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McCarthy Tétrault
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Advising Mining Projects in Québec


Québec continues to attract mining investment due to its geological potential, existing infrastructure, and access to capital, while presenting a regulatory and legal environment that requires jurisdiction‑specific execution.

We advise developers, operators, sponsors, strategic investors, and lenders on the full lifecycle of Québec‑based mining projects - from early land positioning through permitting, construction, operations, financings, and exits. Our value lies in practical Québec execution: navigating the province’s civil law, regulatory systems and local decision‑making in a way that protects timelines budget and execution.

Why Québec Risk Matters for Investors and Lenders

For investors and lenders, Québec‑based mining projects present risks that are inherent to how projects are developed and approved in the province, and that require early, jurisdiction‑specific analysis.

  • Permitting drives financing certainty: Québec authorization processes, sequencing, and conditions can directly affect draw schedules, completion tests, and default risk.
  • Regulatory discretion and process matter: outcomes are influenced by how and when issues are presented to Québec ministries and administrative bodies.
  • Local alignment affects timelines and valuation: misalignment on Québec‑specific compliance or stakeholder expectations can create avoidable timing and valuation risk.

Our role is to identify and manage Québec‑specific legal and regulatory risk early, so investment and credit decisions are based on execution reality, not assumption.

What Makes Québec Different and Where We Add Value

Regulatory layering unique to Québec

  • Mining Act and regulations administered by the MRNF (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts).
  • Environmental authorizations and compliance before MELCCFP (Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs).
  • Provincial review processes that differ materially from federal impact assessment and permitting timelines.

Permitting strategy in Québec

  • Aligning permitting roadmaps with construction schedules and financing milestones.
  • Sequencing authorizations to support exploration, phased development, or partial financings.
  • Anticipating Québec‑specific environmental, social, Indigenous and operational constraints that affect project economics.

Local realities that affect execution

  • Northern and remote project development considerations, including access, power, and infrastructure interfaces.
  • Projects in regions with heightened regulatory, environmental, Indigenous or social scrutiny.
  • Québec administrative processes and expectations before courts and tribunals.
  • Québec‑specific Indigenous context, marked by distinct communities, historical claims, and jurisdiction‑specific expectations that influence engagement, regulatory pathways, and dispute resolution.

Integrated Transactional and Project Advice

We work where regulatory, commercial, and financing considerations interplay and address them together.

  • Acquisitions, joint ventures, earn‑ins, and project restructurings involving Québec assets.
  • Project financings, construction financings, and alternative capital structures where permitting risk directly affects timing and certainty.
  • Negotiation of commercial agreements structured to remain viable under Québec regulatory conditions.

Our approach is to identify Québec‑specific legal and regulatory issues early, align them with commercial objectives, and avoid late‑stage re‑papering or delays.

Québec Regulatory and Dispute Experience

  • Frequent interaction with Québec ministries, agencies, and regulators responsible for mining, environment, and natural resources.
  • Representation before Québec courts and administrative bodies arising from project development, operations, and compliance issues.
  • Ability to manage disputes and regulatory processes in French, English, or both - without loss of nuance.

Bilingual, Québec-specific Execution

  • Fluent English and French advocacy, drafting, negotiation, and regulator engagement.
  • Comfort operating in Québec’s professional and regulatory culture - where process, tone, and framing matter.
  • Seamless coordination between Québec‑based counsel and national or international deal teams.

For Québec mining mandates, early legal input often determines execution outcomes. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project and jurisdiction‑specific considerations.