René Branchaud, a partner in Lavery’s Montreal office, who practices in the mining and securities groups, discussed the implications of Bill 79 on Quebec’s mining sector with journalist Jim Middlemiss from the National Post and The Gazette.
The amendments would require companies to fund in advance 100% of the closing costs in the first five years of operation. According to Mr. Branchaud, an idea to help miners deal with the financing obligations is the creation of an environmental trust, which Lavery is currently pushing the government to adopt on behalf of mining producers.