Baie-James, Quebec

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Municipality of Baie-James, Québec

The Municipality of Baie-James (2006 Population 1,394) (Municipalité de la Baie-James) is in northern Quebec, Canada, to the east of James Bay. It covers 297,329.66 square kilometers, making it the largest municipality in Canada.^{[citation needed]} Its territory almost entirely covers the administrative region of Jamésie.

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 cities (Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Matagami), as well as the chairpersons of the local 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.

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