David Rouault
Plannord.gouv.qc.ca
PLAN NORD A uniQue
cooperAtive
Model
The approach that led to the development of the Plan Nord is inclusive and based on respect for the communities.
The Plan Nord is the product of input from the Québec and regional governments and First Nations (Cree, Naskapi, Innu) and Inuit representatives who, along with representatives from the economic, social, community, and environmental spheres, have traced a vision for tomorrow’s North.
For more than a year, over 450 individuals worked together to establish new ways of cooperating to make the Plan Nord a reality.
Such a cooperative approach is without precedent.
On November 13, 2009, the Pew Environment Group stated as follows with regard to the Plan Nord Partners’ Discussion Table:
“The consultation process you have created is an ideal alternative to presenting the government plan as a done deal. […] To our knowledge, an initiative of this scope, on a large geographic scale, is a world first.”
The Plan Nord is the outcome of over 60 meetings of sectoral working groups. Through this representative, participatory architecture, the Plan Nord is a model of cooperation.
The discussion tables that were set up will remain active and continue to influence the Plan Nord as it is implemented.
In addition, Société du Plan Nord’s board of directors, which is responsible for implementing the Plan Nord, will be composed of representatives from the regions, aboriginal nations, the private sector, and the gouvernement du Québec.
The cooperative mechanism put in place will make the Plan Nord a model of sustainable development that balances economic and social development and environmental protection.
THE Plan nord:
a uniQuE
cooPEraTivE ModEl
Plan nord deliberaTiVe bodies Plan Nord Ministerial Committee
This committee, composed of 16 ministers, will monitor implementation of the Plan Nord.
Partners’ Discussion Table
This structure is central to the cooperative approach taken during the development of the Plan Nord. The Table met throughout the process to consider issues and challenges related to development of the North.
Aboriginal Partners’ Discussion Table
The role of this table, which comprises representatives of the nations and communities concerned, was to discuss the aboriginal issues specific to the territory in question.
Working groups, steering committee, and support network Made up of representatives from all spheres, the working groups were a source of invaluable information. The support networks were set up to offer expertise to these groups, while the steering committee coordinated the work.
