After presenting the potential of the Quebec mining sector, we return to the activities of small and medium enterprises operating in this sector. There are nearly 350 institutions engaged in the exploration and exploitation of the 27 active mines in the province, particularly in Northern Quebec and the North Shore, but also in Abitibi-Tmiscamingue representing nearly 5, 5% of the area of the Northern Plan. Exploration expenditures were estimated at $ 272 million in 2014 for so-called major companies, $ 174 million for juniors and $ 29 million for public companies.
As noted Valrie Fillion, executive director of the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association in an interview with Chantal Alice Tchandem, funds are sorely lacking these companies for three years.These difficulties extend globally affect mostly junior companies that have experienced a decline of30% of their expenditure between 2013 and 2014.
For exploration work leading to the discovery and exploitation of a mine, companies must indeed manage to find funding going search for investors worldwide. Their success requires the presentation of strong and convincing arguments. They must also and above all be able to face competition from increasingly large firms from other countries that have more incentive legislative frameworks and more attractive to investors.
Ms. Fillion acknowledged salvation and the various support proposals at both the provincial and federal government, but it hopes that these proposals go beyond the level of mere promises to materialize into concrete incentives, which will help small and medium enterprises meet the multiple challenges facing them: including further exploration throughout the territory, undertake work that will allow them to retain their titles of exploration, building infrastructure and conduct consultations and analysis the environmental impacts of projects.
Valrie Fillion wants these companies benefit from the bridge of the mineral exploration in Quebec Congress on 7 and 8 October 2015 to reiterate their concerns to the various levels of government, to acquire new knowledge in order to enhance their competence, but also and especially to network and forge new business partnerships.