Canada Carbon Inc., a graphite exploration company, has filed an appeal against a recent decision by the Commission de Protection du Territoire Agricole du Québec (CPTAQ) that rejected the proposed development of its Miller Graphite Project, located in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge.

The CPTAQ ruling, issued March 18, denied the project on the grounds that it would negatively affect the general interest of preserving agricultural land and activities. Canada Carbon strongly disagrees with this conclusion, stating that it contradicts empirical data and the company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment, which outlines clear economic benefits.

Canada Carbon asserts that the CPTAQ failed to fulfill its mandate to balance mining and agricultural interests where possible. The company maintains that the Commission neglected to consider mitigation measures, which could have minimized potential conflicts. Instead, Canada Carbon says the Commission did not attempt to reconcile project activities with the surrounding land use, nor did it exercise its jurisdiction in accordance with the Mining Act or relevant legal precedent.

The decision also stands in contrast to the Commission’s preliminary positive orientation toward the Miller Project in 2020. At that time, the CPTAQ recognized several favorable conditions, including the site’s poor agricultural soil, steep topography, and high rock content. The Commission also noted the distance of over 3 kilometers to the nearest livestock operation, and acknowledged that the proposed maple bush management plan would ultimately enhance maple syrup production on the site, despite the initial clearing of 23 hectares of young maples.

The CPTAQ had also previously acknowledged that broader environmental concerns—such as water, dust, light, and noise—would be addressed during other stages of the permitting process by different regulatory bodies. Canada Carbon argues that all these factors remain true, particularly after the company revised its application.

Inconsistencies in the Commission’s decision, such as concerns about maple production despite earlier findings to the contrary, raise questions about its validity, the company said.

“This decision undermines the development of critical and strategic mineral projects in Quebec,” said Ellerton J. Castor, CEO of Canada Carbon. “It conflicts with both provincial and federal objectives to fast-track such projects and could harm Quebec’s reputation as a leading mining jurisdiction.”

Canada Carbon has submitted its appeal to the Tribunal Administratif du Québec, expressing confidence that the decision will be overturned. Castor urged the provincial government to take action to preserve investor confidence and align regulatory decisions with Quebec’s economic and environmental goals.