Plan Nord Forum - The North Matters!
Date
May 2 - 3, 2012Place
Hôtel Delta, QuébecAbstract
In May 2011, the Charest government officially launched the Plan Nord, “the worksite of a generation”, a “sustainable development” project that claims to be “exemplary”. That being said, almost a year after its official announcement, several questions remain regarding the real issues and opportunities represented by the Plan Nord for Quebec and the communities directly affected by it.
Initiated by Nature Québec and the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute (FNQLSDI), and organized jointly with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), the Centrale des Syndicats du Québec (CSQ), Quebec Native Women (QNW) and the Canadian Research Chair on Aboriginal Territorial Governance (CRC-TAG), the present forum is intended to debate the issues and opportunities represented by the Plan Nord, in particular the recognition of the rights and interests of the Aboriginal nations, environmental protection, the responsible development of lands and resources (mines, energy, forests, wildlife, etc.), along with the potential short and long-term impacts to the affected communities. The forum also intends to reposition the Plan Nord within the context of the broad social, environmental and economic debates that characterize the world and Quebec today.
Details
With the debate on the Plan Nord in full swing, important organizations of the Quebec civil society and Aboriginals are announcing the forum " The North Matters ! " which will take place May 2 and 3 in Quebec. " Almost a year after the official announcement of the Plan Nord, we wanted to mark the occasion by offering a unique forum that brings together people from the North and the South, Aboriginals and Quebecois, women and men from different backgrounds, all meeting to debate key issues arising from the development of the North and the orientations taken by the Quebec government ", said Christian Simard of Nature Québec, one of the initiators and spokesperson of the forum.
" The forum also aims to make room for the voices that we do not hear enough in the current debate, notably women’s groups, organizations interested in health and education of populations, environmental quality, the concrete challenges that northern communities face, issues concerning labour and other possible models for the long-term sustainable development of communities ", states Michèle Audette, from Quebec Native Women, one of the organizers and spokesperson for the forum.
Bringing together thirty or so speakers for two days, the forum aims (Day 1) to provide a picture of the major issues arising from the development of the North and the orientations proposed by the Quebec government. The second day (Day 2) will be devoted to identifying some possible solutions and other possible visions for the development of the North and its communities.
The forum will also include a free public evening (evening of May 2), during which speakers of the Quebec civil society and Aboriginals will share their point of view and their visions with regards to the Plan Nord and, more broadly, with regards to the future of Quebec and the North.
All presentation and conferences will be simultaneously translated in English and in French. Details concerning the program, the expected guests and speakers, and the costs and registration details are available online at www.forumplannord.com.
The forum registration is mandatory and space is limited: Register now!
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