François Legault and his Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, say they will not be shy about talking about the third link at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow.
“I don’t think we have any embarrassment to have,” commented François Legault in the Salon Bleu on Thursday, admitting, however, that “there are things that are not in line with the environmental objectives”.
Mr. Charette for his part compared the construction of the third link to the construction of a hospital or a school.
The third link, this highway mega-tunnel project between Quebec and Lévis, is controversial, due to urban sprawl and the pollution it could cause. However, the COP is a large international summit where States are supposed to present their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“If the question is asked, I speak without embarrassment with you, so I will speak without embarrassment there as well,” said Mr. Charette in the scrum before the question period.
“Whole portrait”
During question period, the Prime Minister said that Quebec should not be ashamed of its efforts since it will invest $ 55 billion in public transit over the next few years.
“In his big speech to leaders around the world, will he have the courage to say that according to him, a six-lane highway under the St. Lawrence River is a green project? Asked the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
“Can we just stop showing things that are not in line with the objectives and look at the whole picture? »Replied the CAQ leader.
“Every project has impacts,” said Mr. Charette, adding that the objective is to limit the consequences on the environment.
“We build a school, there is inevitably an impact, we build a hospital, there is inevitably an impact, as soon as we build something, there is inevitably an environmental impact. “
He added that he would be surprised, however, to be questioned by his interlocutors on the third link.
Prime Minister François Legault will take part in COP26 for a few days next week, but Mr. Charette will take over after his departure.