The Quebec government has announced a significant investment of $59.5 million to implement projects aimed at protecting caribou populations that have been heavily impacted by human activity. The government will also begin regional consultations in Charlevoix and Gaspésie as part of this initiative.
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault had been expecting the Legault government to present its caribou protection strategy by May 1. If the strategy is not tabled by then, the file could potentially fall back into the hands of the federal government.
Instead of unveiling a national strategy, Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette opted for what he described as “major” and “historic” measures targeted at specific regions. However, during a news conference in Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, he provided few details about these measures.
The investment of nearly $60 million includes funds for monitoring and managing the caribou population, as well as habitat restoration. The government plans to split the total amount equitably between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests.
While some environmental organizations have welcomed the investment and regional projects, they have expressed concerns about the delay in revealing a comprehensive caribou protection strategy. Nature Québec warned that Quebec’s approach could lead to federal intervention and criticized the government for not fulfilling its promise of a caribou strategy after five years.
The declining caribou population in Quebec has been attributed to logging activities, which destroy habitat and facilitate the movement of natural predators like bears and wolves. The government’s efforts to protect and restore caribou populations in specific regions aim to address these threats and contribute to the recovery of these iconic species.