To listen to Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec would be made up of a silent majority, a government that would represent them and nasty journalists-environmental activists-with-bad-attitudes doing everything to derail their wishes.
• Read also: They “should write novels”: Fitzgibbon defends Northvolt and criticizes the media in the process
After the environmentalists, it’s the journalists’ turn to go through the washer. The latter should “write novels”, rather than “inventing stories”, he thinks.
What does it give, said the other?
Northvolt
Few question the merits of the battery sector and its centerpiece: Northvolt. It took audacity to build such an industry, and convince one of the key players to establish themselves here, rather than in the United States.
We must give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s: it is a great achievement – and without Minister Fitzgibbon, it would not have happened.
Many recognize it as such: 72% of people in the region where the Northvolt factory would be located are in favor (Léger survey), and 30% of Quebecers would be against it (Pallas survey).
The problem is not there. It is elsewhere and double.
There is a problem of bitterness – generalizable to the CAQ.
As if the questions about Northvolt were necessarily illegitimate. We should applaud wholeheartedly, without any question.
This manifests itself in infantilization, where we think that releasing fruits and vegetables is really a good communications strategy. Through irritation, where we are told that we must “change our attitude”. By insult, where we despise all those daring to express the slightest criticism or unearthing facts that deserve to be known.
Sell batteries
And there is opacity. To say that there was no preferential treatment for Northvolt – particularly at the BAPE and at the Ministry of the Environment – is a lie. “We know they’re lying, they also know they’re lying,” sort of.
Instead of turning away and using red herrings, the Legault government would have every interest in putting its cards on the table and explaining why the fast track for this project was necessary.
Because right now, the fire is starting to catch on, and instead of taking out the hoses, we’re throwing oil in while complaining about the fire.