Quebec Tables Bill 43 Amending The Mining Act

On May 29, 2013, the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources tabled Bill 43 containing proposed amendments to the Mining Act ("Bill 43").

The government is using Bill 43 to introduce new concepts into Quebec's mining regime. Bill 43 brings substantial changes to the rules governing the receipt and renewal of claims and mining leases. It also changes the obligations of holders of claims and mining leases with respect to the rehabilitation and restoration of mining sites while increasing the powers of the Minister of Natural Resources.  

Bill 43 draws upon several elements that were proposed in Bill 14 of May 12 2011 ("Bill 14"), notably:

• The obligation of mining claims owners to disclose their intentions to the municipalities and to the owners of the site as well as to produce an annual operations plan;