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ARTICLE · 13 FEBRUARY 2025

Significant Changes To The Québec Mining Regime Are Now In Force

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Significant amendments to the Québec mining regime tabled by the Government in the spring 2024 were adopted on November 28, 2024, and several of them came into force the next day.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Martin Thiboutot
Martin Thiboutot
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Significant amendments to the Québec mining regime tabled by the Government in the spring 2024 were adopted on November 28, 2024, and several of them came into force the next day1. These changes aim to modernize the legislation in line with current environmental and social concerns, land protection considerations and the rights of Indigenous communities and to address speculation around mining claims.

Restrictions – Mining Exploration on Private Lands

First, additional restrictions make it difficult to conduct mining exploration on private lands. Regional county municipalities already have certain powers since 2013 to designate mining-incompatible territories, but these powers were deemed insufficient by some. Notably, it is no longer possible to register a new claim (now designated "exclusive exploration right") within any urbanization perimeter delimited in a land use and development plan adopted by a regional county municipality, although the regional county

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The foregoing provides only an overview and does not constitute legal advice. Readers are cautioned against making any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, specific legal advice should be obtained.

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