Exploration Rights
The exclusive exploration right (EER) is the only valid exploration right in Québec. The EER gives the holder an exclusive right to search for mineral substances in the public domain, except for sand, gravel, clay and other loose deposits, on the land subjected to the claim.
An EER can be obtained by map designation.
The first term of an EER is three years. It can then be renewed for two-year periods, provided that the claim holder meets the conditions stipulated in the Mining Act, including the carrying out of exploration work, the nature and amount of which is established by regulation.
The only acceptable method of submitting a notice of map designation for an EER is via GESTIM 
.
The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts has implemented the “Electronic Registrar” to automate the process of analyzing and registering map-designated EERs.
Authorization for impact-causing exploration work
The Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts has introduced a new authorization that must be obtained before carrying out impact-causing exploration work. The new authorization was added to the Act on April 12, 2022, and came into force on May 6, 2024. The purpose of the new authorization, known as the ATI authorization, is to ensure that the concerns of neighbouring local municipalities and Indigenous communities are taken into consideration while fostering a predictable framework conducive to mining development investments and providing for better control over the impact on their living environment from impact-causing exploration work. The ATI is based on a desire for transparency and harmonious conciliation of different land uses. It also allows the Department to impose conditions and obligations for work to be done on the land covered by the EER, so that the concerns about proposed mining exploration activities expressed by local municipalities and Indigenous communications are taken into consideration.
Thus, impact-causing exploration work must now be subject to authorization before being carried out. To do so, the EER holder must complete the Application for authorization of impact-causing exploration work (ATI) 
form before performing this work. For more information, please consult the Promoter’s Guide for Authorization of Impact-Causing Exploration Work 
and the pamphlet on ATI (in French only).
The MRNF provides report templates to the proponents for the discussion with the local municipality (in French only) or Indigenous community (in French only) to record questions, requests and comments received, as well as responses.
Annual work planning
EER holders are now required to provide annual work planning to representatives of any local municipality located in the area of the land subject to the right, and, if applicable, to representatives of any Indigenous nation or community concerned, at least 30 days before the commencement of exploration work beginning on or after May 30, 2025, including airborne geophysical surveys. This obligation is extended annually as long as the work continues. The work planning must be submitted in the form provided by the Minister and accompanied by the required documents.
In addition, at the request of the representative of the local municipality or Indigenous community concerned, the EER holder must hold an information session on the annual planning of the work.
The EER holder must post the annual work planning on their website and, if applicable, a report of the information session. This report should be prepared using the following template provided by the MRNF: NF: Information session summary .
Video: Mineral exploration