LAW: Ontario passes new mining act

TORONTO - On May 9, 2017, Ontario passed the Aggregate Resources and Mining Modernization Act. The passage of the Act marks a further step in Ontario’s ongoing overhaul of the rules surrounding resource extraction in the province, which began in 2009. [caption id="attachment_1003718549" align="alignright" width="170"] Changes to the Ontario Mining Act will expand digital staking.[/caption] The Act makes a host of changes to the Mining Act and the Aggregate Resources Act. With respect to the Mining Act, the main change is the introduction of a new electronic mining lands administration system. This system will include electronic claims staking, which will replace the current system of ground and paper staking. The Act also amends the Aggregate Resources Act in ways that generally create greater duties and potential liabilities for extractors of aggregates (such as sand, gravel, clay and bedrock) and greater powers for the Government of Ontario with respect to aggregates extraction. Readers can access the full update on the Norton Rose Fulbright website by clicking here.