Canada Carbon is appealing CPTAQ rejection of Miller mining project

Updated February 8, 2018.

The Municipal Council of Grenville-sur-la-Rouge (GSLR) issued a press release on January 29 stating that the Carbon Canada mining project’s analysis was rejected by the Commission for the Protection on of Agricultural Land (CPTAQ).

In a February 8, 2018 press release, Canada Carbon has confirmed that it in the process of appealing the CPTAQ decision.

Known as the Miller project, the proposed initiative involves open-pit mining and a marble quarry on a .29 square-kilometre area for between 10 to 15 years. It has been stated earlier that the project could employ 50 to 100 people.

According to Éliane Brunet of the CPTAQ, the project was not compatible with existing municipal bylaws. In the press release, the council states that it will “continue to work closely with MiningWatch Canada and other local and governmental bodies in the interests of both the citizens and the Municipality.”

Alliance of Citizens, the group under Tom Arnold’s leadership that won the election last year, effectively replacing all the members of the past council, were convinced that the Certificates of Compliance to the CPTAQ submitted by the past council concerning the Miller Mine Project were in direct conflict with existing planning bylaws.

According to a press release from Canada Carbon sent on February 8, the CPTAQ should not have closed or suspended the files since the “motion for the issuance of a safeguard order aimed at forcing the GSLR Municipality to withdraw the certificates of conformity filed with the CPTAQ in connection with the Miller Project was heard by the Superior Court on June 9, 2017 and was dismissed on the bench by the Tribunal, with costs.”

The press release also states that “Section 246 of Quebec’s Land Use Planning and Development Act specifically exempts mining operations from the scope of municipal zoning and other land use by-laws. The Courts have confirmed that graphite mines are not subject to municipal zoning and land use by-laws therefore the by-law dispute with the GSLR should be irrelevant to the CPTAQ.”