Citizens responded to the invitation of the Mothers at the Front of Rouyn-Noranda and gathered on Sunday afternoon to once again express their concerns regarding the emissions of toxic contaminants from the company producing copper anodes .
Since March 2023, the Legault government has forced the Horne Foundry to gradually reduce its releases of heavy metals, including arsenic and lead, into the air. The ministerial authorization requires a maximum of 15 nanograms of arsenic per cubic meter (ng/m3) annually in 2027, while the Quebec standard is 3 ng/m3.
The obligation was set at 45 nanograms between 2024 and 2026, i.e. 15 times what stipulates the Regulation on cleaning the atmosphere of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against climate change, Wildlife and Wildlife. Parks.
However, this year’s objective has still not been met, according to data made public by the property of the multinational Glencore. Lead emissions even reached 2306 ng/m3 on August 20, more than six times what should become the daily norm in 2027 (350 ng/m3).
Marching through the streets of the city in chilly temperatures, the demonstrators wanted to remind decision-makers that “standards do not exist for nothing”, demanding the same as elsewhere in Quebec.
“We want compliance with standards. They have a reason for being and have been scientifically established. Even an average of three nanograms per year is already a compromise, it should be zero,” says Isabelle Fortin-Rondeau, project manager of the Rouyn-Noranda campaign of the national group Mothers at the Front, in an interview.
The activist deplores the government’s attitude in the matter. According to her, the health of residents does not seem to concern elected officials.
We feel very ignored, sometimes despised. We don’t feel listened to at all. We understand that the government has an energy transition plan and that copper from the Horne Foundry is an essential link in this project. Clearly, it comes before our health.
Isabelle Fortin-Rondeau, project manager for the Rouyn-Noranda campaign of the national group Mothers at the Front
“Our feeling is that we are a sacrifice zone. The government is prepared to take the risk that we develop degenerative diseases and cancers because it needs copper,” she adds.
She emphasizes that the population is not going so far as to demand the closure of the factory, but only that it improve its environmental practices.
“We understand that copper is essential, that it is a critical and strategic metal, and that the smelter is important, but it should process what it is capable of processing safely, therefore it should put its facilities up to date, and that it slows down its activities when it begins to exceed standards. It should be in this sense that the precautionary principle works and not that we get contaminated while waiting until we perhaps find a solution so that the foundry improves. »
Cry from the heart
Until now, Mme Fortin-Rondeau considers that citizens have not been heard.
In the hope of reversing the situation, the Mères au front collective from Rouyn-Noranda called on the two instigators of the movement on a national scale: the author, screenwriter and director Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette and the ecological activist Laure Waridel.
“They were impressed by all the actions we took and the few results obtained. We gave them a heartfelt cry: how do we get attention, reach people and seek public opinion in another way to win this fight? They told us that they could offer us their notoriety. They’ve been helping us for months. »
With the help of artist friends, including actresses Ève Landry and Véronique Côté, they created an artistic performance especially for the occasion, in which local figures participated, including Mme Fortin-Rondeau.
It was with this “really strong and striking” performance, in his words, that the march concluded, at the corner of Avenue Portelance and 9e street, very close to the Horne Foundry.
Mme Fortin-Rondeau wholeheartedly hopes that this event will contribute to a positive outcome.
“People may have the false feeling that it is resolved because there is a ministerial agreement, but it is important to reiterate that the situation is not resolved. This must stop, and public opinion is one of the ways to put weight on elected officials. They must feel that it is advantageous for them to legislate in our favor. » Note that it was not possible to speak to a representative of the Horne Foundry.