(Montreal) An event organized by the Popular Aboriginal Resistance Front (FRAP) against Bill 97 on the forest regime took place on Saturday noon before the Parliament of Quebec. The organizers require the complete withdrawal of the bill and call on the allochtone population to join them.
The bill brought by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, was strongly criticized by indigenous communities and environmental groups, with the exception of players in the forest industry. The opponents of the PL97 criticize the government for having given carte blanche to the forest industry to exploit the resource.
“We make a bill which is unacceptable, because it will destroy our territory as never before and our territory is already destroyed by the forest industry and, with PL 97, it will just get worse,” explained to the Canadian press on the sidelines of the event, the activist Pekuakamiulnu and coorganizer of the demonstration, Xan Choquet. The population is angry, the indigenous peoples are more and more to mobilize, but it also affects the noders. »»
Xan Choquet assures that “global anger will increase and we will fight against the PL97 as much as you need”.
Saturday’s demonstration also aims to make an awareness of allochthonous people will take place, considering that the bill will also impact them.
“It is a fight that affects everyone and that concerns everyone, because when you fight for the territory, you fight for the future of all,” adds the FRAP activist. It’s not just the natives who go to wood, with this bill, it will be forbidden to go to wood areas, so it affects the whole population. »»
Reacting to the demonstration, Minister Blanchette Vézina argued that Bill 97 “already offers major advances for First Nations”.
Photo Edouard Plante-Fréchette, the press archives
The Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina
“We have already mentioned following the specific consultations that we would have in summer to prepare amendments to improve the bill, in particular with regard to Aboriginal communities,” said the Minister in a text message transmitted to the Canadian press. The modernization of the forest regime is essential in order to ensure the sustainability of the forest sector throughout Quebec and to protect the communities that depend on it. »»
She added that communities need the forest sector “resumes her dynamism so that she can face the many challenges they face. »»
Xan Choquet maintains that the amendments to the bill proposed by the Minister will only be “facade changes”.
“They will go directly [consulter] The tape advice, when they do not have a jurisdiction outside the community, ”he explains.
During a visit to Longueuil in June for an announcement in the aerospace field, the Prime Minister had tried to appease the tensions. He wanted to be clear by explaining that no big change was still planned, and that it was for the moment “adjustment”.
Three similar demonstrations have already taken place in Montreal to request the abandonment of the legislative text. Barricades have also been erected through the province by Aboriginal militants.
With information from Pierre Saint-Arnaud