Marianne White
April 27, 2012

QUEBEC — The Quebec government moved Friday to appease concerns from environmentalists that it might be softening its commitment to safeguard 50 per cent of the province's northern territory — a region the size of France — from industrial development.

A group of 16 Canadian and international environmental scientists sent a letter to Quebec Premier Jean Charest Friday to raise concerns over the wording of a bill tabled last week to ensure that half of Quebec territory covered by Plan Nord — an $80-billion, 25-year plan to open up the province's north to development — will be granted environmental protection by 2035.

The scientists say they are "disturbed" the government might be moving away from a commitment made by Charest in February to exclude "all industrial activities from 50 per cent of the area covered by the Plan Nord."

The wording of the legislation states that: "50 per cent of the area is to benefit from measures to protect the environment, maintain biodiversity, enhance the natural heritage and promote the sustainable use of resources."

"We find this substitution, which could be interpreted to include industrial mining, logging and energy projects, to be inconsistent with the commitments of the Plan Nord," the scientists wrote in their letter.

If the province goes ahead with its plan, it would be, according to the government, the largest environmental conservation project on the planet.

Environmental groups have hailed the province's proposal and the signatories of the letter pressed Quebec to clear the air.

"We, therefore, respectfully urge you continue your demonstration of global conservation leadership by correcting this situation to ensure that the Plan Nord will indeed meet its intended goals, and remain worthy of our engagement and our enthusiastic support," the letter said.

The Environment Ministry said Friday Quebec is maintaining its "firm" commitment to safeguard the biodiversity of the area, protect its heritage and not open it up to mining or hydroelectric projects.

Press secretary Sarah Shirley noted the wording of the bill doesn't signify a change of position. She said the bill was written that way because it modifies legislation that apply to all of the province's territory, not just the territory covered by Plan Nord.

"We have nothing to hide and I can assure you that our commitment is firm and enshrined in the law," she said.

Shirley noted the preamble of the bill clearly states the government's commitment to protect 50 per cent of the northern territory.

A part of the region, 20 per cent, will be declared protected areas by 2020 and granted full protection.

The other 30 per cent of the land will be closed to mining and hydroelectric projects, although other development projects deemed to have less impact on the environment, like ecotourism, for instance, will be permitted.

Shirley said the government acknowledged the wording might have caused some concerns and added it is "open" to making changes to render the bill unequivocal at parliamentary hearings in coming weeks.

She also noted that the minister, Pierre Arcand, was set to meet with the group of 16 scientists in Montreal Friday where they are taking part in a symposium on ecological planning for Plan Nord.

mwhite@postmedia.com