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Plan Nord

Overview

In May 2011, the Government of Québec unveiled its Plan Nord, a 25-year, $80 billion development project focused on Northern Québec. The Plan Nord affects 72% of the province’s territory and about 1.6% of its population.

The Plan Nord proposes to establish a new partnership between various Québec governmental and municipal bodies, the private sector and Aboriginal communities for the development of the mining, energy, forest and wildlife resource sectors, as well as the tourism and bio-food industries in Northern Québec.

The Plan Nord provides for a four-fold funding strategy where private sector partners will participate in the funding of infrastructure development. Government revenues resulting from economic development initiatives, along with direct and indirect tax spinoffs from public infrastructure projects will be reinvested in the Plan Nord. Investissement Québec, the investment arm of the Government of Québec, will take equity stakes in mining companies (and other businesses) as part of Plan Nord. Hydro-Québec will also contribute annually to development projects in the region.

Osler’s team has extensive experience advising clients with interests in the Québec mining, forestry and energy sectors on investments, divestitures, joint ventures, infrastructure projects, complex environmental, Aboriginal and regulatory matters, and general commercial and trade matters. We combine commercial, financial, energy and project experience with our intimate knowledge of local business and legal practices to help our clients stay at the forefront of the Plan Nord development.

Ask Osler’s Plan Nord Group about:

  • Aboriginal consultation and negotiation of Aboriginal agreements
  • Commercial arrangements including royalty, exploration and development, power purchase agreements and related off-take arrangements
  • Construction and infrastructure matters
  • Dispute resolution and litigation
  • Employment and labour, and pensions and benefits issues
  • Engineering, procurement and construction contracts, and equipment supply agreements
  • Interconnection agreements
  • Joint ventures and strategic alliances
  • Mineral and surface rights
  • Mining including commercial agreements, project finance and continuous disclosure (National Instrument 43-101)
  • Project development and planning
  • Public equity or debt securities offerings, private placements, strategic investments and other financing transactions
  • Real Estate
  • Regulatory approvals and environmental assessments
  • Solicited and unsolicited M&A transactions
  • Taxation issues and structuring
  • Transportation and shipping commitments and contracts

With close to 70 lawyers based in Montréal, working with our Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa Vancouver and New York offices, we provide seamless service across North America.

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François Paradis

François Paradis

Partner, Corporate
Montréal
  • CN Railway

    CN Railway in relation to a key rail infrastructure project of the Plan Nord and the related agreements with iron ore producers.

  • Nalcor Energy

    Nalcor Energy in the context of the environmental assessment of the proposed Lower Churchill Falls hydroelectric generation project, including consultation with Quebec Innu communities and the negotiation of a settlement agreement between Nalcor, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Labrador Innu.

  • Kruger Energy Montérégie

    A syndicate of lenders, in connection with the financing of the Kruger Energy Montérégie 101.2 MW Wind Farm Project in Montérégie, Québec.

  • Hydro-Québec

    Hydro-Québec regarding its relationships with Cree, Innu and Algonquin First Nations.

  • Gaz Métro Limited Partnership

    Gaz Métro Limited Partnership in relation to the implementation of the structure of Beaupré Éole General Partnership, 50% partner in the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farm Project.

  • The Attorney General of Canada

    The Attorney General of Canada in litigation involving the Cree School Board, in connection with the interpretation of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

  • WorleyParsons

    WorleyParsons in a joint venture agreement with Cegertec Experts-Conseils Inc. Cegertec WorleyParsons is poised to be a top player in handling large projects in Quebec, notably under the Plan Nord.

  • Jaguar Mining

    The Initial Purchasers for Jaguar Mining’s 2009 and 2011 offering of convertible senior notes for gross proceeds of US$165 million and US$103.5 million, respectively.

  • A major oil and gas exploration and production company

    A major oil and gas exploration and production company and an industry association in the context of the Bureau des Audiences Publiques pour l’Environnement public inquiry on the sustainable development of Quebec’s shale gas industry and related Quebec regulatory matters.

  • A major private equity fund

    A major private equity fund in connection with potential investments in junior mining companies with operations in Northern Quebec.

  • Régie municipale de l’énergie Gaspésie – Iles-de-la-Madeleine

    Régie municipale de l’énergie Gaspésie – Iles-de-la-Madeleine, in relation to the formation of a limited partnership to operate wind farms in Quebec.

  • Vale

    Vale with advice with respect to Aboriginal rights on lands impacted by Vale operations.

  • Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc

    Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc. in their proposed Dunvegan Hydro Electric Project before a Joint Review Panel, the Alberta Utilities Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Board and CEAA (DFO) with regard to obtaining all regulatory and environmental approvals.

  • Hydro One Networks Inc

    Hydro One Networks Inc. concerning approvals necessary to permit construction of several hundred kilometres of 500 kV transmission system facilities allowing load growth situated across southern Ontario to access new wind and refurbished nuclear generation sources.

  • Apache Canada Ltd. and KM LNG Operating General Partnership

    Apache Canada Ltd. and KM LNG Operating General Partnership in all aspects of their Kitimat LNG Project and in their successful application before the National Energy Board seeking an approval to export LNG from British Columbia to the Asia Pacific Region.

  • Alderon Iron Ore Corp.

    Alderon Iron Ore Corp. on their regulatory and aboriginal work for the Kami project on the Labrador Quebec border.

  • CGE Resources Québec 2012 L.P. and CGE Resources Québec 2011 L.P.

    CGE Resources Québec 2012 L.P. and CGE Resources Québec 2011 L.P., flow-through funds investing in mining and resources issuers, in connection with their initial public offerings.

  • CN Railway

    CN Railway in the purchase of Chemins de fer du Québec and its subsidiaries.

  • The Government of New Brunswick

    The Government of New Brunswick regarding native law issues, including before the Supreme Court of Canada.

  • SGF Rexfor

    SGF Rexfor in logging rights disputes involving First Nations in the James Bay Territory.

  • Gaz Métro

    Gaz Métro in several cases dealing with gas line breakages.

  • SFK Pulp Finco Inc. and SFK Pulp Recycling U.S. Inc.

    SFK Pulp Finco Inc. and SFK Pulp Recycling U.S. Inc. with the $255 million acquisition financing granted by a syndicate of lenders led by The Toronto-Dominion Bank, with respect to the acquisition of U.S. operating assets in the pulp and paper industry.

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Osler is home to exceptional advisors according to in-house counsel at leading energy companies and our peers in private practice, who place us at the top in international surveys such as Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2012, which states that Osler has “a very deep team and cover the energy industry very well.” We are also ranked #1 in Aboriginal law in Calgary according to The Best Lawyers in Canada 2011. In 2010, Osler was ranked the #1 law firm for Canadian M&A deals according to both Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg L.P. A survey by the 2011Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory cites Osler as being “repeatedly recommended” in the area of mining.