Quebec minister refuses uranium ban

Quebec’s government has rejected calls for a moratorium on uranium exploration in the province. “It’s out of the question,” said Quebec’s Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife, Serge Simard, as reported in the Montreal Gazette. “It would be risky to impose a moratorium all over Quebec and it would have very negative impacts on companies.”

As hearings began this month regarding Bill 79, which will amend Quebec’s mining legislation, protesters built a mock mining camp outside of the National Assembly and filed a claim for resources beneath the legislature. The group, which included residents of Septles, Que., called for the moratorium until further study of the dangers of uranium mining is conducted.

The Quebec Mining Association and the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association have applauded the minister’s stance against a moratorium. “Industry representatives deplore the erroneous information circulating about the uranium industry,” the organizations stated in a joint press release.