TORONTO - Changes to Ontario's Mining Act aimed at addressing conflicts between prospectors and private landowners have been approved by the legislature.
The upgrades to the act were passed by a vote of 57 to 31.
Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle announced the changes in April, saying the legislation would modernize the way companies stake claims so they are more respectful of landowners and the environment.
The act will also make Ontario the first province to recognize aboriginal and treaty rights in its Mining Act, and to include a dispute-resolution process for First Nations issues.
The legislation stops short, however, of giving aboriginal communities a share of mining revenues.
Under the new rules, miners would also be required to take training so they know their obligations, and the mining industry will have clear rules about how to reduce the impact of mineral exploration on the environment.
