François Legault closes the door at the request of the mayoress of Montreal and the mayors of the big cities, who are calling on the next government of Quebec for a “green pact” in order to meet the needs estimated at 2 billion for adaptation to climate change.
Posted at 10:41 a.m.
Updated at 7:15 p.m.
Valérie Plante, Bruno Marchand, Catherine Fournier and Stéphane Boyer, from Montreal, Quebec, Longueuil and Laval, gathered with other elected officials to launch an appeal to all political parties. “We are offering a strong partnership,” argued Ms.me Plant. “We want to stop shoveling forward. What we lack is that partnership. »
The mayoress would like cities to obtain funds in order to carry out projects to prepare for natural disasters linked to climate change, rather than always reacting to them in catastrophe.
“When we act urgently, it always costs more,” said M.me Plant. It can cost up to 10 times more. In terms of good management of public funds, we have to think about it. »
Legault says no
A few hours after this outing, on Monday, the mayoress of Montreal met with the head of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), François Legault, at city hall. At a press conference, the outgoing Prime Minister quickly closed the door to the demand of the big cities, citing the “ability of Quebecers to pay”, while he is already striving to reduce the tax burden in this period of inflation. .
“We already have a plan for a green economy of 7 billion where the proposals of the municipalities [et] large cities will be well received, as long as they offer a good return on the reduction of GHGs at the proposed cost,” said the CAQ leader. Other requests will be analyzed on a “case-by-case” basis, he said.
The major cities have commissioned a study from the scientific group Ouranos and WSP in order to quantify their needs. Result: an estimate of 2 billion per year by 2055.
“The window of opportunity to limit the damage is very short”, said the mayor of Varennes, Martin Damphousse, presenting the results of the study.
“The impacts on municipal infrastructure are already significant and will increase dramatically over the next few years,” conclude Ouranos and WSP. “Precipitation, flooding, extreme heat and more intense freeze-thaw cycles, municipalities are directly affected by the consequences of climate change and must bear the costs. »
The mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, has compared climate change to a storm that is dangerously approaching Quebec cities. And “it is already having very costly effects in our cities,” he said.
Legault wants more police
Mr. Legault also commented on the armed violence in Montreal, while in the night from Monday to Tuesday, four shootings left three injured in the metropolis, in particular on the grounds of an elementary school and in the heart of the Latin Quarter, a busy quadrangle of the city center where higher education establishments are located.
“It is indeed to be taken seriously. We take it seriously and we work. Valérie Plante is working with the SPVM to add police officers, particularly in neighborhoods where it is, in quotation marks, hotter, ”said the head of the CAQ.
“We gave money to get more, so I expect to get more. […] I would like them to be there as soon as possible,” he added.