Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Showcase Minerals Inc. is advancing its Pontiac Project, a 3,461-hectare uranium and rare
earth exploration site near Fort Coulonge, but questions remain on whether the company has
the legal standing to proceed. While Showcase Minerals has promoted the project as a potential
source of critical minerals for clean energy and technology, neither local officials nor the Quebec
government have received formal communication from the company regarding its plans.

The Pontiac Project is in a region where mining activity is under growing scrutiny. While some
parts of Pontiac are designated as territories incompatible with mining activities (TIAMs),
restricting development, these protections do not cover the entire area. “The TIAMs that are
currently temporary do not apply to the entire MRC Pontiac,” said Jason Durand, Director of
Land Use Planning and Environment for the MRC Pontiac. He added that the Ministère des
Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF), secteur Mines, is still able to grant mining claims
in areas outside these restricted zones.

The MRNF informed the Pontiac Journal that the company does not have official exploration
permits in the province’s Registre des droits miniers, réels et immobiliers du Québec. Instead,
the company has an option agreement to acquire 100% ownership of the project from Afzaal
Pirzada of Geomap Exploration Inc. Quebec law requires mining companies to obtain
government authorization before conducting exploration activities that could impact the
environment, and the MRNF confirmed that Showcase Minerals has not submitted a request for
such authorization.

Recent legislative changes have also added complexity. Bill 36, which took effect in November
2024, prohibits mining on private lands, though claims active or requested before May 28, 2024,
remain valid. Additionally, starting in May 2025, companies with exploration rights must notify
local municipalities and Indigenous communities at least 30 days before beginning any work.
Uranium exploration is subject to even stricter oversight. Mining companies must report any
uranium discovery exceeding 0.1% concentration and undergo a Bureau d’audiences publiques
sur l’environnement (BAPE) review before receiving approval for extraction.

MRC officials say they have not been contacted by Showcase Minerals regarding its operations,
despite the company’s ongoing exploration efforts. “We have had no communication with them
about their claims,” said Jason Durand, Director of Land Use Planning and Environment, adding
that with numerous government-issued claims under different names, “it is nearly impossible for
the MRC to monitor all prospecting activities.” While Quebec law does not require mining
companies to inform municipalities about exploration on Crown land, the MRC Pontiac has
previously passed a resolution requesting voluntary disclosure. “If they’re on Crown land, they
don’t have to tell anyone,” Durand explained. “Some have [informed us], and some haven’t. It’s
a bit disappointing.”​

This lack of communication is even more significant given that the MRC Pontiac formally
requested in June 2023 to be consulted before any mining exploration or development within its
territory. The resolution, adopted unanimously by the MRC’s Regional Council of Mayors,
emphasized that while mining claims exist across the region, the local government expects to
be informed as part of legal consultation procedures.

Despite the uncertainty, MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller does not believe there is cause for
alarm. “Right now, I would say there’s no cause for any kind of concern,” she stated. She noted
that while mining companies frequently make announcements about projects, many struggle to
secure the necessary investment to proceed beyond early-stage exploration.

However, she also pointed out the potential economic benefits of mining if a project were to
move forward under the right conditions. “Currently, we have a number of people who are
trained as miners, and they are established and raising their families here, but they have to
travel to jobs outside the region,” Toller said. “Someday, if we did have a project in an area that
was not protected, it could mean economic development for Pontiac, and it could mean these
miners could work closer to home.”

Showcase Minerals has publicly stated that it is preparing for a second phase of exploration,
including further sampling and trenching. However, the company has not responded to multiple
requests for comment regarding its legal standing, compliance with Quebec’s mining
regulations, or plans to engage local authorities.