Massive Quebec hydro project faces native opposition

Canadian Press
Jan 11, 2007
Globe & Mail

Montreal — Quebec Premier Jean Charest announced the start of construction Thursday for the province's biggest hydroelectric project in a decade, the $5-billion Eastmain -1-A in northern Quebec.

But what would have been a ground-breaking ceremony were it held up north in James Bay turned into a news conference in Montreal after rumours that Cree opponents to the plan were going to protest.

“It's very disappointing,” said Chief Abraham Rupert of Chisasibi, one of three Cree communities opposed to the plan.

“We're feeling we haven't been listened to; we haven't been given a chance to speak.”

Mr. Rupert said his group proposed a wind energy project that would have averted the flooding of about 400 square kilometres of land.

The five-year project, originally announced several years ago, includes two dams to be built on the Rupert River in James Bay, deep within Cree territory in northern Quebec.

Three of nine Cree communities are opposed to the deal but Mr. Charest stood by the decision to approve the project.

“We continue to listen,” he said. “We're not insensitive to what is being expressed but it's important to remember that every individual, everyone who wanted to speak to this project in the environmental assessment process, had the opportunity to speak up.”

The premier said that 58 per cent of eligible Cree voted in a 2002 referendum on the project and voted 78 per cent in favour of the Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle dams.

“We'll continue to listen but we've now respected our word and we've done what we said we would do, and now we feel comfortable that this project can go forward,” Mr. Charest told reporters.

Mr. Charest said hydroelectricity is an economic development tool for Quebec that will benefit all of its citizens, including the Cree.

Construction of the dams will be completed between 2009 and 2012 and will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Chief Matthew Mukash of the Grand Council of the Crees, lent his support to the project but admitted he did so with some sadness.

“I know that a lot of Cree people are concerned today and it's probably a very sad day for a lot of people. It's a sad day for me,” he said.

Mr. Mukash said the project will have a major impact on the traditional Cree way of life.

“When you lose something, when you lose a loved one, you go through a phase of grief. But in the end there's always light at the end of the tunnel.”