The Alliance Muteshekau shipu reiterates that there will be no dam on the Magpie River in Minganie, on the North Shore, following the publication of Hydro-Québec’s new 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.
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In its strategic plan, the government corporation fears an increase in energy needs in Quebec and says it wants to continue evaluating sites with potential for the development of hydroelectric capacity.
“To prepare for this eventuality, we will continue our evaluation, together with the local authorities and the indigenous communities concerned, of the sites which present the best potential for the development of hydroelectric capacity. We will study all possible options, including the raising of existing dams, the development of new structures or the construction of pumping stations, ”we can read in particular in the Hydro-Québec document.
The Magpie River was already on the books of Hydro-Québec for possible exploitation as provided for in its 2009-2013 Strategic Plan, but the project never saw the light of day, given the consensus generated for the protection of its recreational tourism vocation.
“Muteshekau shipu is on our Nitassinan. We are its guardians and we have chosen to protect this river and watch over it, ”said Jean-Charles Piétacho, head of the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, in a press release on Tuesday.
“By recognizing the river as a legal personality last year, we protected the Magpie River with the legal tools at our disposal,” mentioned Luc Noël, prefect of the MRC de Minganie.
“Hydro-Québec must recognize the consensus for the protection of the Magpie River and stop obstructing the creation of a protected area,” added Pier-Olivier Boudreault, director of conservation at the Society for Nature and Parks. (CPAWS) Quebec.