Baie-James

Municipality of Baie-James
—  Municipality  —
Municipalité de Baie-James
Welcome sign along Route 109.
Municipality of Baie-James, Québec.
Coordinates: 52°00′N 74°45′W / 52°N 74.75°W / 52; -74.75Coordinates: 52°00′N 74°45′W / 52°N 74.75°W / 52; -74.75
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Nord-du-Québec
RCM/TE	Jamésie
Constitution	September 14, 1971
Government[1]
– Mayor	Gérald Lemoyne
Area[1][2]
– Total	333,255.55 km2 (128,670.7 sq mi)
– Land	297,329.66 km2 (114,799.6 sq mi)
Population (2006)[2]
– Total	1,394
– Density	0.003/km2 (0/sq mi)
– Change (2001-06)	2.0%
– Dwellings	870
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal Code	J0Y
Area code(s)	819
Website	www.municipalite.baie-james.qc.ca

The Municipality of Baie-James (French: Municipalité de Baie-James) (2006 Population 1,394) is in northern Quebec, Canada, to the east of James Bay. It covers 297,329.66 square kilometers of land, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Canada — only eight unorganized territories are larger.^[3] Its territory almost entirely (about 98%) covers the administrative region of Jamésie, although it contains less than five percent of the population. Essentially, it is the remainder of the Jamésie Territory's land after all of the major population centres have been removed.

The hydroelectric power plants of the La Grande Complex are all located within the municipal boundaries of Baie-James, making the municipality strategically important to Quebec's energy policy. Other important economic sectors are mining, softwood logging, forestry, and tourism.

History

The municipality was created in 1971 and was run by the board of directors of the Société de développement de la Baie James. It manages the territory of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement between the 49th and 55th parallel, with the exception of the Cree Category 1 lands and the enclaves of Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Matagami.

In December 2001, the municipal council was reformed. It became a municipality of a special type directed by the mayors of the four enclave towns, as well as the chairpersons of the local community councils of Radisson, Valcanton and Villebois. An eighth seat is reserved for a representative coming from the non-urban territory. The municipality gained additional authority and can exert certain powers as a regional county.

Communities in Baie-James

• Beaucanton
• Desmaraisville
• Joutel
• Miquelon
• Radisson - northern-most non-native town in Quebec.
• Val-Paradis
• Valcanton
• Villebois

Demographics

Population:^[4]

• Population in 2006: 1394
• Population in 2001: 1422
  • 2001 to 2006 population change: -2.0 %
• Population in 1996: 1978
• Population in 1991: 3073

Total private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 606 (total: 870)

Transportation

The primary roads to and within Baie-James are:

• Route 109 - provincial highway to Matagami
• Route 113 - provincial highway from Val-d'Or to Chibougamau
• Route 393 - regional highway to Val-Paradis
• James Bay Road - road from Matagami to Radisson
• North Road
• Trans-Taiga Road - access road to hydro-electric stations of the James Bay Project

Air transportation is through the La Grande Rivière Airport near Radisson, which provides scheduled air service to Montreal and Puvirnituq.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ministère des Affaires Municipales et Régions: Baie-James
2. ^ ^{a b} 2006 Statistics Canada Community Profile: Baie-James, Quebec
3. ^ Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses
4. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census

External links

• Municipality of Baie-James
• Human Environment of the James Bay region (Detailed map of the James Bay region)
• Map of Baie-James