The committees on the Plan Nord and the maritime Strategy abolished

Charles Lecavalier

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 00:00

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Tuesday, February 6, 2018 00:00

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The government Couillard has abolished the inter-ministerial committees on the Plan Nord and the maritime Strategy, learned The Newspaper.

These committees, which meet several ministers had mandated the development of northern Québec and the development of the maritime potential of the river and the estuary of the St. Lawrence river.

Created to the return to power of the liberals in 2014, they have been replaced by a committee on the reconciliation of family-work-studies. “The two committees have been created in the framework of restarting the Northern Plan and the start-up of the maritime Strategy. As the two projects run, these committees have become inactive, ” explained Charles Robert, assistant director in charge of relations with the media the office of the prime minister.

Mr. Robert told the Newspaper that the committees are not formally abolished, but, in fact, ” they no longer exist “. No decree, however, was not adopted to eliminate them.

This decision did, however, jump of the regional representatives. “In the area of Havre-Saint-Pierre, the Plan Nord, we do not feel it. I can’t say that it is restarted. We do not see the trace in the Minganie area, ” said Luc noel, prefect of the RCM of Minganie. In the Abitibi, it is the reverse situation : the economy is going well. But it also wants political support.

To Martin Ferron, mayor of Malartic, it is absolutely necessary that the ministers of Immigration, Employment, and municipal Affairs remain involved in the northern development.

“Develop new territories, it takes a lot of coordination between the ministers. It takes an alternative to the committee. It is correct the reboot, but it is necessary to ensure that the development of the regions is a priority. It is necessary that someone put the topic on the agenda “, he notes.

Shortage of labour

He argues that his region is facing a shortage of manpower and even real estate development. “There is no housing available here. One is almost made to open gyms ! There are good opportunities in real estate, but the people of the great city does not see”,-he said.

On the side of the mining Association of Quebec, one also expects a ” rise of the mining industry after a slump of a few years. “The indicators show that everything is better. Gold and nickel are on the rise, the zinc goes well, even the iron is better, ” said Josée Méthot, CEO of the organization.

It is not concerned with the disappearance of the inter-ministerial committee and considers that the Société du Plan Nord will be able to take the relay. His horse of battle is, rather, to “reduce the administrative delays, mainly caused by the ministry of the Environment,” to develop mining projects.

“The government talks about a lot of regulatory relief, but we can’t say it here.”

— With the collaboration of Antoine Robitaille