Chapter 6 Quebec
Physical Geography
South
-the heartland of Quebec lies in the St Lawrence Lowlands
-offers natural advantages; arable land, key waterways, large population
-the economic and cultural core; Montreal and Quebec City
Appalachian Uplands
-northern extension of the Appalachian Mountains; Gaspe Peninsula
-along southern and eastern edges of the St Lawrence Valley
North
-shield occupies ¾ of Quebec’s territory
Industrial Activities in Quebec
Agriculture (St Lawrence lowland area)
-seigniorial lot systems (long lots) characterize landscape
Mining (Canadian Shield)
-gold, copper (Noranda, Val d’or), iron (Schefferville-closed)
Forestry (Canadian Shield)
-pulp/paper milling is significant (Saguenay, Trios Rivieres, Erstie, etc)
Tourism
-francophone atmosphere, natural beauty, historic past
Hydro-Electricity (Northern Quebec)
-has the most sites in Canada; Hydro-Quebec: Crown corporation
Manufacturing
-massive restructuring; economic marginalization of Montreal/Quebec due to
continentalization; not growing like the west
Water Resources
Why so much hydro-electric power in Quebec
1) heavy annual precipitation
2) high elevation of the Canadian Shield
As a Crown corporation, Hydro-Quebec controls electricity in the province
Hydro-Quebec has been successful at gamering huge power supplies (economic strength)
through various projects
Quebec has attracted companies into southern Quebec by offering them cheap power
Two Hydro-Quebec Projects
Manicouagan (1960s)-successful (lots of power; electricity transmitted from remote locations
to southern markets)
James Bay Project (LaGrande, Great Whale, Nottaway river basins, plus smaller rivers)
-announced in 1971 by Robert Bourassa
-lots of power generated but at a cost to fish and prime wildlife habitats, social impact on
Cree’s hunting and trapping lifestyle
-project involves an area about 1/5 the size of Quebec Aboriginal/Non-aboriginal Faultlines
Inuit and Cree Litigation re: James Bay Project
-the north seemed to be at the mercy of economic and social objectives of the Quebec
government expansion of hydro-electric development, mining, etc
-the Inuit and Cree took the Quebec government to court to stop the development
-outcome was the James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement 1975
James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
th
-a $90 million settlement surrendered Inuit title to land above the 55 parallel in Northern
Quebec
-Inuit would keep exclusive rights to use of 3000 km
-there would be Katavik School Board to run schools, Katavik Health and Social Services to
manage health, etc. Nunivak is the name given to the area
-the agreement gave power to Inuit and it gave resource access for the south. It ended an era of
federal government control
-there have been some dissident communities
-Cree have expressed dissatisfaction; lack of consult
Income Security Program for Cree Trappers and Hunters
-arose out of the James Bay Agreement
-offers a means of supporting traditional lifestyle of Cree hunters and trappers in the form of
guaranteed income rather than social assistance
-government pay a cash income plus allowance to Cree each day spent on the land (120 days
minimum)
-mak
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