Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Expropriation of Private Property for Mining - Policy Trumped by Law

The West Quebec Coalition Against Mining Uranium (WQ-CAMU) has been assured by the Government of Quebec, upon pointed enquiry, that expropriation for mining purposes has not occurred in Quebec for at least the last twenty years.


Furthermore, the Government of Quebec has assured WQ-CAMU that it's policy is to respect the wishes of land owners if a mining company intends to violate private property rights. Property owners have the option to refuse consent to mineral exploration and development on their land according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife.


WQ-CAMU explicitly asked the Quebec Government to put their policy into law and protect private land owners. The Government refused, saying there was no need.


Today's forcible eviction of Ken Masse in the Malarctic Region of West Quebec flies in the face of these assurances by the Government of Quebec.


Mr. Masse was removed from his home today by police clearing the way for a mining company to dig a huge open pit mine under his house.


WQ-CAMU has been concerned about the fragile state of government policy in the face of Quebec mining laws that contain the threat of expropriation.


Unfortunately it's concerns have been well founded.


More on the Ken Masse story here:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100809/national/gold_mine_holdout

and here:

at

WQ-CAMU / COQCEU

We are a community group that works to protect our human, environmental, and economic health from the risks associated with uranium. Our goal is to obtain a permanent moratorium on uranium exploration, mining, and processing in MRC du Pontiac and MRC des Collines de l'Outaouais. To meet this goal our group advocates, educates, and builds coalitions.

Nous sommes un groupe communautaire travaillant à la protection de la santé humaine, environnementale et économique des risques associés à l'uranium. Notre objectif principal est d'obtenir un moratoire à long terme sur l'exploration et l'exploitation d'uranium dans la MRC du Pontiac et dans la MRC des Collines de l'Outaouais. Afin d'y parvenir, notre groupe défend, éduque et bâtit des coalitions.

More information: wq-camu@know-uranium.org



Notice

©2007-10 no-uranium.blogspot.com (except where other sources are indicated).

Please note we try to ensure the content on this blog is accurate. The opinions expressed here are our own unless indicated otherwise. We operate on the principle that anyone reading or using the information on this blog, or acting upon it, does so entirely of their own free will. We do not advocate violence nor countenance breaking the law.

Content on this site may be linked to, forwarded, quoted, printed, copied and distributed only for purposes consistent with opposing uranium exploration and mining in West Quebec and the Ottawa River watershed.

Source: http://no-uranium.blogspot.com/
Contact: wq-camu@know-uranium.org

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does. -- Margaret Mead (1901-1978)