Fightback against Charest's "Plan Nord"

While a little over-dressed for a marathon, the team in the yellow vests manages to stay a few steps ahead of the pack.

If you have a Facebook account:  (copy and paste into your Facebook search box)

Manifestation contre le Plan Nord

Réseau de Résistance du Québécois

and two groups I've been with since the beginning:

Sept-Îles Sans URANIUM

Alliance Romaine

when I was in Montreal in November there were full-page ads in La Presse supporting Plan Nord, signed by Matthew Coon-Come....

what is that about? have some Cree embraced the project?

Quote:

[b]Resist Plan Nord[/b]

Information for Potential Employees

 

[b]So you’re thinking of finding work in projects that are part of the Plan Nord?[/b]

Before you do, there are some facts you should know, and some ethical questions you should ask yourself.There has been substantial opposition to Plan Nord, especially by indigenous Innu communities in the north-east of Quebec. They are demanding that the government recognize their rights to self-determination on the land, which has never been ceded to the Quebec or Canadian governments, or covered by any treaties. On Innu territory, Plan Nord is a violent imposition of development projects on stolen indigenous land. 

 

[b]Innu communities are protesting the imposition of mega-projects on their territory, which threaten traditional fishing and hunting.[/b]

The Innu community of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam has expressed clear opposition to Hydro-Quebec’s proposed damming of Romaine River. They have voted in two referendums against electric lines for the project passing through their territory, and recently blockaded roads to prevent the construction trucks from getting through. The government responded by sending in riot police and arresting protesters, many of whom were women and elders. Opposition is widespread. There has been strong opposition to Uranium mining in the Côte-Nord region and across Quebec. The risk of radioactive contamination of water is so serious, that dozens of the doctors in the town of Sept-Îles threatened to resign if uranium mining exploration were not immediately stopped. 

 

[b]More than forty Innu women having been walking for three weeks from their communites to Montreal, to protest Plan Nord projects on their territory.[/b]

As one of the women, Selena Grégoire, recently explained why they’re doing the protest walk. “If the Plan Nord goes through, we’re finished. It will damage our territory. I’m doing this for my children, so they don’t lose our way of life, so they can go out and hunt in the forest when they’re older. We have to protest so they recognize our rights.” 

 

[b]Ethical questions to ask yourself before working for the Plan Nord.[/b] 

Does the project you’re working on have the active consent or support of the indigenous people of that land? Are you aware of Quebec’s ongoing history of colonization of indigenous peoples, including in the north? Will your work have any benefits for the people who live in the region, or is it mainly in the interest of corporate shareholders?

 

[b]This isn’t just a job.[/b]

[b]This is colonization and ecological destruction.[/b]

[b]Your participation is complicity.[/b]

Haven't seen this mentioned on babble yet - major environmental rally in Montreal tomorrow.

LINK

Freedom 55]</p> <p>[quote wrote:

[b]Resist Plan Nord[/b]

Information for Potential Employees

Good stuff - where's the link?

Boom Boom wrote:

Good stuff - where's the link?

I don't know of a link that would work. A friend of mine posted as a 'note' on Facebook, but I don't think it can be viewed unless you're also his FB 'friend'. It's the text from leaflets that were handed-out at the Plan Nord job fair.

more:

"I am pleased to announce today, on behalf of the Cree Nation that I support and endorse the Premier's announcement of the Plan Nord.." Matthew Coon Come

http://gcc.ca/newsarticle.php?id=243

Gazette:  Montreal organizers hope 100,000 join march

Le rôle de la police est-il d'assurer l'ordre ou de provoquer ?

Les quelque 200 militantes et militants de la CSN qui ont participé ce midi à la manifestation étudiante qui s'est déroulée dans le secteur du Palais des congrès de Montréal témoignent de la force brutale et disproportionnée utilisée envers les manifestants, mais encore plus du rôle provocateur joué par les forces policières.

« La manifestation a été pacifique jusqu'à ce qu'un policier, sans raison, décide d'asperger un jeune avec des gaz lacrymogènes. Du coup, ils ont sorti l'artillerie lourde et s'en sont pris violemment aux manifestants pour les faire reculer, les tabassant à coups de matraque même s'ils reculaient sans résistance. Le comportement des forces policières n'a été que provocation », de déclarer Jean Trudelle, président de la FNEEQ-CSN.

« Pendant la manifestation, alors que le président du Syndicat des chargé-es de cours de l'Université du Québec à Montréal tentait d'aider un étudiant qui gisait sur le sol à se relever, un policier l'a empoigné et projeté violemment sur une voiture. Plusieurs autres manifestants ont été poivrés même s'ils ne faisaient que manifester dans le calme », de souligner Gaétan Châteauneuf, président du Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain.

« Alors que le gouvernement aurait dû s'asseoir avec toutes les associations étudiantes depuis le début de la semaine et résoudre le conflit, il a plutôt décidé de créer de toute pièce une crise encore plus importante en faisant dévier le débat sur la violence. Son comportement des derniers jours est non seulement irresponsable, mais scandaleux. Nous sommes loin de penser qu'il œuvre à apaiser les tensions. Au contraire, il les attise. Sa blague totalement déplacée envers les manifestants démontre un mépris indigne d'un chef d'État. Personne d'autre que le premier ministre ne peut rétablir le dialogue, il a le devoir de s'en rappeler », de dire le président de la CSN, Louis Roy.

Non à la gratuité minière, oui à la gratuité scolaire
Rappelons qu'un des slogans des étudiants aujourd'hui était « Non à la gratuité minière, oui à la gratuité scolaire ». Les militantes et les militants de la CSN ont manifesté aujourd'hui en appui aux étudiants, mais aussi pour joindre leurs voix à celles des gens qui contestent les ressources faramineuses qui sont consacrées au Plan Nord, alors que le gouvernement libéral choisit de refiler de plus en plus la facture des études supérieures aux étudiantes, aux étudiants et à leurs familles. Pour la CSN, l'éducation devrait être une priorité nationale.

La CSN, fondée en 1921, regroupe 300 000 membres répartis dans les secteurs public et privé.

http://www.csn.qc.ca/web/csn/communique/-/ap/Comm20-04-12b?p_p_state=max...

From a HuffPost link: "...And what about mining royalties? Quebec is extremely well endowed with raw materials and natural resources, but are citizens getting a fair share of that wealth? In 2011, MiningWatch Canada and Québec meilleure ...mine observed that the province "still ranks near the bottom of the heap in the collection of mineral royalties," and that it "was only paid $114 million on revenues of over $5.6 billion." It is no coincidence that only a couple of months after Premier Jean Charest went on his province-wide dog and pony show to sell off Québec's immense northern riches, through his Plan Nord, students went on strike over plans to raise tuition fees."

As far as I can see, Plan Nord continues Charest's practice of giving away the store.

Plan Nord actually has supporters here on the Lower North Shore of Quebec because there exists a belief that it will bring development and jobs to an impoverished region - not to mention a road connecting us to the mainland.

Route 138 from Kegaska to Natashquan is almost a reality - it is a gravel road with temporary bridges that are to be replaced this summer, and a bridge spanning the Natashquan River is supposed to be completed by the end of this year.

ETA: Completion of that bridge now moved up to October 2013 - if by then.

A road connecting all of the Lower North Shore to the Quebec mainland has been promised since about 1945. I had no idea that Plan Nord had anything to do with the current Kegaska - Natashquan road, but friends inform me that without Plan Nord, there would be no road.

I don't know what industry Plan Nord has for the Lower North Shore other than hydro-electricity. Mining - maybe.

I don't know where people are getting their information from - there exists a belief that other good things are coming here as a result of Plan Nord.

an obvious suggestion is that perhaps they don't really 'disagree with'? Perhaps the NDP is like the green slime compradors?

I think our local MP  (NDP) joined the protests aginst Plan Nord, but I'll have to check.

I wonder why this is RCMP jurisdiction? Federal funding? Because an Indigenous corporation is involved? I do hope this investigation doesn't get lost in squabbles over which police force has jurisdiction... Yes, it certainly has all the hallmarks of corruption stories (Québec and other) - that bit of road should have been built by now, while respecting the need to protect the river and the salmon run.

Folks in my community - including me - are really pissed off at how long it's taking to get Route 138 finished, especially the bridge over the Natashquan River. Now there's this:

Côte-Nord : enquête réclamée sur les contrats de prolongement de la route 138

Google translation:

The member for Manicouagan, Jonathan Genest-Jourdain calling for an investigation to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on contracts for the extension of Highway 138 Lower North Shore.

The NDP questioned the use of funds allocated for the extension of the 138 Lower North Shore. He denounced the slow progress of work on the road for five years.

"There already looks that turn to the Basse-Côte-Nord, because we do not speak of" spare change "(small change) if you will pardon the expression. Talking about amounts of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars since 2007 for the extension of Highway 138, "says NDP MP.

Corporation Pakatan Meshkenau slammed

The member for Manicouagan, Jonathan Genest-Jourdain Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, who is also a lawyer, believes that an investigation is required to shed light on the contracts awarded to the Corporation Pakatan Meshkenau.

"Some names often date back to the surface in those documents and that they are law firms that are close to the government that was in place until recently. These are donor of a power of the former power in Quebec and they are names of people who were close to that time, who were candidates for a particular party, "adds it.

Such an investigation could slow work in progress, including the construction of the bridge over the Grand River Natashquan first step to connect the Lower North Shore to the rest of Quebec.

Innu protesters prevents further work for four weeks. They denounced the contract with the former band council.

"This type of light then prevailing. If we really want to work the extension of Highway 138, it must do so with clarity and truly ensure that the funds that have been invested, arrive at the final destination, "said the MP.

The President of the Corporation Pakatan Meshkenau, Randy Jones Mayor Gros Mécatina and President of the Corporation Pakatan Meshkenau, Randy Jones, rejects questioning the member for Manicouagan.

"What? I saw that in his statement, he does not speak of Pakatan. I find it quite odd that a Corporation can discuss it never came to meet. There was no communication with him at my municipality, it is the same thing, "retorted Randy Jones.

Randy Jones, the RCMP has no jurisdiction over the Ministère des Transports du Québec.

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More: NATASHQUAN BRIDGE: GENEST-JOURDAIN CALLS FOR CORPORATE VEIL TO BE LIFTED

edited:

There's two sides to every story, and it appears too early to draw any conclusions from either of these two links. Apparently there will be an innvestigation - or maybe not. Who knows?

Yes, Genest-Jourdain and I have emailed once or twice. However,  I didn't see his press release until late last night - and I was completely stunned - this is all news to me. Apparently I'm the last here to know these things. That goes with retirement, I guess.  

ETA: just did a Google - and MSN.ca, Yahoo! and Sympatico are carrying the CBC/Radio Canada news article about this story, so it is now across Canada.