A Play for Control of 30% of the Islands and Charge Users

   Thirty percent of the Archipelago is currently owned by the Quebec government. This area of land is essentially composed of land that unite the islands as one. 

   The mayor of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine municipality, Joël  Arseneau, indicated that it is mainly dunes and marshland. These lands are still owned by the Quebec government, but could be managed locally by the Islands MRC. 

   The MRC could then establish rules for hunting, fishing, ATV traffic, skateboarders, surfers and shellfish harvesters and cranberry pickers. 

   This management will be charged, but also becomes an income, according to the mayor of the Islands. "When you go, for example," explains Joël Arseneau, "to address the issue of the occupation by seasonal campers in dune areas, certainly we will have to get some income to ensure environmental and regulatory supervision of the territory. " 

   The mayor wants to even create a regional park " with certain rules so that users can enjoy the landscape, but ensuring it is protected. " 

   The project should be achieved by spring 2012.

Note:  This is a perfect example of the municipality of the Iles de la Madeleine grabbing for more money from overtaxed Islanders.