The Opemican Announcement

Creation of the national park of Opémican: a key project that opens up economic opportunities while protecting a unique ecosystem

Notre-Dame-du-Nord, March 21, 2013 ‐ it is with a palpable joy that the MRC de Témiscamingue and the Société de développement du Témiscamingue welcomed this morning the official announcement of establishment of the national park of Opémican.

The presence of the Premier of Quebec, Ms. Pauline Marois, and the Minister of sustainable development, the environment, wildlife and of the parks (MDDEFP), Mr. Yves-François Blanchet, demonstrates the importance of this announcement.

"Establishment of this national park approaches date back to 2002. After more than 10 years of studies, briefings, meetings and consultation, we can finally move forward with this key-project"says Arnaud Warolin, warden of the MRC de Témiscamingue.

"This decision is important both for sustainable development and tourism development in the region. We will now organize ourselves to maximize the economic benefits of this project by helping private and collective enterprises so that they grasp the new opportunities offered by this decision of the Government of Quebec,"adds Karen Lachapelle, President of the Société de développement du Témiscamingue.

During these years, the MRC and the AWW worked together with the Opémican Corporation, tourism Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the regional Conference of elected officials to mobilize the local population to the importance of this project. The "Opémican Generation" campaign led to rally the forces of the environment and generate a craze of the population around the project. We would also like to thank the team of the MDDEFP for the constance parks and the quality of their work.

 

taken from 

 

http://www.mrctemiscamingue.qc.ca/upload/mrctemiscamingue/editor/asset/Op%C3%A9mican/Communiqu%C3%A9%20MRC-SDT_21mars2013%20%283%29.pdf