Côte-Nord Economic Highlights

• The Côte-Nord region has five separate administrative divisions:  Regional Municipality Counties (MRCs) of Haute-Côte-Nord, Manicouagan, Sept-Rivières, Caniapiscau and Minganie/Basse-Côte-Nord.

The two main cities in the region, Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles, have world-class harbour facilities. The port of Sept-Îles ranks second in Canada in terms of quantities handled. Both these ports are open year-round.

Population

• In 2004, the population was 98,861 inhabitants, 1.3% of Quebec's total population which 52% lived in rural territories. The region has nine native communities. These communities represent 8% of the population and reside in eight Aboriginal Reverses belonging to the Montagnais and the Naspakis.

Economic activity

• The Côte-Nord's economic activity is based mainly on the development of its natural resources and, to a lesser extent, on their processing.

The Côte-Nord accounts for 31% of all aluminum produced in Quebec, 28% of mineral production, 27% of electric power, 28% of the fishery catch value and 15% of the province's forest products.

The dependence of the region's economy on large enterprise creates serious challenges in terms of regional economic development, particularly in terms of diversification and local entrepreneurship. The main employers in the region are the mining companies IOC and Québec Cartier, the Alouette and Alcoa aluminum smelters, papermaker Abitibi Consolidated, and Hydro-Québec.

The Minganie and Lower North Shore regions experience important economic difficulties since the beginning in 1993 of rationalization in cod and crab fishing.

• The 11.6% level of unemployment in 2004 was higher than the provincial average (8.5%). Major industrial sites such as the Aluminerie Alouette expansion and the Toulnoustouc generating station are stimulating the regional economy.

The highest levels of employment (about 13,000) are in the mining, forest and aluminum production industries. The fishing industry remains an important sector of activity on the North Shore.

Please refer to thestatistical profile ( PDF / HTM Version) for more information.