Invitations
An Invitation from the Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife
I am very pleased to invite you to the 2011 Québec Exploration conference. This year’s Québec mineral exploration industry “must-attend” gathering, whose theme is "From Knowledge to Discovery," will run November 21 to 24.
The mineral resources sector is booming and the effects are being observed in the field with many projects in Québec and elsewhere. They are also making themselves felt in the Québec government, witness the launch of Québec’s Mineral Strategy in 2009 and the recent implementation of the Plan Nord, which places strong emphasis on the sustainable development of our natural resources. Draft legislation on mineral resource development has also been tabled.
Knowledge has become a key factor in this period of transition and growth. Québec has one of the world’s most comprehensive geoscientific databases. In creating the Mining Heritage Fund in 2008, the government enabled the yearly acquisition of geoscientific knowledge to be pursued. This knowledge will continue to pave the way for new discoveries in a territory known for its high mineral potential!
Québec Exploration 2011 invites you to get back to basics. Make this conference an opportunity to learn more about Québec's mineral potential, the latest technologies and the best practices. Many discoveries await you!
I wish you an enjoyable, productive conference!
Serge Simard
Minister for Natural Resources and Wildlife
An Invitation from the AEMQ President
The Québec Mineral Exploration Association (AEMQ) is once again pleased to join Québec’s Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) in presenting this ninth edition of Québec Exploration. This year’s theme – From Knowledge to Discovery – underscores the importance of mineral resource-related research and exploration in our industry. It also emphasizes the significant role played by Québec Exploration’s two partners in the success of the mining industry. Québec is known to be rich in mineral wealth. However, its exploration and renewal present major challenges for industry, the MRNF and the communities involved.
The year 2011 started on a very positive note and the planets seem aligned for another exceptional year of mineral exploration in Québec. Amid rising metal prices, supported by emerging economies, the keen interest for mineral exploration in Québec reflects the enviable reputation we enjoy for our mineral exploration investment climate, along with the stability of our rules and the vast mineral potential lurking beneath Québec’s surface. But our efforts to attract investors must continue, hence the importance of maintaining a favourable business climate.
In this context, we believe that the Plan Nord’s implementation will enable Québec to adopt effective tools and gain international recognition through its innovative approach to territorial development. The AEMQ is proud to take part in the Québec government's plan to shape the province’s future by developing its vast mineral resources in the North. The Plan Nord is an excellent opportunity for the mining industry to help harness and develop this vast territory, while remaining a world leader in mining exploration. It has become evident in the past few years that the future of mining exploration in Québec is gradually shifting north. Boundaries are being pushed back and mineral potential is high. This potential is already being realized with discoveries of gold, uranium, copper, zinc, rare earths, nickel, lithium and diamonds – characteristic features of this vast landscape. In this context, mineral resource exploration is definitely one of the cornerstones of the Plan Nord strategy. The next chapter of our future is being written, and we’re all invited to take part.
Exploration and development activities underway – in Québec in 2011 bode well for our industry’s future and should continue to generate collective long-term wealth for Québécois. We can be very proud of our contribution.
To conclude, I strongly encourage you to take part in the many activities offered during Québec Exploration 2011. I extend a special invitation to all AEMQ members to attend the annual general meeting to be held on Monday, November 21. I hope to see you soon and hear about your 2011 achievements.
Ghislain Poirier
President
Québec Mineral Exploration Association
An Invitation from the Honorary President of Québec Exploration 2011
It is my pleasure as Honorary President of Québec Exploration 2011 to invite you to this event. This important annual activity brings together all those who generate collective wealth for Québec by uncovering what lies subtly hidden within its depths. This represents a huge challenge, since fifteen, twenty even thirty years – if not more – can go by between the early stages of exploration and the first actual mining activities. Contrary to the impression conveyed to the general public, there's many a slip between cup and lip. The current production wave may lead some to think that a mine can be picked like a strawberry in the field, and that any first-comer can stake a claim. This denotes a pernicious lack of knowledge for a resource-rich country.
Behind this long gestation period, from the preliminary stages of exploration to the first ingot, lies considerable financial risk for both government and the private sector. The first step in this long process begins with the acquisition of geoscientific knowledge. It is this valuable information that attracts the world’s mine creators. Québec stands out in this regard for the quantity and especially the quality of information stored in its geoscientific database. This enormous undertaking, long promoted by the government, has just shifted into high gear with an extensive survey campaign. It is both a lot and yet too little for such a vast territory. This will be evident during the conference presentations.
This knowledge is critical to identifying viable mineral resources, but it is not enough. A prospector is needed to do the detective work. Marks left by known deposits have to be identified in order to assess a mine’s potential. The vast database must be scrutinized to decipher the underlying message. A substantial amount of capital must then be risked – yes, risked – out in the taiga, searching for a small bog under which may lie tons of gold, iron, tungsten and other rare earths.
This conference is for all those with a passion for this quest. My heart goes out to these brave pioneers, whose sustained and patient efforts – over hill and dale, in snow or rain, between clouds of mosquitoes and black flies, smothered in insect-repellent or frozen to the core, in mud-soaked workings and drilling sites – create wealth that all Québécois enjoy, and will continue to enjoy, both in the South and in the North. May this conference serve as a forum for all who rely on their labour, often without knowing it.
Michel Gauthier
Professor Emeritus, Mineral Exploration
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
