Jean-Pierre Huard
Plannord.gouv.qc.ca
PLAN NORD A Model
SuStAinAble
developMent
project
Hydro-Québec
THE Plan nord:
a ModEl SuSTainablE dEvEloPMEnT ProjEcT
The Plan Nord is to be a model of modern, sustainable, and harmonious development. It will make it possible to develop Northern Québec’s natural resources while respecting the environment and its ecosystems and benefiting the people of the North and all Quebecers.
This is a megaproject because of the vastness of the territory—over 1.2 million km2, two-thirds of Québec’s total land mass—and the diversity of the population that lives on it. The gouvernement du Québec has emphasized an inclusive approach in developing this major project.
The Plan Nord is the product of input from the Québec and regional governments and First Nations and Inuit representatives who, along with representatives from the economic, social, community, and environmental spheres, have traced a vision for tomorrow’s North.
The Plan Nord’s vision as jointly developed can be expressed as follows:
The Vision of The Plan nord
The Plan Nord must be an exemplary sustainable development project that integrates energy, mining, forest, bio-food, tourism, and transportation development, the development of wildlife, environmental protection, and the preservation of biodiversity. It will foster development for the benefit of the communities concerned and Québec overall, in a spirit of respect for cultures and identities.
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eConoMiC deVeloPMenT
On the economic level, the Plan Nord aims to tap the area’s enormous potential in the following sectors:
n Energy and mineral resources
n Forest and wildlife resources
n Tourism
n Biofood production soCial deVeloPMenT
On the social level, the Plan Nord aims to improve the living conditions of northern populations. It will include numerous initiatives to improve:
n Education and training
n Health and social services
n Housing
The many resident cultures and their dissemination are central, both in Québec, the rest of Canada, and internationally.
enVironMenTal ProTeCTion
In the area of environmental protection, the Plan Nord will be a model undertaking.
n 50% of the area will be reserved for non-industrial purposes such as environmental and biodiversity protection.
n The gouvernement du Québec will establish a network of protected areas equivalent to at least 12% of the Plan Nord area by 2015.
The Plan Nord spans 25 years and involves investments of over
$80 billion, creating or consolidating an average of 20,000 jobs a year. An initial action plan (2011–2016) introduces the government’s priorities and financial framework.
Successful implementation of the Plan Nord depends on the ability of stakeholders to work together. For this reason, the gouvernement du Québec has created Société du Plan Nord, to be tasked with coordinating projects under the first five-year action plan. The Corporation will coordinate public investment in strategic transportation and telecommunications infrastructure to facilitate access to this vast and majestic land.
Marc Tremblay
