Two Quebec ministers are meeting with First Nations communities amid rising tensions around forestry blockades in the province. Natural Resources Minister Ma\u00eft\u00e9 Blanchette V\u00e9zina and Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafreni\u00e8re are meeting with three Atikamekw communities in Quebec’s Mauricie region, roughly 200 kilometres north of Montreal. Blanchette V\u00e9zina says she’s “very concerned” about the situation in the region, where there have been tense standoffs between protesters and forestry workers in recent days. An Indigenous rights group has organized a series of blockades in recent months that have disrupted operations for some in the forestry industry. The group is protesting a new bill that would divide public forests into zones designated for conservation, multi-purpose use or forestry. Some Indigenous leaders say the bill infringes on their rights and the Quebec government… <\/p>\n
Two Quebec ministers are meeting with First Nations communities amid rising tensions around forestry blockades in the province. Natural Resources Minister Ma\u00eft\u00e9 Blanchette V\u00e9zina and Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafreni\u00e8re are meeting with three Atikamekw communities in Quebec’s Mauricie region, roughly 200 kilometres north of Montreal. Blanchette V\u00e9zina says she’s “very concerned” about the situation in the region, where there have been tense standoffs between protesters and forestry workers in recent days. An Indigenous rights group has organized a series of blockades in recent months that have disrupted operations for some in the forestry industry. The group is protesting a new bill that would divide public forests into zones designated for conservation, multi-purpose use or forestry. Some Indigenous leaders say the bill infringes on their rights and the Quebec government... <\/p>\n