Congratulations to M. Luc Blanchette for his Nomination as "Ministre delegue aux Mines et ministre responsable de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Quebec"

ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - April 24, 2014) - The Québec Mineral Exploration Association wishes to congratulate the MP from Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, Mr. Luc Blanchette for his nomination to the « Conseil des Ministres du Québec » as « Ministre délégué aux Mines et ministre responsable de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec ». We offer our collaboration in order for Québec to regain its international status of favourable jurisdiction for the development of our mineral resources.

Québec continues to rely on distinctive advantages such as quality of the work force, superiority and accessibility of the geo-scientific information, as well as the stability of the legal management. However, several challenges await the industry in its future developments. It is of the utmost importance to minimize regulatory uncertainty, to limit the discretionary initiatives of the environmental plan and to assure the validity of our mining rights. We must undertake protective measures and equilibrium to land management, in the northern and the southern areas.

Our exploration and prospecting activities require strategies for the procedures in acquiring geo-scientific information which will take several years and possibly decades, which will in turn lead to viable and beneficial development projects.

Our areas of work remain challenging and financially risky. The SME rely on provincial support to triumph in the global environmental affairs. Theses SME must be able to count on the support of the State to arbiter disputes that arise within our society. To encourage mining entrepreneurship, greater efforts would be required to alleviate the tasks of the government administration and develop a better coordination of government interventions utilizing a 'single window' access.

In order to continue to develop our resources responsibly, our SME require a Minister who understands the complexities of our region and supports the mining industry. On behalf of all the members of our Association, we wish Minister Blanchette the best in his newly-acquired functions and responsibilities.

About Quebec's mining exploration association (QMEA)

QMEA is a professional and industrial association representing stakeholders working in the field of mineral exploration in Quebec. Founded in 1975, the Association's mission is to promote exploration of the mineral resources in Québec and their contribution to the provincial economy. QMEA comprises over 2000 individual members and almost 300 corporate members. It is administered by a 20-member Board of Directors representing the various components of the industry. The Association organizes an annual convention entitled Xplor which brings together the Québec mineral enterprises and will be held at Place Bonaventure in Montreal from October 21 to 23, 2014.