Steven Guilbeault

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has found himself in another spat with a province. For months, Guilbeault has been demanding Quebec adopt a new plan to protect the province’s woodland caribou from the impact of logging for industrial activities and road-network expansions, as herd numbers in the province appear to be dwindling. Now the federal minister is going over the province’s head, with an emergency decree ordering his own plan, outraging Quebec’s provincial government and the Bloc Québécois. …The emergency order, which could be implemented in August, is still at the consultation stage. If Quebec presents a new plan soon, Guilbeault says he will back down. …“Considering all the efforts made in recent years, the Quebec government considers the adoption of an emergency decree unjustified,” said a statement from Charette’s office. Quebec’s Forest Industry Council’s Jean-François Samray, said that if the decree is adopted, the industry could lose 6,500 jobs.