The government of François Legault is taking another step towards its unilateral abandonment of oil and gas. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonatan Julien, tabled Bill 21 on Wednesday morning, which should put an end to the search for hydrocarbons in Quebec territory.
It was a commitment. In October, Prime Minister Legault took advantage of his opening speech in the National Assembly to announce that companies that hold an exploration license in Quebec would soon have to say goodbye to their oil adventure. “Quebec must resolutely take the path of a green economy,” he said.
After delaying the tabling of his legislative measure because of the “complex” issue of compensation granted to the industry, Minister Julien did not wait long. He presented his bill to parliamentarians on the second day of the session, the last before the elections.
The State will pay compensation to companies that hold claims in Quebec. “We are not a republic of bananas,” Minister Julien has already said in an interview.
On Wednesday morning, the Liberal leader, Dominique Anglade, urged the Caquiste government to offer sums that “tend” to the possible “towards zero”. Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois reiterated their desire that no penny end up in the pockets of the industry.
“These wolves have always been around the sheepfold. Besides, with Mr. Julien as a shepherd, I am not surprised that they are raising the stakes, ”illustrated the solidarity co-spokesperson, Manon Massé.
In recent months, oil companies have mentioned compensation of several hundred million, even several billion dollars, for the profits lost in this aborted enterprise.
Further details will follow.