Charest to release plans for Quebec’s north

LEVIS, Que. – Premier Jean Charest will unveil on Monday the provincial government’s Plan Nord, calling for infrastructure investments in roads, ports and housing to open a vast area of northern Quebec for the development of its natural resources.

The private sector will invest most of the money in mining ventures, forestry and energy projects, while the province will set aside about half the territory as a nature reserve.

Aboriginal people living in the region have expressed skepticism about the plan, which has been short on specifics.

The Plan Nord will cover a territory twice the size of France. The area is rich in gold, copper, iron, nickel and diamond deposits, but has remained largely undeveloped due to its size, lack of infrastructure and inhospitable climate.