LAW/MINING IN QUEBEC
tions may be made at the request of municipalities and in such cases, mining exploration will still require the consent of the landowners.
Environment impact assessment To ensure better environmental protection, Bill 63 provides that all new mining projects in Quebec will now be subject to the environmental impact assessment and review procedure provided under the Environment Quality Act (EQA). Such change will update the obligations and process for rehabilitating and restoring mining sites to introduce, among other things, an obligation for the holder of a mining lease to perform monitoring and maintenance to ensure follow-up on the holder’s rehabilitation and restoration work.
Conclusion In short, Bill 63 provides for a reform of the Mining Act and related regulations by providing for further environmental protection, increasing ministerial powers to ensure regulation
of mining activities, safeguarding of the interests of Indigenous communities, and prohibiting excavation on certain lands. By introducing stricter requirements for exploration rights and ensuring sustainable development, Bill 63 seeks to create a more accountable, transparent, and efficient mineral industry in Quebec. François Brabant is a partner at Dentons Canada and the leader of the securities and corporate finance group in the Montreal office. He practices securities and corporate finance, M&A, corporate and commercial law. David Gravel is a senior associate at Dentons Canada in the corporate group of the Montreal office. His practice focuses on M&A and securities law. The authors would like to thank Ana Grubac, summer student, for her contributions to this article.
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