Focused on Canada and the world, Sébastien Tanguay’s article entitled “Acid rain, a gone environmental problem? », published in The duty of December 20, recalled to the memory of the Quebec Association for the Fight against Atmospheric Pollution (AQLPA) certain crucial elements of history that must be brought to light here, first and foremost the determining role of Quebec and our organization in this great battle.
Let us remember that in North America, it was Quebec that helped unblock the acid rain issue. Indeed, in 1988, he was the first in Canada and the northeastern United States to impose by legislation substantial reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) to industry. This regulation particularly targeted Noranda, now Glencore, which was responsible for nearly 90% of SO emissions.2 in Quebec.
This caused a domino effect and led the seven provinces east of Saskatchewan, Canada and the United States to follow suit and conclude a North American agreement on acid rain in 1991. The numerous articles written by Louis-Gilles Francoeur, emeritus journalist of Dutycan still be consulted to tell the story of this great success of which Quebec can be proud.
Contrary to what Mr. Tanguay suggests, I rather remember that in 1987, the Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain (CCAR) was not as broad-based. She no longer managed to make herself heard in Ottawa or Washington. Ontario held Canada hostage and refused to reduce emissions from its coal-fired power plants, the main source of SO2 in Ontario, paralyzing all federal action.
I remember it very well, because at the time I was a member of the CCAR board of directors.
It was really the impetus of Quebec, thanks to Minister of the Environment Clifford Lincoln, who completely changed the situation, supported by the maritime provinces, the New England states and their populations to demand and obtain mandatory reductions. SO emissions2 and NOX by 50%.
Sad irony, today it is Alberta and Saskatchewan which are paralyzing Ottawa, because they refuse to reduce their acidifying emissions and especially their greenhouse gases in the face of the climate crisis. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who aspires to the post of prime minister, should take the example of Brian Mulroney, who succeeded in convincing first the very reluctant Ronald Reagan to take stock of the scourge and, later, his successor, George HW Bush , to sign the agreement on acid rain…
Founded in 1982, dedicated essentially to the fight against acid rain during the first ten years of its existence and still active today, the AQLPA believes that a duty of memory is necessary. After all, don’t we say that the past is a guarantor of the future?