Abitibi conventions, where members can
discuss scientific discoveries, technical
problems, and political and legislative is-
sues. The QMEA also helps its members
develop sustainable practices and com-
munity relations.
Having been a lawyer for 15 years, Frank
Mariage, the association’s chairman of the
board, has a natural talent for governance.
Along with the board of directors, Mariage
manages the concerns of 330 corporate
members and 1,800 to 2,000 individual
members, representing mainly junior ex-
ploration companies in addition to industry
giants like Agnico Eagle Mines and Gold-
corp Inc. Membership includes companies
from all aspects of the mining business
from prospectors, exploration compa-
nies and drilling companies to geologists.
Membership is even offered to students,
who gain access to both a vast network
and a recruiting platform.
THE REVIVAL OF PLAN NORD
The mining industry is a capital-intensive
business. Anything that involves helping
members reduce operational costs and
finding projects that can later be devel-
oped in a sustainable way — that’s where
“We’ve essentially gone back 10 years in terms of investments in the exploration
and development of projects.” Frank Mariage, chairman of the board
4
business elite canada
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