Hydro-Quebec is reviving the dreaded James Bay II project.
At the moment it’s still at the discussion stage and details are sketchy. But we do know the utility’s new plan would divert the Great Whale and Rupert rivers into existing hydro-electric projects through a series of canals. The proposal would reduce the flow of the two rivers to a mere trickle.
The plan was presented to Cree leaders in two secretive meetings last week in Montreal and Quebec City. It’s been 17 months since Premier Jacques Parizeau shelved the original Great Whale proposal after a six-year Cree international protest campaign.
Officials in Whapmagoostui were shocked when they heard talk of the plans at a chiefs’ meeting in Montreal on June 4.
“It will have the same impact as if the river is dammed. It’s going to be very difficult for the people to accept. It may turn out to be another battle for the Cree Nation,” said David Masty, executive director of the Whapmagoostui First Nation.
Asked if Crees could ever agree to the project in exchange for compensation, Masty said, “I think people sent out a very strong message on that already that they don’t want the money, that they want to practice our traditional way of life.”
It seems the project would divert the Great Whale River at its headwater, Lac Bienville. The river’s flow would be greatly reduced downstream. The water would be diverted through over 10 km of canals into the existing La Grande complex.
Also under the plan, the Rupert River would be redirected northwards to the Eastmain and La Grande complexes, at least 20 km away.
The plan could see a large new reservoir near Nemaska. The diversions would leave the mouths of the Great Whale and Rupert filled with salt water. This would deprive Whapmagoostui and Waskaganish of their sources of drinking water.
Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come met with Hydro president Andre Caille to discuss the diversions on June 5 in Montreal. The next day, Resources Minister Guy Chevrette met with Chief Billy Diamond.
Chief Matthew Mukash spoke briefly about the project but said he would have to give his complete reaction later because the community was preoccupied with a tragic accident that took the life of a young man. Mukash said he was not told about the Cree meetings with HQ. “It looks like Hydro-Quebec is trying to make a deal with the Crees,” he said. He hoped no deals would be made behind anyone’s back.
Chief Charles Bobbish of Chisasibi said he was “surprised” when news leaked out about Hydro’s plans. Bobbish would not give his opinion of the new HQ plan: “I would have to hear it from my people first. If my people say go for it, I say go for it.” But he did say there is a lack of information about what is going on. “Nobody seems to tell us what is supposed to happen.”
Hydro spokesman Steve Flanagan said no final decision has been made on whether the plan will go ahead. Studies are continuing. A spokeswoman for Chevrette at first denied knowing about any meetings with the Crees, but later confirmed that two meetings had taken place. She said Hydro can’t go ahead on any project with-out the government’s approval.
