The Minister of the Environment of Quebec, Benoit Charrette, does not budge: the reduction of the standard of nickel in the air is based on “independent studies” which confirm that “there is no issue in terms of the health of the population. If some doubt it, it is because a “communication work” remains to be done.
“We are still confident of the soundness of our decision, repeated Minister Charrette during an impromptu press meeting on Tuesday. Are we going to rally everyone to this decision? That remains to be seen. »
The Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC) announced in the spring its intention to quintuple the daily standard for the rate of nickel allowed in the air, i.e. to increase it from 14 ng / m3 at 70ng/m3.
Membership seems far from certain in Quebec, where elected officials have unanimously rejected the new standard defended by the CAQ government. In central districts such as Limoilou and Saint-Roch, already subject to numerous pollutants from the port and the incinerator, a major citizen mobilization is making its opposition to the addition of nickel into the atmosphere heard.
“What we decode are people who are worried about the air quality in general in their environment, and not specifically in relation to nickel,” maintains the Minister of the Environment. “Public health came to say that there was no issue in terms of the health of the population,” insisted Mr. Charrette.
In an open letter shared on Tuesday, Véronique Lalande, a citizen of Limoilou who has become the face of citizen mobilization against the reduction of the nickel standard, implored the regional director of public health, Dr André Dontigny, to take on the role of “ultimate bulwark against the pressures of industrial interests. »
“The most vulnerable, the most deprived, the most humble must be able to count on a director of public health who never hesitates to take a stand to protect them,” writes Ms. Lalande.
The Port of Quebec Citizen Vigilance Initiative activist fears that the government will use the regional director’s nuanced position to endorse its disputed relief. “We will make you bear the odious,” concludes Ms. Lalande.
Minister Charrette reminds us that the new regulations are still subject to change. “The consultation is not over,” he said of the review period, which ends Feb. 20. I have never seen any draft settlements […] enacted without having been improved. So the consultation serves a purpose, it is not an exercise that is in vain. »