Northvolt reserves the right to take legal action against members of its Community Liaison Committee if they share information identified as “confidential” by the company in the course of the committee’s work.
The duty obtained a copy of the final version of the “commitment” that the twenty members of the liaison committee must sign in order to be able to participate in this body set up by Northvolt. This committee must meet “a few times” each year, during the implementation phase of the industrial complex in Montérégie.
The text of this version has been modified from the previous version, entitled “non-disclosure agreement”, the details of which were revealed in April by The duty. The first version insisted on the confidential nature of various information which could be transmitted to the members of the committee, but also on the confidential nature of the agreement itself.
Northvolt claims to have reviewed the content of the document. “We actually welcomed the comments and improved the engagement agreement based on them,” explains the company by email. “It provides that confidential elements can be shared with members so that they actively participate in improving the project and [pour] ensure depth in the discussions, and these elements will be clearly identified before their presentation. »
The document specifies that “certain information could prove confidential” during committee meetings. “Northvolt is obliged to identify all information that is identified as such during meetings. Members undertake in good faith to preserve their confidentiality in order to preserve the climate and depth of exchanges,” adds the company.
“Committee members must refrain from disclosing information identified as confidential to third parties, unless such disclosure is authorized in writing by Northvolt or required by law,” underlines the text.
As a citizen who agrees to participate in such a committee, I would not accept being threatened with prosecution. I would not sign this agreement.
A breach of this rule may also result in consequences, warns the document that the members of the committee must sign. “In the event that a member breaches their confidentiality commitment, we will invite them to a confidential meeting in order to understand the reasons for this breach and to jointly seek an amicable resolution. »
In the absence of an agreement, the member may also be excluded from the committee. But Northvolt reserves the right to go further and take recourse to the courts. “In more serious, or repeated, cases, additional measures may be considered, which could include legal action, although Northvolt’s desire is to resolve any dispute in a spirit of understanding and cooperation,” it reads. in the document.
“I wouldn’t sign”
An environmental mediator specializing in evaluating the social repercussions and social acceptability of major projects, Marie-Ève Maillé deplores this possibility. “As a citizen who agrees to participate in such a committee, I would not accept being threatened with prosecution. I would not sign this agreement. »
She also questions the “confidentiality” of certain information, which will be left to the judgment of the company. “I don’t understand what they are afraid of, but they are not obliged to reveal confidential information. This is not the role of a monitoring committee. »
The company summarizes the purpose of its committee as follows: “Northvolt wishes to integrate into its host environment in a posture of listening, transparency, proactive sharing of information and collaboration. It is in this spirit that the Northvolt Six liaison committee has been set up. »
According to what Northvolt specifies, “there was a divergence of opinions, the different arguments will be reported in the summary” produced after the committee meetings. The Tact agency, which has a communications mandate for Northvolt, will be responsible for “taking notes” and writing the “summary” of the meetings.