Background

In July/August 2008, the Romaine Alliance organised a 7 week expedition to canoe the length of the River Romaine, in order to bring public attention to Hydro-Quebec's proposed project to build 4 dams on one of the great untouched rivers remaining in Quebec.

External Links:

Romaine Alliance website
Chercher le courant - the website of the documentary

Globe & Mail 14 Aug
A succinct summary of the arguments against the project

Hydro-Québec pop-up on the Romaine Project
Summary of the Details:
Construction: 2009 - 2020 (first production stream expected 2014)
Revenue: $3.5 billion for Quebec, of which $1.3b will go to the Côte-Nord
Employment: On average 975 jobs each year it is under construction.

The Rivers Foundation and a team of ecologists and biologists joined Section 7 of the expedition, a 6 day trip through the Third Canyon, the proposed site of the second dam.

Maxine's Amazing Adventure

<< Click to enlarge any photo on these pages >>

SOS Romaine

Daniel Green, president of the Société pour vaincre la pollution, Anne-Marie Saint-Cerny, director-general of Fondation Rivières, and Roy Dupuis arrive at Sept-Îles airport

One of the objectives of the team is to sample natural mercury levels in the soil in the areas that will be flooded.

"We're here to spend some days with a scientific team. To do some analysis, because from experience we can't trust everything that Hydro-Québec does."

Coalition members with Pierre Cormier, prefect of Minganie (2nd left), who wants economic development for his constituency

The Third Canyon
16-21 Aug

Montreal Journal, 6 Sept 08
"No need for a dam"

Montreal Journal, 7 Sept 08
Energy saving is more profitable

Gallery of photos
(1- 3 by Hugo-Sébastien Aubert )
The location
On land
On the water
Maxine Cunnyngham's photos