 and 2007 respectively. It has also been ranked as the world’s friendliest mining jurisdiction and called a “Mining Paradise” by its Minister of Natural Resources.

Joint news release with Northwatch: A major new report highlights serious impacts on the Canadian boreal forest from all phases of mining activity, from exploration to closure. Two respected mining industry watchdogs – Northwatch and MiningWatch Canada – say they published The Boreal Below (an all-new and expanded version of a widely circulated 2001 report) in response to growing demand from communities across Canada for information and analysis to help understand the impacts of mining on their lives and livelihoods. It provides a carefully-documented analysis of the social, environmental, and cultural impacts of mining from prospecting to mine closure, as well as an overview of the current situation by province and territory.

Across Canada, communities and Aboriginal governments are saying they have had enough when it comes to the privileged access mining has to land under the existing system, which grants “free entry” to prospectors and mining companies under the assumption the mining is the “highest and best” use of land. In Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and the Northwest Territories, communities are organizing to end the free entry system.

The Indigenous World Uranium Summit, held in Window Rock, Arizona, on November 30 to December 2, 2006, was a vindication of the Navajo Nation’s ban on uranium mining in Navajo Nation Territory and a regrouping of Indigenous opposition to uranium mining globally. People from Indigenous communities around the world spoke about their experiences living with the effects of the mining and use of uranium, from Fiji to India to the North America.

People who live and work in the Outaouais region of Québec are facing an onslaught of exploration for uranium. A divisive debate ensued at a community meeting in Fort Colougne called by Aldershot Resources Ltd. on December 15, 2006 – a Friday night just before Christmas. Representatives from the company, Natural Resources Canada, and Health Canada told the residents there was nothing to fear from uranium exploration or a mine. Aldershot is looking for mineable uranium in the Pontiac region on the north side of the Ottawa River and has staked 345 square kilometres of mining claims in the Outaouais region of western Québec.

The Fraser Institute considers Québec to be the mining jurisdiction with the most favourable mineral and policy potential in the world. In Québec all mineral rights are reserved to the State, and anyone can stake mineral claims on an internet-based map system on a first-come first served basis (Québec Mining Act, Section 3). Québec has a free entry system for prospectors, allowing any prospector (someone who is 18 years old and pays the $30 fee), to enter on any lands and explore for minerals, with very few exceptions (Section 65). The only uncategorical exemption is for cemeteries, and some old patent lands where the mineral rights are still attached to the deed (pre-1911).

MiningWatch Canada, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, and three national trade unions charge that asbestos industry claims that “chrysotile asbestos is safe” are not scientifically substantiated. Determined to get the scientific evidence before the public, on May 23rd, we have purchased two pages in the Hill Times to put our case.