There will be no suspension on uranium exploration in Quebec despite an ongoing complaint from residents of Sept Iles, Serge Simard, the minister responsible for mines said Tuesday. A coalition beside uranium mining set up a camp across from the National Assembly in Quebec City, dispute any potential exploration. The group, Sept Iles Without Uranium, filed a claim for the space across from the regional legislature, in a mock gesture to symbolize how easily a mining company can stake a claim for land.National Assembly hearings this week into a new mining act were the centre of an argument between inhabitants in Sept Iles and exploration companies, who hope to find important ore in the province.
"I think it's very important to have a debate, but discuss based on the facts," said Yvan Loubier, a former Member of Parliament and representative for the Uracan mining company. Uracan's claim is not near Sept Iles, but farther east along the north shore, and there is no plan at present in place for a mine. The coalition Sept Iles Without Uranium said it still insists a suspension is necessary. "We need to have a national debate on if we desire to be part of the nuclear industry, if we want to supply the other countries," said Marc Fafard, spokesperson for the coalition. "We tell the population and decide together." Loubier said he decided that all projects must be accepted by the Quebec population.
"The social suitability for projects is very important, but in our case, for the next eight years we will have only exploration behavior," he said, adding that the ore they have discovered in Quebec so far is not worth mining except the price of uranium jumps. Simard said he promised to give Quebecers with sufficient information about uranium mining before proceeding. "We'll all the needed information to make a good decision," said Simard. Fafard said he's not at ease by Simard's claims. "It's not one minister that can choose for the whole province," he said..
"I think it's very important to have a debate, but discuss based on the facts," said Yvan Loubier, a former Member of Parliament and representative for the Uracan mining company. Uracan's claim is not near Sept Iles, but farther east along the north shore, and there is no plan at present in place for a mine. The coalition Sept Iles Without Uranium said it still insists a suspension is necessary. "We need to have a national debate on if we desire to be part of the nuclear industry, if we want to supply the other countries," said Marc Fafard, spokesperson for the coalition. "We tell the population and decide together." Loubier said he decided that all projects must be accepted by the Quebec population.
"The social suitability for projects is very important, but in our case, for the next eight years we will have only exploration behavior," he said, adding that the ore they have discovered in Quebec so far is not worth mining except the price of uranium jumps. Simard said he promised to give Quebecers with sufficient information about uranium mining before proceeding. "We'll all the needed information to make a good decision," said Simard. Fafard said he's not at ease by Simard's claims. "It's not one minister that can choose for the whole province," he said..
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