Waswanipi Chief John Kitchen and the community’s band council have passed a resolution opposing Domtar’s proposed N-822 logging road.à
Domtar has proposed to build a 59-km road cutting through virgin forests in Category II land northwest of Waswanipi.
After strong pressure from community members and council members, Chief John Kitchen agreed to endorse a resolution opposing the road.
Domtar spokeswoman Lise Paradis expressed surprise about the resolution but said she couldn’t comment because no one in the company has heard about it yet. “I am surprised we haven’t heard about it.”
She said construction of the road got under way in early February and has been approved by a Quebec-Cree environmental committee which has a majority of Quebec representatives.
Paradis would not comment on how the resolution might affect the joint Domtar-Waswanipi sawmill project. Some observers suggest the project may be in trouble now that Chief Kitchen and the council have opposed the road.
The road has provoked great concern from community members and trappers worried about overforestation on Cree lands.
