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16/ 11 / 2008
The Northern Plan’s mining component: 4000 new jobs in the mining sector over the next 10 years
The Northern Plan’s mining component: 4000 new jobs in the mining sector over the next 10 years
Val-d’Or, November 16, 2008 – On this 12th day of the election campaign, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, unveiled the third part of his Northern Plan: the mining component. A Liberal government is committed to creating 4000 new jobs in the mining sector within the next 10 years by enhancing its support for exploration and adapting work-force training to the realities of mining industries. These determining factors will contribute to the opening of new mines in Quebec’s North.
Northern Quebec has undiscovered mining potential. The budget allowance for Géologie Québec, a major player in mining exploration in Quebec, will therefore be increased from $7 million to $12 million annually. This substantial increase will enable the mapping of this immense area within a shorter time span; new geological information will be gathered, and sites of economic interest in the North will be identified.
Exploration is a crucial element in the development of the mining sector. To shelter exploration work from economic cycles, last June the Liberal government established the Mining Heritage Fund. In the wake of this decision, a Liberal government will double the fund’s budget allowance. This measure, amounting to $20 million per year for the next 10 years, will ensure the funding of ongoing exploration efforts and innovative Quebec exploration organizations such as the Société québécoise d’exploration minière.
The most significant challenge in this sector is work-force training. To address it, the Quebec Liberal Party will establish the Institut national des mines in Val-d’Or. The role of the institute will be to coordinate work-force training among the various stakeholders in the mining sector.
“Establishing the Institut national des mines in Val-d’Or will confirm the key position of this region in Quebec’s mining sector. In fact, the first mineral deposit discovery in Quebec took place in Abitibi-Témiscamingue 300 years ago. Since that time, the mining industry in this region has continued to expand and develop. We will make Abitibi-Témiscamingue the springboard for northern mining development,” said Jean Charest.
The announcement of this mining component, following the energy and environment announcements this past Friday and Saturday, concludes the Northern Plan presentation. “All Quebecers will benefit from the development of the Northern Plan’s three components. The investments, the creation of jobs and the economic spin-offs will enable us to protect our social interests and enrich Quebec for future generations,” concluded the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.
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Northern Quebec has undiscovered mining potential. The budget allowance for Géologie Québec, a major player in mining exploration in Quebec, will therefore be increased from $7 million to $12 million annually. This substantial increase will enable the mapping of this immense area within a shorter time span; new geological information will be gathered, and sites of economic interest in the North will be identified.
Exploration is a crucial element in the development of the mining sector. To shelter exploration work from economic cycles, last June the Liberal government established the Mining Heritage Fund. In the wake of this decision, a Liberal government will double the fund’s budget allowance. This measure, amounting to $20 million per year for the next 10 years, will ensure the funding of ongoing exploration efforts and innovative Quebec exploration organizations such as the Société québécoise d’exploration minière.
The most significant challenge in this sector is work-force training. To address it, the Quebec Liberal Party will establish the Institut national des mines in Val-d’Or. The role of the institute will be to coordinate work-force training among the various stakeholders in the mining sector.
“Establishing the Institut national des mines in Val-d’Or will confirm the key position of this region in Quebec’s mining sector. In fact, the first mineral deposit discovery in Quebec took place in Abitibi-Témiscamingue 300 years ago. Since that time, the mining industry in this region has continued to expand and develop. We will make Abitibi-Témiscamingue the springboard for northern mining development,” said Jean Charest.
The announcement of this mining component, following the energy and environment announcements this past Friday and Saturday, concludes the Northern Plan presentation. “All Quebecers will benefit from the development of the Northern Plan’s three components. The investments, the creation of jobs and the economic spin-offs will enable us to protect our social interests and enrich Quebec for future generations,” concluded the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party.
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