LEVIS - Premier Jean Charest unveiled a massive $80 billion, 25-year plan for northern Quebec on Monday, but there were already signs of protest with a key First Nations leader boycotting the announcement.

The Quebec government's long-awaited Plan Nord – or Northern Plan – will focus on mining, hydroelectric development, eco-tourism, and infrastructure projects.

The plan, which is laid out in five year increments, is a cornerstone of the Charest government's platform and is designed to encourage private investment in the mineral-rich area.

"On the political level, this is one of the best moments of my life," Charest told a news conference, where he described the effort as a partnership between the Cree nation, the Inuit and all Quebecers. "This is one of the reasons I got involved in politics."

The government estimates it will create thousands of jobs and generate billions in revenue. Royalties and tax revenue will be put towards paying off the debt.

There are already signs, however, that the plan won't be without controversy.

Ghislain Picard, the chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, wasn't in attendance Monday when Charest unveiled his plans.

Picard is refusing to take part in a process he alleges does not adequately meet the expectations of all concerned First Nations.

"I mean we're still waiting for a call from Mr. Charest," Picard said. "We met with him back in 2003 when he was first elected, we signed an agreement whereby the government of Quebec had committed itself to engage in discussions on land and resources. Eight years later, we still have nothing concrete to present."

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador represents 43 chiefs.

Massive territory largely inaccessible

The territory in question is huge, covering 1.2 million square kilometers and two-thirds of Quebec, including Nunavik, James Bay, and the areas north of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

The region is nearly twice the size of France, yet remains undeveloped and largely inaccessible.

Besides eventually generating $14 billion for provincial coffers and creating an expected 20,000 jobs, the plan seeks to exploit mineral deposits in the area such as iron, nickel, copper and diamonds.

The plan foresees 11 new mining projects during the next few years which, the government says, would generate $8.2 billion in investments and create 11,000 jobs during the construction phase alone.

An initial $2.1 billion will be spent by Quebec on infrastructure such as roads and airports as well as feasibility studies.

The roads would be to such areas as mining sites and would be a rare addition to the region -- where communities are isolated from one another, and air travel is commonly required for things like medical care and grocery deliveries.

A study will also be conducted on the possibility of constructing a deep-water port on Hudson Bay, at Kuujjuarapik.

Renewable energy and protected land

The development plan is expected to generate about 3,000 megawatts of renewable hydroelectric energy for the province.

Besides energy, the northern plan also sets aside a vast territory that would be exempt from industrial development.

"One of the important parts of all of this obviously is the protection of our environment," Charest said.

"Fifty per cent of this territory will be protected from industrial development, which is extremely significant. That in itself represents a territory that is the equivalent of the land mass of France and it gives us a scope of what's involved in the extraordinary potential of northern Quebec."

The conservation efforts will include the planting of 100 million trees to ensure the reforestation of the area.

The region covers about 1.2 million square kilometres and includes Nunavik and James Bay.

Coupling of conservation and economic development lauded

Mathew Jacobson, manager of the Pew Environment Group's International Boreal Conservation Campaign in Quebec, praised Charest and said he had announced "the largest land conservation policy in history."

"It seeks to balance conservation with development in a region that is home to some of the world's largest remaining intact landscapes," Jacobson said in a statement.

"We are pleased that the government has pledged to include ecological planning in its legislation and to protect at least half of the boreal region from industrial activity.

"Quebec's vision of integrating economic development and conservation on such a grand scale is unprecedented, laudable and very complicated."

The mining industry also lauded the plan and the Quebec mining association said its members are keen to exploit the natural resources of the vast territory.

"We see that the Quebec government wants to stimulate, wants to participate in this development," said Andre Lavoie, an association spokesman.

He said China and other emerging countries are ready markets and that the province will benefit from increased royalties for its efforts. He acknowledged one of the biggest challenges will be recruiting skilled workers to go to the remote area.

He said while locals will be employed, workers could also be drawn from Colombian and Romanian immigrants who have experience.

Not everyone was pleased.

Christian Simard, a spokesman for the Nature Quebec environmentalist group, feared there is no plan to spread the economic benefits to the region itself.

"These companies will come in, exploit the wealth and exit quickly," he said.