The Government partners involved in the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 Action Plan (SLV 2000) acknowledge the importance of riverside populations to efforts to protect, conserve, restore and enhance the St. Lawrence. It  is in recognition of the important role local residents continue to play that the Area of Prime Concern (ZIP: Zone d'intervention prioritaire) program has been extended through Phase III of the Action Plan.

A Government Agreement with an Organization Dedicated to the St. Lawrence River

In setting up the ZIP program under the Community Involvement priority area of St. Lawrence Vision 2000, the Canadian and Ouebec governments signed a framework agreement with Stratégies Saint-Laurent (SSL), a non-governmental organization that has been active in co-ordinating the efforts of riverside communities on the St. Lawrence River since 1989, and enlisted the help of local stakeholders. This unique allliance has allowed riverside communities all along the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers to identify their local priorities for action and to develop their own ecological rehabilitation action plans. The process is a dynamic one that relies upon local participation to make it work.

Action is a Priority

The main objective of the ZIP program is to increase understanding of the St. Lawrence environment, thereby fostering local initiatives for the protection, restoration, conservation and enhancement of the river's resources and uses, consistent with sustainable development. In Phase III, the Community Involvement priority area  puts the focus on action at the local level.

Stepping toward Action

A federal-provincial team has accomplished the task of preparing environmental assessment of 14 study areas. The findings are available in a series of reports on the biological, physico-chemical, socio-economic and health aspects in each of the 14 areas covering the St. Lawrence River, the Saguenay and Des Prairies and Des Mille Iles rivers, and Lake des Deux Montagnes. This marks the first time that this type of information has been published in the form of technical reports and a regional assessment report for each area.

The consultation process takes the form of a symposium organized by the ZIP Committee. Participants are invited to discuss the environmental assessment and identity priorities for action in their territory.

An Ecological Rehabilitation Action Plan (ERAP) is then developed by the ZIP Committee, in co-operation with local stakeholders. The ERAP will serve to determine, the appropriate course of environmental action, in keeping with the priorities identified during the public consultation process.

Implementation of the ERAP fosters the community's involvement in the projects conducted by the ZIP Commitees, among others. ZIP Committees also receive technical and scientific assistance from government in conducting their projects. In implementing the ERAP, the different government stakeholders work together to co-ordinate their actions.

A Successful Partnership

Stratégies Saint-Laurent provides support to all the ZIP Committees and co-ordinates their creation, ensuring that they are representative of the different segments of society. ZIP Committees are majority members in SSL, representing a broad range of environmental groups, socio-economic and socio-community groups, municipalities, industries and citizens in each study area. They are truly the cornerstone of the program's implementation.

The federal departments and provincial ministries involved work closely with SSL and the ZIP Committees at various stages of the program.

The advisory commitee of the Community Involvement priority area is co-chaired by a representative of each level of government and one representative of SSL, thus ensuring the joint implementation of programs under its responsibility.

Who are these partners?

You are invited to communicate directly with Stratégies Saint-Laurent, the ZIP Committee in your area or the federal or provincial government.

Stratégies Saint-Laurent is a non-profit organization, incorporated as of September 1994, whose administrative council is composed primarily (60 %) of ZIP Committee representatives. Four of the twelve environmental groups who founded Stratégies Saint-Laurent continue to chair on the council, namely : l’Union québécoise pour la conservation de la nature, la Société pour vaincre la pollution, le Conseil régional de l’environnement du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and the Corporation pour l’amélioration et la protection de l’environnement de Baie-Comeau.

Contact:

President: M. Claude Martin
Director : M. Nicolas Audet
870, av. de Salaberry, bureau 204
Québec (Québec) G1R 2T9
Phone: (418) 648-8079
Fax: (418) 648-0991
E-mail: info@strategiessl.qc.ca
Web site: http://www.strategiessl.qc.ca/

The Concertation Committee that coordinates the inter-governmental partnership in the ZIP Program is co-chaired by Environment Canada, Environnement Québec and Stratégies Saint-Laurent.

ZIP Chronicle

Between 1993 and 2001, under the Area of Prime Concern Program, or ZIP Program for short, 14 regional ZIP committees were set up to carry out concerted action in an equal number of areas along the St. Lawrence River. Phase III of the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 action plan is dedicated to the implementation of the environmental remedial action plans (ERAPs) drawn up by the different riverside communities involved. A new ZIP committee will soon be joining the existing ones.