Citizens organize a “funeral march” Sunday afternoon in McMasterville, in Montérégie, to “mourn” the destruction of wetlands as well as the “lack of listening” on the part of Quebec in the context of the plant project. Northvolt batteries.
“Our demand from the beginning is to be heard. We want there to be an examination by the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) to be carried out so that we can know all aspects of the project,” says Jacinthe Villeneuve, co-spokesperson for the Action Committee. Citizen — Northvolt Project.
However, the government of François Legault decided to submit only one portion of the project to a BAPE evaluation, that is, after the construction and commissioning of this gigafactory on the South Shore of Montreal. “It’s going to be too late. It should have been done now,” says M.me Villeneuve, who denounces a “lack of transparency” on the part of the State in the matter.
She also emphasizes that “anger has been growing” among several citizens since the start of the work. On January 8, the company received government authorization for the destruction of 138,000 m2 wetlands and the felling of 8,700 trees. “We mourn the loss of these environments and this biodiversity,” emphasizes Jacinthe Villeneuve.
However, on February 2, 2024, Northvolt expressed its desire to set up a “community liaison committee”. This, which will have around twenty people, will however be established according to criteria set by the multinational itself.
Mme Villeneuve welcomes this intention, while fearing that it only constitutes a “public relations exercise” on the part of the company to look good. “And it will never replace a BAPE,” she adds.
With Alexander Shields
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