Charest increases protected areas

Quebec Prime Minister Jean Charest announced yesterday he will increase the amount of protected areas in northern Quebec, according to the CBC.

The Plan Nord is a treaty by the provincial government proposed in May 2011. It is a 25-year project aimed at developing the province’s northern lands.

Originally, the Plan Nord was going to protect 12 per cent of northern land. Charest has raised that number to 20 per cent.

Ideally, Charest said he would like 50 per cent of the land to be protected from industrial development.