The Alliance Muteshekau shipu reiterates that there will be no dam on the Magpie River in Minganie as advocated by Hydro-Québec in its new 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.
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The government corporation’s plan anticipates an increase in energy needs in Quebec and continues to assess sites with potential for the development of hydroelectric capacity.
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,” Jean-Charles Piétacho, head of the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, said in a statement 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-Quebec 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 SNAP Quebec.