(Quebec) When they hear Premier François Legault talk about the possible closing of the Horne Foundry in Rouyn-Noranda, the residents of Limoilou are skeptical. They have been campaigning for years to reduce the concentration of nickel in the air they breathe. The Press went to this neighborhood of Quebec, which refuses to give up.
Posted at 12:00 a.m.
“We wrote a letter in support of the citizens of Rouyn-Noranda which was published in the newspapers, since we have the impression that they are living, like many working class circles, the same kind of fight as ours. »
Like many of his fellow citizens, Mathieu Caron observes the similarities between Limoilou, where he lives, and the Notre-Dame district, in Rouyn. Two historically working-class districts which were built near industries and which still suffer today from the pollution emitted by the latter.
PHOTO SARKA VANCUROVA, THE PRESS
Part of the Glencore facilities at the Port of Quebec
In recent weeks, arsenic emissions from the Horne Foundry in Rouyn-Noranda have captured media attention on a daily basis. Last Tuesday, Prime Minister François Legault did not rule out that the plant would close if the parent company, Glencore, does not comply with the standards established to preserve the health of residents.
In Quebec, in the Limoilou district, we have some against another contaminant, nickel. Through the Raglan mine, Glencore, the largest extractor of this ore in Quebec, transships nickel collected in the north of the province to the Port of Quebec. Already controversial, the standard that regulated the presence of this metal in the air was modified last December. A few days before the holidays, the Legault government announced that industries could now multiply their nickel emissions by five compared to the previous standard.
PHOTO SARKA VANCUROVA, THE PRESS
Jackie Smith, leader of the Transition Quebec party
“In both cases, it is a duel between the health of citizens and the profits of multinationals, denounces the leader of the Transition Quebec party, Jackie Smith. This is the real choice the government has to make and, so far, we can see what it favors. »
Like many residents of Limoilou, Jackie Smith is not overwhelmed by the Prime Minister’s change of course regarding the activities of the Horne Foundry.
Normally, it’s a good thing when the rhetoric changes, but the behaviors must also change.
Jackie Smith, leader of the Transition Quebec party
“Thanks to citizen movements, we feel that things are moving, but we cannot predict the reaction of governments,” adds Véronique Lalande, spokesperson for the Citizen Vigilance Initiative of the Port of Quebec. However, the news from Rouyn-Noranda gave him a slight dose of optimism: “At last, we are listening to them. Finally, we will have access to information. »
PHOTO SARKA VANCUROVA, THE PRESS
View of the Limoilou district, in Quebec
The supportive MP for the riding of Jean-Lesage, Sol Zanetti, adds to the importance of air quality in public debates today. He points out that both in the case of the Notre-Dame district and in that of the Limoilou district, the population is mobilizing to obtain justice. “There are citizens who really have the knife between their teeth. »
Two weights, two measures
Although the government repeats that the context of Rouyn-Noranda differs from that of Quebec, the residents of Limoilou are not of this opinion. “It’s the same framework, the same actors, the same debate”, summarizes Véronique Lalande.
PHOTO SARKA VANCUROVA, THE PRESS
Véronique Lalande, spokesperson for the Citizen Vigilance Initiative of the Port of Quebec
Amélie Rouleau, director of public affairs at the Raglan Mine, also maintains that the situations of Rouyn-Noranda and the Capitale-Nationale are not comparable. She therefore prefers not to comment on the issues affecting the Horne Foundry.
However, she says the company is continually looking to innovate in its facilities to meet health, safety and environmental standards. Mme Rouleau also reports that the activities of the company located in Quebec City are now operated through a closed circuit of facilities.
We don’t want to lose dust because, for us, it represents money.
Amélie Rouleau, Director of Public Affairs, Raglan Mine
On the side of the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, it is maintained that “no re-evaluation of the nickel standard in ambient air is envisaged”.
Fight for a better tomorrow
Despite everything, the residents of Quebec are proud of the fight they are waging and warn that they will not give up. “It is nevertheless a certain success to have maintained this question in the political landscape. We managed to have this very local problem, located in a neighborhood, recognized nationwide by making links with Rouyn-Noranda,” rejoices Isabelle Arseneau, a citizen who campaigns for air purification.
PHOTO SARKA VANCUROVA, THE PRESS
Mathieu Caron and Isabelle Arseneau campaign for clean air.
“The social and environmental injustice of poor air quality must be a thing of the past,” demands his neighbor Mathieu Caron. We refuse that this double injustice is still part of the future of our children. »
Like many, Véronique Lalande, who has already devoted nearly 10 years to this cause, has promised herself never to give up the fight. “I am waiting for the day when this district will no longer be constantly subjected to pollutants and dust fallout”, hopes the one who had to leave Limoilou for health reasons related to air quality. “We will know victory the day when we no longer feel the impacts of this pollution and when we no longer have to modify our life choices because of dust and contaminants. »
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Source: Health Canada, 2021