The president of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change (CCCC), Alain Webster, raises a red flag in the face of François Legault’s intentions to revive his third highway link. Such a project is irreconcilable, he says, with the “greatest challenge in the history of humanity”.
“For the moment, I have seen absolutely nothing that makes the idea of creating this type of infrastructure and a carbon neutrality trajectory compatible,” said the expert in an interview with the DutyFriday.
Since 2021, Mr. Webster has headed the CCCC, an independent organization responsible for advising the Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, on climate issues. Already, last year, he recommended that François Legault’s government stop motorway development altogether. And this, everywhere in Quebec.
However, after putting an end to his road link project between Quebec and Lévis last spring, Prime Minister Legault resurrected the idea on Tuesday. He intends to “consult the population” of the greater Quebec region to better understand their intentions on this subject. “I will work very hard, with my colleagues, with the deputies, with the entire CAQ team [Coalition avenir Québec]to regain people’s trust,” he said the day after his party’s electoral defeat in the Jean-Talon constituency.
Asked this week about the potential relaunch of an inter-river link accessible to cars, the Minister of the Environment simply said that it was “speculation”. The president of the main group responsible for advising him gives him a warning.
“When we create new motorway links in metropolitan centers, we induce greater demand for car travel. And so, by the same token, we are increasing the pressure,” said Alain Webster on Friday.
“We are trying to meet a particular need on the South Shore,” he added. “But if it involves a new transport system such as a tunnel or bridge, to be able to say that the approach is relevant, we still need to be able to demonstrate the fact that this new infrastructure does not induce urban sprawl, does not result in an increase in the number of vehicles [et] of greenhouse gas emissions. »
“More shows”
Asked Thursday about the need to relaunch the third link project, the deputy for Beauce-Nord, Luc Provençal, who claims to have never given up, spoke of the needs of the South Shore in terms of heavy transport and trucking. Here again, replies Alain Webster, we must review our ways of doing things.
“We must use the train better, use better – in this case – the sea route, the river. Make modal transfer strategies,” he said. “There are major things to do in terms of trucking that have more beneficial effects on the environment than a new road link. »
“If we continue to do the same thing we are doing, we will have the same result. We will have more and more vehicles on the roads and we will have more and more greenhouse gas emissions,” he summarized.
Mr. Webster, who teaches at the University Training Center in Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of Sherbrooke, is also concerned about the risks that such a structure – the Prime Minister once again spoke of a bridge this week – could pose a threat to biodiversity.
“We must not only reduce greenhouse gases, but also conserve ecosystems so that they maintain their carbon sequestration capacity,” he said. “So, when we think about territorial sprawl, we think about the conservation of ecosystems, woodlands, natural environments, peat bogs, forests. »
An alternative solution
By abandoning the third motorway link last April, the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, presented a preliminary version of a tunnel solely dedicated to public transport. A much more sustainable solution in the current context, according to Alain Webster.
“Maybe in the end, it will end with an integrated tramway public transport system in Quebec with the South Shore,” he said on Friday. “If that’s it, well, great. »
In the meantime, the cars are back on the table. “There will be a demonstration of relevance coming,” he said. “But I think that, in this matter, everything needs to be done. »