Assented to on November 29, 2024, Bill No. 63, entitled An Act to amend the Mining Act and other provisions (the “Act”), introduced by the “Minister” of Natural Resources and Forests (the “Minister”), brings significant changes to the legal framework governing mining activities in Québec.
This reform notably aims to better regulate exclusive exploration rights (“EERs”), which allow a company to explore land in search of mineral resources, formerly known as “claims.”
More broadly, it seeks to better align mining development with present-day realities, particularly regarding environmental protection, recognition of the rights of Indigenous communities, land-use planning and the fight against certain speculative practices.