THE Plan nord:

(1)

IOC Mining Company

Plannord.gouv.qc.ca

PLAN NORD developing

the vASt MinerAl

potentiAl

(2)

Québec is rich in mineral resources and is already a known mineral force, ranking among the top ten producers worldwide. Over 34,000 jobs are related to the mining sector, including 10,000 in the Plan Nord area.

Northern Québec has abundant metals and produces all of Québec’s nickel, cobalt, platinum group metals, zinc, iron ore, and ilmenite, and accounts for a significant portion of gold production. Lithium, vanadium, and rare-earth metals, used increasingly in numerous fields related to energy, transportation, and high technology, are also found there. In addition, the territory has high potential for uranium and diamonds.

There are already at least 11 new projects that could be launched in the coming years in the Plan Nord area. The development of these projects would ultimately generate $8.24 billion in investments and create 11,000 jobs during the construction phase, then nearly 4,000 jobs a year once they are in operation.

Despite all the major projects underway, Northern Québec’s mineral resource potential is far from being fully established. In fact only 40% of the mineral potential has been identified. For example, north of Schefferville, the Labrador Trough, a vast 60,000 km² area that extends to Ungava Bay, contains sizeable quantities of iron, copper, zinc, and nickel. Development opportunities are also very promising in the James Bay/Eeyou Istchee area, Nunavik, and Côte-Nord.

faVorable business enVironMenT

According to the Fraser Institute, Québec is among the five most attractive places in the world for mining investments. The province offers a modern and competitive legislative, regulatory, and tax framework whose objective is to develop mineral potential while obtaining a fair return on the development of natural resources.

THE Plan nord:

dEvEloPing THE vaST MinEral PoTEnTial

Québec offers a favorable business environment in a number of regards:

n It provides a reliable, clean, and renewable energy supply at very competitive prices owing to abundant hydroelectric resources.

n The government corporation Hydro-Québec will support the Plan Nord by building and operating hydroelectric power plants not linked to its network to meet the energy needs of specific industrial projects.

n Québec is internationally recognized for its skilled labor force and solid training and research network. In the next five years, the government will invest $80 million in labor force training as part of the implementation of the Plan Nord.

n Québec has an internationally recognized geoscience database built over the course of more than a hundred years that is available free of charge online.

n The Plan Nord area features strategic infrastructure, including four deepwater ports. The gouvernement du Québec plans to develop a network integrating various modes of transportation to facilitate access to the area.

n Investissement Québec, the government’s economic and financial arm, will help investors implement their projects. This public corporation will be able to negotiate equity participation in industrial projects.

Plan nord PrioriTies in The Mining seCTor

Continuing and stepping up research to evaluate mineral potential and training the labor force are some of the key ways of promoting formative growth in the mining sector.

The government will prioritize development of transportation infrastructure to provide access to areas with the greatest economic development potential.

for More inforMaTion mrnf.gouv.qc.ca plannord.gouv.qc.ca

Baie d'Hudson

Golfe du Saint-Laurent Détroit d'Hudson

Baie James

Baie d'Ungava

Océan Atlantique Mer du Labrador

Fleuve Saint-Laurent

Ontario

Nouvelle- Écosse Nouveau-

Brunswick Nunavut

États-Unis

Terre-Neuve- et-Labrador

Île-du-Prince- Édouard

Tracé de 1927 du Conseil privé (non définitif) (non

du

Conseil

définitif

)1927

Tracéde

privé

Quaqtaq

Nemaska

Kuujjuaq Salluit

Eastmain

Matagami Chisasibi

Sept-Îles Puvirnituq

Natashquan Chibougamau

Kuujjuarapik

Blanc-Sablon

Havre- Saint-Pierre

FOSSE LABRADORDU

Schefferville

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Mineral Potential

Mineral resources Active mine Mine under development 2010-2011 exploration project

Active mining exploration title (October 2010)

Area covered by the Plan Nord Sources

Borders

Interprovincial border International border (non-definitive)

Québec – Newfoundland and Labrador border

Data Territorial divisions Mining data

Organization Year MRNFMRNF 2010 2010

0 200 km

Production

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune Direction générale adjointe de l'information géographique Note : This document has no legal standing.

0 200 km

Mineral resources Active mine

Mine under development 2010-2011 exploration project

Active mining exploration title (October 2010) Area covered by the Plan Nord

Sources Borders

Interprovincial border International border (non-definitive)

Québec – Newfoundland and Labrador border

Data Territorial divisions Mining data

Organization Year MRNFMRNF 2010 2010

Production

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune Direction générale adjointe de l'information géographique Note: This document has no legal standing.