Local governments appeal for Quebec's assistance
In the picturesque Petite Nation region of Quebec, small municipalities are grappling with a common challenge: securing support from the provincial government to organise referendums against mining projects. This struggle stems from the administrative and political structure of local governance in Quebec, which concentrates powers at a supralocal level, limiting the autonomy and resources of individual small municipalities.
Following municipal reorganisations in 2000–06, certain powers traditionally held by municipalities were transferred to urban agglomerations, especially concerning matters that cross local boundaries or require significant administrative capacity. As a result, smaller municipalities within an agglomeration often do not have full control over decisions and administrative actions such as referendums related to large-scale projects like mining. Their local authorities have limited competences compared to the central municipality and the agglomeration authority.
This structural issue is further compounded by the political dynamics in Quebec, where parties and government bodies balance various economic and environmental priorities, and political support for referendums against industrial projects may not be uniformly strong or forthcoming at provincial levels.
Julie Reid-Forget, former vice-president of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE), expressed concern about the powerlessness of municipalities, particularly those against mines. She believes that the governance framework surrounding mining projects mainly favours municipalities that are favourable to this industry on their territory.
The five municipalities of Petite Nation have requested, unsuccessfully, help from the Quebec government to organise their referendums against Lomiko's project. David Pharand, the mayor of Duhamel, and his colleagues from other villages pleaded for the creation of a support fund for municipalities. Their requests, however, have yet to be met.
Rodrigue Turgeon, spokesperson for Quebec meilleure mine, is shocked by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests (MRNF)'s response. He states that if citizens vote against a mine in their region, the MRNF might argue they lacked information to make a decision, but they refused to answer questions during consultation sessions.
David Pharand also stated that there is an imbalance between companies with many means and small municipalities. He provides an example of services offered by the MRNF for promoting social acceptability of mining projects, which he believes further exacerbates this imbalance.
Alain Poirier, general director of the Association for Mineral Exploration of Quebec (AEMQ), is not surprised by the MRNF's refusal to aid municipalities. He states that the Quebec government delivers mining titles, approves projects, collects royalties, taxes, and income, suggesting they should get involved earlier in the process.
The struggle of small municipalities in the Petite Nation region to organise referendums against mining projects is a complex issue, rooted in the administrative and political structure of local governance, the political-economical considerations at the provincial government level, and the imbalance of resources between companies and municipalities. As the debate continues, it is hoped that solutions will be found to ensure fair representation and support for all parties involved.
[1] Source: Various reports and news articles [2] Source: Interviews with local officials and experts in the field
- The political dynamics in Quebec, including the balancing of economic and environmental priorities, have contributed to the difficulty of small municipalities like those in Petite Nation in securing support from the provincial government to organize referendums against mining projects, given the potential lack of uniform political support for such actions at the provincial level.
- The struggle of small municipalities in Petite Nation to organize referendums against mining projects also stems from the environmental arena, as the governance framework surrounding mining projects seems to favor municipalities that are supportive of the mining industry, potentially leaving those against it at a disadvantage.
