Unveiled in May 2011, Québec premier Jean Charest called Plan Nord “the project of a generation”, and its no secret that he fixed his hopes of re election to its success. Plan Nord is the centerpiece of Charest's political legacy, such as it
is, now that he has been defeated at the polls, in no small measure by
thousands of university students protesting tuition hikes.
The 'Northern Plan' is a twenty five year, $88 billion dollar scheme for developing the economic and social future of a region rich in natural resources.
Northern Quebec comprises the 72% of the province which lies north of the 49th parallel. It’s home to 120,000 people, including 33,000 indigenous people living within four Aboriginal nations. Mining, energy production, and logging are the three main industries which the government is seeking to develop in Northern Quebec.
Alfredo Malanca describes Plan Nord as a forward looking stimulus to foster over C$80 billion in energy, mining, and forestry investments and create or consolidate 20,000 jobs a year, for twenty five years.
According to Malanca, when it was first announced, Plan Nord received the full support of the mining industry, the Crees and Inuit representatives were also onboard, but Innus and most environmentalists were not thrilled to see the plans or any development of the 'natural resources extraction sector' in the part of Quebec north of the 49th parallel.
Plan Nord is, more than anything else, a giant appeal for corporate investment. It has been on the drawing board since the previous Quebec election. There are no guarantees that it will work.
Other highlights of the project include,
• 3,500 megawatts of renewable energy: 3,000MW of hydroelectricity, 300MW of wind power; 200MW from underwater generators.
• 11 new mining projects and more than $8.24 billion in private mining investment.
• The network of protected areas will be completed by 2015 to encompass 12 percent of the territory that the Plan Nord covers. New provincial parks will be constructed.
• Hydro-Québec will also contribute $10 million a year to fund social projects.
• Facilitate the development of agricultural production, processing and distribution of food in order to offer local supplies. Develop a diversified, much sought-after bio-food industry (blueberries, cloudberries, northern marine species, etc.)
• Build 840 new housing units will be built in Nunavik, including 300 public housing units, and renovate 482 by 2014.
• Develop access and transportation and communications infrastructure.
INVESTING
The provincial government has been using a few different mechanisms to encourage international companies to invest in Quebec. They have charged Investissement Québec to promote Plan Nord in its foreign investment prospecting activities in the US, China and Japan and Europe.
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