$ 8 Million in Copper One: the government Couillard wanted to avoid a rise in violence

Photo Simon Clark
“The financial arrangement is vastly preferable to prosecution by both sides to try to resolve this situation”, explained the president of the treasury Board, Pierre Arcand.

QMI agency

Tuesday, 20 march 2018 17:52

UPDATE
Tuesday, 20 march 2018 17:54

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QUEBEC | gouvernement Couillard has purchased the mining rights of the Copper One to avoid having to deal with “acts of potential violence” that could “threaten the safety” of the citizens of the algonquin community of Lac-Barrier and workers of the mining company.

• READ ALSO: Quebec pays$ 8 Million for a pile of rocks

Our Bureau of investigation revealed on Tuesday that Québec has provided $ 8 million in Copper One to buy its mineral rights on a land of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, while the latter were worth only approximately $800,000.

As the potential deposit is located in territory claimed by aboriginal peoples, the Algonquins of Lac-Barrier opposed to the mining exploration and threatened to draw up a dam to prevent the Copper One to continue its activities.

Questioned in the house by the spokesman of the parti québecois in the field of natural resources, Sylvain Rochon, the government Couillard argued that it was the wisest decision under the circumstances.

“The financial arrangement is vastly preferable to prosecution by both sides to try to resolve this situation”, explained the president of the treasury Board, Pierre Arcand.

For his part, the minister responsible for native Affairs, Geoffrey Kelley, said that Quebec was paid by the company because the existence of these mineral rights was hindering the negotiations between the government and the aboriginal community.

“We have requested that the ministry of Energy and natural Resources [decreed] a moratorium which allows the government to continue discussions that would bring electricity into the community, which will support a form of economic development that she sorely needs,” said minister Kelley.

The opposition wonders

The opposition parties in Quebec have questioned the decision of the government Couillard to hand over such a sum to the mining.

“How is it that the government of Québec has once again stretched our money [to pay] so much more than what would have been legitimate, which is given to be compensated?” lamented the spokesperson of Québec solidaire, Manon Massé.

For his part, the leader of the Coalition avenir Québec, François Legault, believes that the situation “seems disturbing” and raises “questions that were very legitimate to ask the government,” Couillard.