Quebec won't fund Outaouais graphite mine due to local resistance

Two Quebec cabinet ministers say the province will not fund a proposed graphite mine north of Gatineau because it doesn't meet the government'sstandards for local support.

B.C.-based LomikoMetals has been testing samples from its La Loutre site near the town of Duhamel, which the companysays on its project websitehas shown "excellent graphite properties" for making batteries.

Many nearby residentshave been against the proposal for yearsdue toa perceived threat to outdoor recreation and associated businesses. No environmental assessment of the site has been conducted.

La Loutre has drawn funding from the Canadian and American governments for its potential role in the switch from gas to electric vehicles and related drop in fossil fuel emissions, but Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region Mathieu Lacombesaid Monday the project lacks provincial support.

• Why the once 'dirty' mining industry is now touted as key to 'clean' energy

"This is a project that needed government support to come together, and today I'm telling you it does not have it,"Lacombe said in French duringan announcement in Gatineau. Lacombe'sPapineau district includes Duhamel.

"I think this can reassure citizens who don't want this project, which might be a good project, but isn't in a good place."

Project lacks 'social acceptability'

Lacombe pointed toPremier Franois Legault indicating in2022 that no mining project willbe carried out without what's referred to in the province as "social acceptability" essentially, buy-in from affected communities.

Natural Resources MinisterBlanchette Vzinasaid the company's request for funding fromInvestissement Qubecwouldn't be successful because it lacks public support.

Lomiko Metals said in a statement toRadio-Canada on Tuesday it's surprised and disappointed by the decision. The company questionedhow the province could make this move before key studies are completed, and wonderedhow a project that seems to match Quebec's green economy planscould fail to win support.

It's not clear what the companywill do next, or what will happen with a referendum on the project scheduled for November 2025.

• Referendum on Outaouais mine to take place next year

Both Duhamel'smayor and the president of a local anti-mining group say they're relieved to hear of the province's decision.

"For the people I called, I can say there was crying," said Louis Saint-Hilaire of theRegroupement de protection des lacs de la Petite-Nation.

Ottawa Morning8:16Mining expert weighs in on Quebec pulling out of La Loutre mining project

The Quebec Government says it will not fund the La Loutre mining project in the Outaouais. We speak with an expert about yesterdays announcement and what it will mean for the controversial project.