The UMQ calls for sustainable forest management

The president of theUMQUnion of Quebec MunicipalitiesDaniel Côté, stopped in Baie-Comeau on Tuesday to present demands related to the forest industry and take the pulse of the region’s main needs.

Daniel Côté (on the left) was in Baie-Comeau to present the UMQ’s demands in anticipation of the provincial elections in the fall. Yves Montigny (on the right) was present to welcome him.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Zoé Bellehumeur

L’UMQUnion of Quebec Municipalities asks Quebec to establish a strategy to revitalize the wood products production industry, to invest in silviculture and to relocate the decision-making positions of the Ministère de la Forêt, de la Faune et des Parcs.

The creation of regional poles on forest biomass to reduce the use of certain fuels as well as the support of municipalities in the deployment of short circuits, for example small local networks, are also requested.

The mayor of Baie-Comeau, Yves Montigny, is the president of the forest committee of the Union of Quebec municipalities (archives).

Photo: Radio-Canada / Benoit Jobin

” This is what is beautiful with the forest, it is that it gardens like our garden. I often say that it gardens like rhubarb, obviously we harvest it, but the beauty is that it grows back. »

The mayor of Baie-Comeau and president of the forest committee ofUMQUnion of Quebec MunicipalitiesYves Montigny, argues that the forest is a major pillar of the region’s economy and vitality.

The forest is a great wealth and we must ensure the sustainability of this collective but renewable resource. We just have to make sure to maintain our garden [la forêt]to have it for a long time, regenerated for future generationsmaintains Yves Montigny.

Lack of housing

Daniel Côté, who is also mayor of Gaspé, will visit the 17 different regions of Quebec to get an overview of the issues to be put forward during the elections in the fall.

He explains that the lack of housing is a problem that affects all municipalities in Quebec.

The mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, is the president of the Union of Quebec Municipalities (archives).

Photo: Radio-Canada / Roxanne Langlois

” There is the shortage of housing on one side, the other side there is the massive increase in the cost of access to property. »

The issue of housing also occupies us everywhere. Almost everywhere in Quebec, there is a housing shortage. Everyone experiences the problem everywherehighlights Daniel Côté.

The president of theUMQUnion of Quebec Municipalities adds that land use planning and transportation issues are also widespread issues in Quebec.

Back to the caribou issue

Last week, the Independent Commission on Woodland and Mountain Caribou was in Baie-Comeau.

Dozens of forestry workers in the region have expressed concern about the survival of their jobs.

For their part, the Innus of Pessamit want to send a formal notice to Quebec so that the Pipmukuan, part of their territory, immediately becomes a protected area, to protect the caribou.

For his part, Yves Montigny says he wants to find common ground. The solution is not in extremes […] we are not herehe explains.

The mayor regrets that the Commission did not consult the Innu beforehand. We should find a way to sit down together to look at this issue, the Innu and non-Innu communitiesstates Mr. Montigny.