way they did 40 years ago because prac-
tices have evolved for the better and for
practices to evolve there has to be regula-
tions attached to that,” Mariage said.
MENDING THE MINING ACT
Four attempts to mend the Mining Act over
a course of five years has created some
tension between Québec’s mining sec-
tor and certain municipalities, but Mariage
and the association are working actively to
promote good communication channels
between industry and government, spe-
cifically the Ministry of Natural Resources.
“One of the good things of all
this turmoil is that it got the
mining industry and municipal-
ities to sit down, get together
and try and work out a solu-
tion,” Mariage said.
This sit-down has resulted in
section 3.04.01.01 of the Min-
ing Act and although it is not in
effect yet, it gives the regional
county municipality, which is
responsible for urban planning,
the authority to identify terri-
tory that is incompatible with
mining. But Mariage fears that this will
result in even more territory being with-
drawn from mining exploration.
“We respect and agree that it is important
to protect territory. It’s important to pro-
tect different spaces within a municipal-
ity where it may not be optimal for mining
exploration and thereafter mining exploi-
tation, but let’s not do it blindly,” Mariage
said.
Other sit-downs have been more positive.
As there are projects located in the vicinity
of First Nations communities, dialogues
with these groups have increased. The
mining sector is a leading employer and
this has served both Native communities
and mining towns.
“There is good expertise in Québec and
we’ve developed very good practices not
only in terms of how we conduct projects,
but how we govern ourselves with First
Nations and municipalities … I think it’s
expertise that needs to be recognized and
I will continue to be a promoter of that as
long as I am president of the association
and even after my term ends,” Mariage
said.
APRIL 2016
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