QUEBEC CITY - The Quebec government announced Tuesday an additional $55-million investment for the Plan Nord, amid suggestions by the opposition that it is simply a Liberal marketing campaign.
The sweeping plan is aimed at developing the province's untapped natural resources, something Premier Jean Charest calls one of the most ambitious projects in Quebec history, and aimed at bolstering economic development in the province's north.
"(It includes) the building of Route 167, that goes from Chibougamau all the way to the Renard mine site, which will be a diamond mine -- the first diamond mine in Quebec," he said Tuesday at a campaign-style press conference where he made the $55-million announcement.
Most of the new money will invested in on-the-job training projects, he explained, and the rest will be spent on manpower development and job fairs. The aim is to reach out to those seeking work, especially in First Nations communities.
"This is a step in the right direction," said Cree Grand Chief Matthew Coon. "We still need to address issues of housing and social problems that we have, but if they have jobs and if they're trained, they can contribute and be productive members of society."
That's the objective, said Minister of Native Affairs Geoff Kelley.
"We have a very exciting Cree job-skill program that's going on. We have 418 people enrolled already, so we're looking to multiply those kinds of examples," he said.
The opposition, however, warned that Quebecers shouldn't be fooled by smiles and handshakes.
"I think that the Plan Nord is really a PR campaign," said Coalition Avenir Quebec leader Francois Legault.
Like the Parti Quebecois, the CAQ argues the plan will see too much money taken away from Quebec taxpayers and given to foreign companies.
"We think that the Caisse de depot should participate in something like 40 to 49 per cent of the major projects in Quebec in order for Quebecers to benefit from these operations," said Legault.
Charest dismissed that criticism, saying the 25-year plan will create 20,000 jobs per year, a job boom that will benefit Quebecers by keeping the economy afloat.
