The James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment (JBACE)

In accordance with its mandate, the JBACE is strongly involved in many issues raised in the Livre Vert. While the latter does not propose changes to the JBNQA environmental and social assessment and review procedure, proposed changes to the authorization system will impact and/or overlap with the Section 22 regime.

The Crees have witnessed major economic and industrial developments in their territory since the first big hydroelectric projects in the 1970s: mines, roads, forestry (in the southern part of the James Bay region) as well as more hydroelectric projects, such as Eastmain-1A/Rupert in the early 2000s.

The JBACE published a Report of recommendations regarding mineral exploration and the Section 22 assessment and review procedure. These recommendations pertain to the inclusion and exclusion lists. These lists play a major role in environmental assessments because they determine which projects require an impact study.

Uranium exploration projects have raised concerns in several areas across Québec, namely in Mistissini. In 2014, the Québec Government mandated the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) to conduct an inquiry and public consultations on issues related to uranium development.