Plan Nord: Quebec First Nations Groups Left In The Shadows …‎ – Forbes

8/31/2012By Alex Létourneau of Kitco News

(Kitco News) – QuebecÂ’s First Nations Groups feel they are dealing with deaf ears when it comes to the provinceÂ’s Plan Nord project – a focal point in the provinceÂ’s upcoming election.

Current Liberal party leader Jean Charest is banking on the Plan Nord project to seek re-election on Sept. 4. Launched during his third term in office, the ambitious, 25-year, $80-billion economic program to develop natural resources in the provinceÂ’s north is designed to be CharestÂ’s swan song.

But much of the Liberal partyÂ’s Plan Nord project revolves around First Nation groups. Without them on board, the giant mining project could not come to fruition. The groups own much of the land in northern Quebec and without their blessing, mining companies as well as provincial government have no right to mine their mineral rich land.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kitconews/2012/08/31/plan-nord-quebec-first-nations-groups-left-in-the-shadows-during-provincial-elections/read more