April 5, 2002
Landry makes unexpected visit to Nunavik
Premier to attend Makivik
AGM
JANE
GEORGE
Police in Kuujjuaq say
Quebec Premier Bernard Landry is expected to make a quick visit to Nunavik next
week, and Nunaviks leaders are hoping he will keep this date although,
as of press time, there was no official confirmation of the impending visit
by the premiers office.
Quebecs new minister
of native affairs, Rémy Trudel, is to accompany Landry, and has officially
confirmed he will make the trip from Quebec City to Nunavik.
Landry and his entourage
are to arrive in Kuujjuaq on April 8, where they will spend the night. On Tuesday,
Landry will pay a call at the annual general meeting of Makivik Corporation
in Tasiujaq.
In Tasiujaq, Landry will
address the gathering and also sign a wide-ranging economic development agreement
between Quebec, Makivik and the Kativik Regional Government.
This deal, negotiated in
hush-hush talks in Quebec City, is reportedly similar in scope to the recent
multi-billion-dollar deal signed between Quebec and the James Bay Cree in February.
Makivik president Pita
Aatami is also hoping for some commitment from Landry that Quebec will move
ahead on self-government negotiations for the region.
Next weeks visit
to Nunavik marks Landrys first visit to the region as premier. It is also
the first time a Quebec premier has attended a Makivik AGM.
Landry, who became premier
last spring, following the resignation of Lucien Bouchard, was last in Nunavik
following the avalanche in Kangiqsualujjuaq on Jan. 1, 1999.
At that time, Landry was
Quebecs finance minister.
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