Northern Quebec: One plan, three regions, nine challenges
Northern Quebec is a complex and relatively unknown geographic environment. The adoption in 2011 of the Plan Nord by the Government of Quebec led to renewed interest in this singular territory, despite the vagaries of the project. This article is intended to provide an overview of the major issues and challenges affecting Quebec’s “North.” At the theoretical level, we identify a middle ground between, on the one hand, the traditional approach favouring state intervention and, on the other hand, the approach advocating the empowerment of the northern Indigenous populations in planning and achieving self-reliance. This is done through a review of the literature and a reflection on the role of public policies in social, economic and territorial development. Nine major themes or challenges will be addressed in order to contextualize and guide the discussion.