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Three Quebec Cree communities vote against hydro plan to diver Rupert River |
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Friday, 01 December 2006 |
Canadian Press
NEMASKA, Que. (CP) _ The residents of three Cree communities in northern Quebec have voted against a project that will divert the Rupert River to construct the Eastmain 1-A hydoelectric project.
Opposition ranged between 73 and 91.5 per cent in Nemaska, Waskaganish and Chisasibi, the chiefs of the communities said in a news release.
Earlier in the week, Chiefs Josie Jimiken, Robert Weitsche and Abraham Rupert accused the Quebec government of breaching its commitments to the Cree by authorizing the $4 billion project.
They said the government sanctioned the project before the environmental assessment process has been completed.
``Our communities made the choice to save our culture and they are determined to protect the future of a magnificent river for our children,'' Jimiken said in the release.
The leaders claim the project would divert up to 70 per cent of the river's flow to electrical generating stations in the province's north.
The project will build a 768 megawatt generating station that will require the construction of four dams and 75 dikes, employing more than 5,000 people.
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