Mr. Barry Hildred reports

AQUILA RESOURCES ISSUED MINE AND AIR PERMITS FOR ITS BACK FORTY PROJECT IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

Aquila Resources Inc. has received two final permits from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for its zinc- and gold-rich Back Forty project. The final non-ferrous metallic mineral mining and Michigan air use permit to install were issued by the Department of Environmental Quality in Michigan following a public comment period that ended on Nov. 3, 2016.

"This milestone is a fitting end to a year where we made considerable progress at Back Forty that included the discovery of a new mineral zone, improvements in our metal recoveries and the strengthening of our local team," said Barry Hildred, chief executive officer of Aquila Resources. "We would like to commend the State of Michigan for its efforts in completing the permitting process in a rigorous and transparent manner. We believe that their decision to grant final permits reflects Michigan's commitment to responsible and sustainable resource development that benefits all stakeholders."

The mine permit application (MPA) included Aquila's plan for mining, management of tailings and waste rock, reclamation, monitoring, contingency plan, and plan for financial assurance. The MPA also contained a detailed environmental impact assessment supported by over two years of baseline studies on environmental and cultural resources. The MPA review process and permit decisions were completed in conformance with Part 632 of Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, which regulates non-ferrous metallic mineral mining in the state of Michigan.

Two additional necessary permits, the national pollution elimination system permit and a permit for wetland impacts, are under consideration.

In 2017, Aquila will focus on completion of its feasibility study, finalization of two remaining permits, expanding its owner's team and closing on financing that will finance the project through to commercial production. Aquila also has plans to do additional exploration targeting a new mineralized zone, as well as better defining the underground resource.

Qualified person

This news release was reviewed and approved by Thomas O. Quigley, vice-president of exploration and senior technical adviser for the Back Forty project. By virtue of his education, experience and professional association, Mr. Quigley is considered a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Information regarding data verification is provided in Aquila's annual information form dated March 30, 2016.

About Aquila Resources

Aquila Resources is a development-stage company with strategic assets in the Great Lakes region. The company's experienced management team is currently focused on advancing permitting activities for its 100-per-cent-owned gold- and zinc-rich Back Forty project in Michigan.

Aquila's flagship Back Forty project is a volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit located along the mineral-rich Penokean volcanic belt in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In its updated preliminary economic assessment filed in September, 2014, Back Forty demonstrated strong economics with a pretax net present value of $282-million ($210.8-million after tax) and a pretax internal rate of return of 38.8 per cent (32 per cent aftertax), based on mining 16.1 million tonnes of measured, indicated and inferred resources over the 16-year life of mine, of which 12.5 million tonnes will be open pit and 3.6 million tonnes will be underground.

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