Faced with the refusal of Quebec to review the heart of its reform of the forest regime, the First Nations slam the door of the consultation table set up in the hope of bringing the two parties closer.
“This decision reflects our firm position: without concrete recognition of our rights and without real will to co-construction, this is an approach that we cannot endorse,” said the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (APNQL) in a letter published on Tuesday.
This so -called “high -place” consultation table had been set up following parliamentary consultations on Bill 97.
Presented by the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, last April, the legislative play aims to reform the way in which forests are managed in Quebec.
Photo Edouard Plante-Fréchette, the press archives
Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Minister of Natural Resources and Forests
The APNQL, which represents the 43 indigenous communities of the two provinces of which it bears the name, had then denounced an “act of dispossession of our land”.
The bill introduces the concept of triad, which promises 30 % of the Quebec forest to industry in order to make this share more productive while sparing the rest of the territory.
The First Nations, however, demanded the “complete withdrawal” of the bill of this priority zoning concept, which they deem “incompatible” with their rights.
Refusal of dialogue
The APNQL at the same time demanded respect for ancestral rights and those from treaties, as well as the establishment of a real co -management of forests, from governments to government “.
These conditions represented “the minimum conditions of compliance with the law, and the essential foundations of a credible process”, according to her.
However, Quebec would have opposed him an end of inadmissibility, especially on the concept of triad. “This refusal of dialogue on such a central issue reveals in a blatant way an absence of real political will to open the way to collaboration,” denounces the APNQL.
However, this refusal is not new in itself. In June, the Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, had promised “important amendments” to the bill.
Photo Edouard Plante-Fréchette, the press archives
Ian Lafrenière, Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit
But he had quickly been reframed by the Prime Minister, François Legault, who said that “there are no big changes which, for the moment, are planned, but adjustments”.
The cabinet of Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina said on Monday that she wanted to “continue the work in good faith” and invite the APNQL to return to the table of discussions.
“The APNQL has submitted several requests and we also submitted several concrete proposals to the APNQL and all the communities in order to improve the PL97,” it is continued. We want to continue the discussions in order to work together in the sustainable development of the forest and to ensure economic benefits for all communities. »»
Other blockade?
The fact remains that the withdrawal of the APNQL from discussions increases the tension of a notch.
It was not a light decision. We were at the table with a real desire to co -construct, but we cannot sit at a table that does not lead anywhere.
Flemish Sipi, head of the Manawan Atikamekw Council
The APNQL will wait to see if the Legault government will react by making changes to its bill, but we are already expecting to have a campaign to convince Quebecers to unite against this reform.
“There is a dialogue that must be done, but it must be done with Quebecers, so that there are social changes,” said Flemish Sipi Chef.
Already, forest blockade takes place on the territory, including in Lac-Saint-Jean, but the Atikamekw chef does not encourage these kinds of demonstrations, at least, not for the moment. “We are not returned there,” he says.
