Despite the importance they attach to the development of hydrocarbons in Quebec, the Conservatives would make an exception for Anticosti Island if they took over the reins of government.
“There are projects in Quebec which are much more profitable, which can move forward much more quickly,” replied the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), Éric Duhaime, when questioned on this subject on Tuesday. “There are particularities on Anticosti Island that make it not the site of first choice. »
The PCQ candidate in Taschereau, Marie-Josée Hélie, lived for many years on the island, especially when her territory was targeted by oil exploration projects. She maintains that there are “major reasons for reconsidering an exploitation project”.
“We would have to build very important port infrastructures there. […] Having lived there, I know that the natural environment is particularly fragile, ”said Ms.me Hélie in response to questions from To have to. “The exploitation of hydrocarbons was absolutely incompatible with the main industry there, which is hunting and vacationing,” she also mentioned.
The exploitation of hydrocarbons in Quebec is one of the pillars of the PCQ platform, which relies in particular on the revenues it would generate to finance the electrification of transport. Éric Duhaime also believes that gas and oil projects in the Gaspé and in the St. Lawrence Valley should be given priority. “What I understood is that it is the regions that [ont] the most potential for profitability,” he said.
Lively past debates
Anticosti oil projects have sparked heated debate over the past decade. In 2014, the PQ government of Pauline Marois reached an agreement with the company Petrolia and authorized exploratory drilling on the territory of the island. But in 2017, the Liberal government of Philippe Couillard closed the door to them.
In 2018, the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) first said it was open to reviving such projects, an idea that has since been abandoned with the adoption of a law prohibiting any hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation project on Quebec territory.
During this time, the island has taken steps to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.