Since 1963 provincial and federal governments have invested large sums of money to improve the economic situation in the Gaspésie et Bas St-Laurent regions. These investments have sought to diminish the economic disparities between these regions and the rest of the province. After 10 years of research, planning and development, the results obtained are quite different from those expected. The population continues to decrease, the rate of unemployment remains almost at the same level and the economic disparities between the regions have increased. The experience appears to have been more profitable to the planners and developers than to the people of the region. The citizens have organised themselves into various committees (« comités de citoyens ») in order to express their disatisfaction and to bring pressure to bear upon the governments. Many lessons can be drawn from this planning experience. These lessons will hopefully point out the best ways of improving the socio-economic situation of these regions.