As China continues to hold the world hostage to its restrictive rare earths export policies, Canada is moving forward on a promising REE project discussed on RareMetalBlog.com.

The discovery of near-surface mineralization and significant quantities of recoverable rare earth elements (REEs) in 2009 at Quest Rare Minerals’ Strange Lake property on the Quebec-Labrador border has moved from exploratory drilling to development drilling. A feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of 2012, while Quest expects to start-up its pilot plant during the second quarter of 2012.

The project is expected to move forward at a steady pace as the Strange Lake mine is located in a “mining-friendly province that is enthusiastic about how [it] will fit comfortably within its multi-billion dollar Northern Plan, which is all about economic development in the northern part of Quebec,” says Quest’s President and CEO Peter Cashin.  The “Plan Nord” is a coordinated resource-development plan which, according to American Resources expert Gareth Hatch “could have far-reaching consequences for Canada, North America and the rest of the developed world.”

While our Northern neighbors are maximizing their resource potential, mining projects in the U.S. too often remain stuck in a maze of red tape and road blocks.  Isn’t it time we develop a coordinated resource-development strategy “South” of Nord?