MONTREAL—The Quebec government has unveiled its plan for northern development, slapping a new name on Jean Charest’s cherished Plan Nord project.
The $868-million plan will fund the building of new roads, housing, parks and job training. However, the opposition parties say the Parti Quebecois' plan is missing a crucial main ingredient: private investment
With its new North for everybody plan for northern development, the PQ hopes people and their money will come to Quebec’s vast north and boost its isolated communities. It's a much different plan, they say, than Charest's Plan Nord
“Ours is much better. It takes into account local communities. There's an increase in royalties,” said Quebec Finance Minsiter Nicolas Marceau.
Under the government's new mining royalties plan, announced Monday, all mining companies will have to pay a minimum tax and big earners' profits will be taxed by up to 23 per cent—the highest rate in Canada.
The PQ says it's a fairer system that gives mining companies a stable roadmap for investing.
Under the plan, 226 social housing units will be built in Nunavik for $61 million. It's the only specific project mentioned.
Opposition parties say Pauline Marois’ government is flip-flopping.
“She said during the election campaign that she would get more money from the private sector, but this morning she announced more money from the public sector,” said Coalition Avenir Quebec leader Francois Legault.
For the Liberals, the PQ's northern plan is a pale copy of their own, but without clear environmental guidelines.
“One of the more positive assets of our project was the fact that half of the territory was protected,”
said Liberal opposition chief Jean-Marc Fournier.
The PQ government says it will announce more details of its five-year plan soon, as for private investment, the premier started reading a list of projects on Tuesday in Question Period.
When asked to table the document, she declined.
