2023-11-23 16:30:00
“It’s probably a place where fish have three eyes.” Pierre Fitzgibbon’s statement in front of a select audience in Montreal last week is very revealing of the attitude of the Legault government towards the environment and sustainable development.
“Fitz” thus mocked those who are concerned regarding the fact that the CAQ government has rigged the rules in order to give privileges to the Northvolt company.
The superminister may not care, the CAQ does just that, makes fun of the rules protecting wetlands.
As The newspaper revealed this summer, 98% of requests for the destruction of wetlands have been granted since the CAQ came to power.
Exclusion from BAPE
Remember that Northvolt, a Swedish company, benefited from a modification of environmental rules which made it possible to exclude its manufacturing plant project from the analysis normally required by the BAPE.
As The Press revealed, an analysis carried out by the Ministry of the Environment a few months before Northvolt bought the land where its factory would be built allegedly did not take into account parts of a planned development of family homes.
It was the project promoter who had to throw in the towel and sell his land to Northvolt, even though the company will not be subject to the same restrictions as those imposed on it. It makes you wonder if we haven’t played with the rules to exclude one in order to better welcome the other!
It happens that a company or a project has more influence on our lives than those whose role it is to ensure the public interest.
This is what happens with Legault and Fitzgibbon.
For them, the BAPE must relent when a promoter benefits from the support of the CAQ.
Our Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, closes his eyes to better welcome what he describes without embarrassment as a “beautiful project”.
No critical distance is maintained to make an objective analysis, which would be in the interest of future generations. The gendarme then turns into a promoter.
Listen to the Lisée – Mulcair meeting with Richard Martineau broadcast live every day at 8:50 a.m. via QUB radio :
Tumble
The protection of wetlands is necessary to preserve biodiversity, of course. But these marshes, swamps and streams also have a crucial function in filtering what enters our lakes and rivers, and helping to control their levels and flow.
In Quebec, climate change is felt every year, with increased flooding and unprecedented forest fires, like those we experienced last summer.
It is more important than ever to fully respect the rules regarding wetlands, not to change them to please an industry.
For decades, construction and urban sprawl have wreaked havoc in the Montreal region. The densification now desired is having unforeseen consequences. As soon as we leave the restricted zone, housing developers have free rein.
Exceptional biodiversity environments, such as the Prévost cliffs, habitat of the peregrine falcon, are in danger.
In the Basses-Laurentides region, forests and old trails are devastated and wetlands are diverted or blocked.
Small municipalities are no match for developers, who use schemes to circumvent the rules.
Unfortunately, the CAQ doesn’t care and we are the fish.
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