“The current system needs improvement,” she said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press days after admitting a 65 percent increase in the number of mining claims in Quebec.

Claims give a company the exclusive right to explore the ground. The number of active claims in the field has increased from 182,000 in 2021 to more than 302,000 as of February 28, 2023.

The minister announced from the outset that she would add public hearing days to monitor mining activity.

These were supposed to end on May 19; They will continue on May 22nd and 29th and June 5th.

The aim of these consultations, according to his ministry, is to “collect concerns, ideas and proposals to promote harmonious development of mining activity”.

“Given the enthusiasm and number of registrations, I think it’s important that people can attend if they wanted to register,” says Frau^Me Blanchette Vezina.

Minister and MP for Rimouski says she respects ongoing consultation process; nevertheless, she allows herself to intervene in the debate at this point in order to “calm concerns”.

“I’ve heard several people with me about the issues with granting entitlements and the support given to cities,” she said.

“I wish people would know that I heard those concerns. […] We will have to review aspects and that makes me seriously consider changing the mining law,” she added.

M^Me Blanchette Vézina declined to comment on the specific measures she intends to implement to ensure “harmonious development” in the mining sector.

It is not committing to implementing the solutions proposed by the Society for Nature and Parks (SNAP), which this week lamented that 32 protected area projects are blocked by claims.

Also, the changes she wants to make are not necessarily aimed at reducing the number of applications.

“It’s about better managing the attribution of claims and better helping local authorities identify the sectors they want to protect,” spokeswoman Flore Bouchon said.

CPAWS-Quebec urges minister to immediately suspend mining claims “for charitable purposes” and withdraw areas from designation of new claims.

“As a result, a revision of the law should also provide for the abolition of the compensation obligation of those entitled to claim, in addition to the abolition of priority for mining.

“A moratorium on issuing new applications pending such a review remains essential if the government is to stem the bleeding,” the organization said.

“Blinding” rise

At last Tuesday’s National Assembly, Québec Solidaire (QS) reiterated that certain regions such as Lanaudière, the Outaouais and the Laurentians have seen a “metar” surge in demands.

According to QS environmental spokeswoman Alejandra Zaga Mendez, the claims are often in tourist areas, near lakes, rivers and holiday resorts.

In his opinion, getting a mining title is too easy; All you need is internet access and a credit card to pay the few dollars it costs.

Exploratory work is currently taking place on 20% of the claims, but only 1% of them are the target of “more advanced” work with “impacts”, the minister then specified.

This work consists in particular of small blasts, the expansion of routes and logging, she explained.

During an arrest in March, Mr.^Me Blanchette Vézina had stressed the importance of continuing to probe the soil for traces of interesting minerals that could help decarbonize Quebec.