A forestry agreement signed Monday halts a $180-million Cree lawsuit against the Quebec government. The agreement between the Quebec government and the Grand Council of the Crees calls for co-management of forestry cutting and protection of woodland caribou in northern Quebec.
It establishes more than 9,000 square kilometres in new protected areas where no forestry activity is allowed, to safeguard the woodland caribou.
Québec Premier Philippe Couillard and Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) Matthew Coon Come signed a new partnership and collaboration agreement Wednesday. The Grand Council of the Crees calls it “the Agreement to Resolve the Baril-Moses Forestry Dispute.”
This agreement resolves a dispute and legal proceedings between the Cree Nation and the Government of Québec regarding the application of the “Baril-Moses” forestry standards. It provides for the implementation of these standards in the affected territory until June 30, 2020. For the period after July 1, 2020, Québec and the Cree will work together on possible improvements of these standards.
Québec Timber Changes
The agreement establishes the Broadback River Protected Area as a biodiversity reserve with an area of 9,134 square kilometers.
The Monday agreement:
• Halts a $180-million Cree lawsuit against the Quebec government.
• Establishes more than 9,000 square kilometres in new protected areas where no forestry activity is allowed, to safeguard the woodland caribou.
• Creates a task force of the Crees, Quebec government and the Innu First Nation to work out forestry co-management practices by Dec. 1 in the 7,245-square-kilometre Baril-Moses forest.
• The Crees will inform the Forestry Stewardship Council that the dispute, which led to the suspension of FSC certification for Resolute Forest Products paper sourced in the area, has been settled.