Substantially improved tax assistance for mining exploration in Québec

To encourage further discoveries and renew reserves, mining companies will benefit from a maximum tax credit of 60% of their exploration expenses incurred in Québec, until 2007.

Cree Mineral Exploration Board
Increasing the involvement of native communities in the mining development of the Baie-James region
Jean Beaulieu
Direction de la politique et de l’économie minérales

In accordance with the agreement concluded on February 7, 2002, with the Cree nation of Québec, the "Paix des Braves", the gouvernement du Québec is namely committed to encouraging the conclusion of agreements between mine developers and the Cree nation. These agreements concern remediation measures, jobs and contracts related to any mining activity on the Baie-James territory.

The agreement signed last February 7^th also calls for the creation of a Cree Mineral Exploration Board, which was announced last June. The Cree Council intends to favour a greater involvement of Crees in activities related to the development of natural resources. The Board will also serve to develop and support prospecting and mineral exploration activities, to generate and encourage activities to recognize the mineral potential of the land, as well as to develop regional organizations involved in the mineral resource industry.

The "Paix des Braves" not only gives new impetus to the economic development of the Baie-James region, but it also confirms the common desire of both the Cree nation and the gouvernement du Québec to take action and favour the development of the mining potential of this region.

Policy Concerning the Increased and Safe Use of Chrysotile Asbestos
Gilles Mahoney
Ministère des Ressources naturelles

On June 19, 2002, the gouvernement du Québec adopted a "Policy concerning the increased and safe use of chrysotile asbestos". An interdepartmental workgroup, involving 13 departments and organizations, and presided by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles, worked during one full year to put together this policy.

The objective of this policy is to encourage departments and government agencies, as well as Crown corporations and municipalities to increase their use of products containing chrysotile. Québec currently processes about 2% of its chrysotile asbestos production (6,000 tonnes out of a total output of some 300,000 tonnes per year) and the gouvernement du Québec hopes to double this domestic consumption in the medium term, by increasing the use of materials containing chrysotile, namely chrysotile-cement pipes and sheets, as well as bituminous pavement with chrysotile asbestos. Organizations targeted by the policy shall have the obligation to make sure that suppliers of chrysotile products that meet policy standards are invited to submit proposals when these organizations proceed with calls for tenders and acquisitions of goods. The policy also provides for assistance measures for the development and marketing of new products that contain chrysotile.

The implementation of this policy will be coordinated by the workgroup that elaborated the policy, and it will be accompanied by measures designed to ensure the safety of workers and the public in general, which will essentially be overseen by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, the Ministère de l’Environnement and the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail.