Forestry reform: SNAP Québec calls for the withdrawal of Bill 97

Montreal, May 29, 2025 – To ensure social peace, the Société pour la nature et les parcs (SNAP Québec) is calling on the Quebec government to withdraw Bill 97 and table a new version in the fall, incorporating the concerns and suggestions of academia, civil society and Indigenous Peoples. The bill, which aims for a major reform of the forestry regime, has been strongly denounced by First Nations, forestry workers’ unions, environmental groups, scientists and public land users since it was tabled at the end of April.

“To ensure real reform of the forestry regime and guarantee social peace this summer, Quebec must withdraw Bill 97 and return in the fall with a more consensual, science-based version. The bill is dangerous for the future of our forests, and fuels the lack of coherence and cohesion in government action to protect the land, which was recently denounced by the Sustainable Development Commissioner,” says Alain Branchaud, biologist and Executive Director of SNAP Québec.

“It’s also the resilience of public forests and the future of forestry-focused communities that are at stake with a bill that is simply not up to par with the challenges facing the forestry sector,” adds Mr. Branchaud.

More specifically, SNAP Québec denounces the weakening of consultation mechanisms for the management of public forests, the undermining of the objective of conserving 50% of the Plan Nord territory, and the absence of measures to ensure the real sustainability of employment in the forestry sector. SNAP Québec is also concerned about the growing role of the forest industry in forest planning and public consultation, which have been in the hands of the government since 2013.

As part of specific consultations and public hearings at the National Assembly, SNAP Québec will present a series of concrete recommendations to improve forest reform, including better integration of conservation objectives, as well as suggestions to strengthen public participation in public forest-related decisions and put science back to the forefront of forest management.

“The Ministry of Forests’ Bill 97 is not aligned with the conservation objectives adopted by its own government, takes us back to a vision of forestry from last century and jeopardizes important advancements in reconciliation with First Nations. Doing things right means consulting, listening and building on solid foundations. It also means recognizing that solutions already exist, if we take the time to implement them properly, to ensure a true balance in the management of Quebec’s public forest,” concludes Pier-Olivier Boudreault, SNAP Québec’s Director of Conservation.

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CONTACT

Charlène Daubenfeld 
Director of Communications
SNAP Québec 
Cell : 514 378-3880 
communications@snapquebec.org