The nickel emission threshold in the air in the Limoilou district, in Quebec, “is not problematic”, assured the Minister of the Environment Benoit Charette on Wednesday, the day after the tabling of a report indicating that the current emissions represent “unacceptable risk” to the population of the area.
“It’s not the standard that poses a problem, it’s ensuring that it is respected that becomes our priority,” said Minister Charette in a scrum on Wednesday morning.
The day before, the Working Group on Atmospheric Contaminants (GTCA) had submitted its long-awaited report on air quality in Limoilou. The document of more than 1200 pages establishes in particular that the average annual concentrations of fine particles in the air of the district of the lower town of Quebec “are among the highest in the province”. It also notes that the new daily standard of 70 nanograms per cubic meter (ng / m3) set by the Ministry of the Environment in April 2022 is still and always being exceeded.
“What must be confirmed is compliance with this standard. And the Ministry of the Environment — this is the commitment we made from the start — will ensure that this standard is respected, ”said Mr. Charette on Wednesday, when invited to comment on the report. . However, he agreed, “no, no” regulation prohibits exceeding the threshold.
The report will not be “not tableted” and “the air quality will continue to improve in the sector”, promised the elected representative of the Coalition avenir Québec a few minutes later, in the House. “As of Monday evening, we brought together the authorities concerned at the technical level. Health was present, the Ministry of Transport was present. Naturally, the Port of Quebec, the Department of the Environment, the City of Quebec were present. So we are consulting for the rest of things, ”assured the minister.
The Minister of Health Christian Dubé is also awaiting a “very clear position” from Public Health after the tabling of the report.
Further details will follow.