The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) is asking the provincial government for legislative changes in the face of the mining boom. In a statement adopted at the forum on the integration of mining activities, Thursday, in Gatineau, the organization claims that municipalities can determine which places are favorable or not for mining activities.
Concern is palpable among elected municipal officials, according to the president of the UMQ, Daniel Côté, so much so that more than 200 of them, from all over Quebec, came to attend this forum. In question: the explosion in the number of claims, mining exploration permits, in several regions of Quebec in 2021 and 2022. Several of them, such as the Outaouais and the Laurentians, have experienced practically no mining in the past. Citizens therefore react strongly to the possibility of seeing a mine appear not far from their homes, especially in resort areas and near lakes and rivers.
The Declaration for the harmonious integration of mining activities in the territories therefore requires, among other things, the withdrawal of section 246 of the Act respecting land use planning and development, which gives precedence to mining, oil and gas activities over the regulations of zoning, development plans or any other measure taken by a municipality to manage the occupation of its territory. This is a historic request from the UMQ, explains its president, in an interview with the To have to.
“Many people are comfortable with mining development, which creates wealth and jobs. But no one wants to see an activity as heavy as a mine in the backyard of residences or instead of a park or a natural space,” says Daniel Côté, adding that a mine could theoretically have the right to settle in a city center.
According to Mr. Côté, local governments, being closest to citizens, are best placed to guarantee the social acceptability of projects and avoid clashes between citizens and mining companies.
“If we are trusted to manage where industrial parks, residential areas and agricultural areas are located, why shouldn’t we be trusted to oversee the location of mining activities? asks Mr. Côté.
Protect the lakes
According to the president of the UMQ, local elected officials are also the best able to protect citizens’ sources of drinking water. He mentioned the possibility of designating riparian strip protection zones.
Moreover, a new group of 75 citizen associations for the protection of lakes, the Quebec Coalition of lakes incompatible with mining activity, was launched on Wednesday. The organization’s spokesperson, Louis St-Hilaire, encourages all municipalities in Quebec to support the declaration. The group is also asking for a moratorium on the allocation of new claims.
Many people are comfortable with mining development, which creates wealth and jobs. But nobody wants to see an activity as heavy as a mine in the backyard of residences or instead of a park, a natural space.
Aware of the issue of social acceptability, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, announced Thursday that she had “mandated the ministry to launch an important process for the harmonious development of mining activities”. The ministry will have to “evaluate the various facets of the mining regime, in particular the laws, regulations, mechanisms for granting mining rights, consultation processes, government procedures, accompanying guides, as well as the means to promote the regional spin-offs, ”said its press officer, Flore Bouchon, by email.
In reaction to this government initiative, Mr. St-Hilaire and the spokesperson for the coalition So that Quebec looks better, Ugo Lapointe, hailed “the openness and the intention to act”. They hope that everything will lead to concrete actions.