BUDGET: AMQ welcomes Quebec budget

QUEBEC CITY – The Association minière du Québec is lauding the province’s latest budget for its support of exploration, infrastructure investment, and push to reduce energy costs. The AMQ has lobbied hard for the government to support the mining industry in anticipation of an economic recovery. Besides continuing tax breaks for mineral exploration investment, the association welcomed the following support.

• Investment in ports and road infrastructure;
• Support for hydrometallurgy research;
• Creation of an electricity rebate and discount to project that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; and
• Support for renewable energy projects in Plan Nord territory.

"The budget may not contain large measures, the items when added to each other send a clear signal that the government hopes will further develop the mining industry in Quebec," said Josée Méthot, president-director general of the AMQ. The association website is at www.AMQ-inc.com.