Role and Mandate

The Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee (“Coordinating Committee”) was instituted in 1976 under the provisions of Section 24 of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement (JBNQA). In 1978, the Naskapis joined the Coordinating Committee with the signing of the Northeastern Québec Agreement (NEQA).

The provisions of Section 24 of JBNQA and Section 15 of the NEQA established a Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regime specific to the Territory under the JBNQA and the NEQA, which provides certain rights to the Cree, Inuit and Naskapi (“beneficiaries”) with regards to harvesting of wildlife. Provisions of this Regime also include an Outfitting Regime that is specific to the Territory under the JBNQA and the NEQA, which affords beneficiaries certain rights regarding the establishment and operation of outfitting enterprises in said Territory.

As per Section 24 and of Chapter XI of the Act respecting hunting and fishing rights in the James Bay and New Québec territories, the Coordinating Committee is an expert body made up of Cree, Inuit and Naskapi members named by their respective bodies, and members appointed by the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Canada. The Coordinating Committee has been given the responsibility to review, manage, and in certain cases, supervise and regulate the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regime, including the Outfitting Regime.

The Coordinating Committee is also a consultative body to responsible governments, being as such the preferential and exclusive forum for the Native people and the governments of Québec and of Canada to formulate regulations and supervise the administration and management of the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regime. It also participates with the responsible minister of Canada or Québec in the management of wildlife species in the Territory under the JBNQA and the NEQA, either through decisional or consultative recommendations as called for in each case. Consequently, the Coordinating Committee may initiate, discuss, review and propose all measures relating to the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regime in the Territory under the JBNQA and the NEQA. The Coordinating Committee may propose to the responsible Ministers regulations or other measures relating to the regulation, supervision and management of the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regime. The responsible Ministers have discretion to act upon such recommendations in accordance with the consultation process established by the Regime. Furthermore, all regulations relating to the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regime proposed by the responsible governments are submitted to the Coordinating Committee for advice before enactment.

Territory of Application of the JBNQA and the NEQA

The Territory under the JBNQA and the NEQA, includes a large part of the northern regions of Québec which covers nearly one million square kilometers and corresponds to the lands transferred to Québec by the 1898 and the 1912 Acts extending and delineating the boundaries of Québec.

Composition and Members

The Coordinating Committee consists of 16 members for which the Cree Nation Government and Makivik Corporation each appoint three members; the Naskapi Landholding Corporation appoints two members; the governments of Québec and of Canada each appoint four members. The Société de développement de la Baie-James appoints an observer-member who is non-voting.

In turn, the Crees, Inuit, Naskapis, Québec and Canada parties appoint from among their delegates a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson  and, where applicable, a Second Vice-Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee according to the modalities stipulated in the JBNQA and in the Act respecting hunting and fishing rights in the James Bay and New Québec territories

MEMBERS IN 2024-2025

For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the chairpersonship is held by  Rosine Nguempi Melou and the vice-chairpersonship is held by Félix Dionne of the Federal party.

Members appointed by the Gouvernement du Québec

Rosine Nguempi-Melou, Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs

Serge Tremblay, Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs

Vanessa Chalifour, Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs

Maxime Boily, Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs

Members appointed by the Government of Canada

Cédric Paitre, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Pascal Gagnon, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Félix Dionne, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Caroline Girard, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Members appointed by Makivik Corporation 

Adamie Delisle Alaku, Makivik Corporation

Markusi Qisiiq, Kativik Regional Government

James May, Nunavik Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Association

Members appointed by the Grand Council of the Crees/Cree Nation Government

Norman Wapachee, Grand Council of the Crees/Cree Nation Government

Isaac Voyageur, Grand Council of the Crees/Cree Nation Government

Nadia Saganash, Grand Council of the Crees/Cree Nation Government

Members appointed by the Naskapi Landholding Corporation

Ronald Tooma, Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach

Edward Shecanapish, Naskapi Development Corporation

Observer-Member appointed by the Société de développement de la Baie James 

Seat vacant.

SECRETARIAT

The Gouvernement du Québec is responsible for the secretariat’s funding. The secretariat is responsible to and under the direction and control of the Coordinating Committee. Located in Montréal, it is composed of three employees:

• Miles Smart, Executive Secretary
• Nancy Bouchard, Analyst
• Sandrina Allegrini, Office Secretary

Meetings

The Coordinating Committee meets in person at least four times annually. As far as possible, it meets within the Territory under the JBNQA and the NEQA. Other meetings are held in person, by teleconference or videoconference, as needed.

Working groups composed of several members and advisors review particular subjects or undertakings and make submissions to the Coordinating Committee for comment, instruction or approval, depending on the status of the file.