Mineral Exploration in the Laurentians: Mayors outraged

Mineral Exploration in the Laurentians: Mayors outraged Hugo Fontaine Energy and Resources

But municipalities can do nothing. The Mining Act takes precedence over municipal law. As part of the reform of the Mining Law, the municipalities did try to push the government to give some control to local governments, but much needed reform of the Canadian Mining Act has been slow and put on the back burner by the Canadian Federal Government.

Pacific Arc Resources is looking for iron and titanium in an area covering the northern municipality of Saint-Hippolyte, eastern territory of Sainte-Adele, and south of the town of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson . The mining company has hired another firm in British Colombia, OnTrack Exploration for the work.

Since 2008, explorers have carried out a geophysical survey by helicopter and gathered samples from the roadside. But to proceed to drilling, OnTrack needed approval of the owners of the lands affected. That's where the news was made known to the mayors of the affected municipalities-whose income is derived from tourism from the beauty of the area.


The mayor of Saint-Hippolyte, Bruno Laroche, was made aware in late February by a counselor, himself informed by a citizen. The weekly journal "The Northern Echo" was informed by two other mayors earlier this month.

"I find it unfortunate when companies start to do work or arrest citizens of a city without notifying the administration of this city," told to La Presse Affaires , Mayor of Sainte-Marguerite, Linda Fortier. It is disrespectful to municipal governments. "