Northern Quebec Economic Highlights

Territory

• The surface area of Northern Quebec is approximately 718,200 km², 55% of the Quebec territory.

The region comprises two sub-regions: James Bay, between parallels 49 and 55, and Nunavik which extends between parallel 55 and the northern limit of Quebec.

Population

• The population is 39,892 inhabitants (2004), 0.53% of Quebec’s total population.

Employment

• In 2004, the unemployment rate in the North Shore and Northern Quebec was 11.6%, as opposed to 11.3% in 2003. The mass entry of young people into the labour market is a serious issue for each of the three communities of Northern Quebec.

Northern Quebec’s economic bases:

• Northern Quebec accounts for 16% of Quebec’s forest area and ranks second in terms of harvesting area after the Côte Nord. It is characterized by mature trees over 90 years old. Enterprises divide up over 70% of the forest harvest. There are few secondary processing activities in the region. Five sawmills and one pulp and paper mill constitute the basis of the region’s industrial structure.

The settlement of a sawmill, resulting from a partnership between the Waswanipi Cree community and Domtar, is an example of the interest Aboriginal communities have in becoming more involved in the development of forest resources.

Mining activities in Northern Quebec are divided among three distinct sub-regions: Chapais-Chibougamau to the east, Matagami-Quévillon to the west and Ungava to the north. Gold, copper, nickel and silver mining accounted for 20% of the total mineral resources extracted in Quebec in 2000.

That same year, the region received $275 million in mining investment and provided 1,873 direct mining jobs. The recent discovery of vanadium and diamonds north of Chibougamau rekindled expectations for the region.

The Cree community

• The Cree number about 13,700 (in 2004) and live in nine communities, five along the shores of James Bay and Hudson Bay and four in the hinterland, between the 49^th and 52^nd parallels.

Cree jobs (80%) are in public or private tertiary sector activities (public and parapublic administration, trade and accommodations). Secondary activities, construction, communications and transportation account for 20% of jobs.

An agreement signed in February 2002 between the Government of Quebec and the Cree concerns the establishment of a new relationship between the two nations and provides for greater empowerment for the Cree regarding their economic and community development. The signatories of the agreement give priority to the construction of major hydroelectric development projects in James Bay and the harmonization of forest activities with traditional Cree activities. In terms of the economy, the purpose of the agreement is to have the Cree take responsibility for implementation of Quebec’s commitments related to economic development as stipulated in Chapter 28 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA).

The Inuit community

• In 2004, the Inuit population is estimated at about 10,200 inhabitants, spread out among 15 villages in Nunavik, five of which border on James Bay, two on Hudson Strait and the eight others on Ungava Bay.
  
  

  Over 70% of Inuit employment is concentrated in the public sector (administration, education, health, public safety), while Inuit private enterprise accounts for 30% of jobs. In Nunavik, the private sector consists largely of local co-operatives, the Makivik Corporation and its subsidiaries (Air Inuit and First Air) and mining (the Raglan Mine).

The James Bay community

• The non-aboriginal population of the James Bay region numbers about 16,000 (in 2004). These people represent the most recent ethnic group to settle in Northern Quebec, with the development of forestry, mining and hydroelectric energy in the 1930s and ‘40s. The completion of the large-scale construction projects and mine closings triggered successive waves of migration.

At present, tertiary activities account for 57% of jobs, 18% of which are in public administration and 39% in private activities (trade, transportation, business services).

Mining and forestry development form the James Bay region’s current economic base. Low job creation remains a major cause of the population exodus.

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