Mr. Jean Charest, Canada Quebec Prime Minister Expects Japan Investment to Australia

Mr. Jean Charest, prime minister of Quebec, Canada, discoursed about North Quebec development project with sustainable new development model on Thursday in Tokyo.

Mr. Jean introduced various projects for energy, forest, mine and bio food, and situation for metal resource, nickel, gold, lithium or iron ore. Mr. Jean said the local government invested at over US$ 80 billion to the project and US4 47 billion to energy resource development, and he expects the investment by Japan to the project in Quebec. The project continues few decades later.

Mr. Jean said the local government supports accomplishment of Economy Partnership Agreement between Japan and Canada.

Mr. Jean aims to become worldwide leader of returnable energy with development of water power plant after 2003 and to get international competitive power for environment. Mr. Jean introduced the local government agreed Inuit agreement with Inuit after preparatory conference until conclusion for 2 years when Extrata, major resource company, started development of nickel and copper and cobalt in North Quebec in 1998.

One government concern said the project is point to develop rare metal including rare earth, and the government makes offer various incentives such as tax treatment for the investment to the development.

11 projects for metal resource development are expected to start few years later in Noth Quebec development project, and to generate the investment at US$ 8.24 billion and the employee at 11,000 peoples in construction and 14,000 peoples after starting operation.

However, the investment isn’t enough to more development of mine in North Quebec.