Judging that access to bodies of water and banks is too restricted in the province, Québec solidaire (QS) will table a bill by the end of the parliamentary session to allow all Quebecers to benefit from it. .
Whether it’s access to lakeside beaches, boat launches, or trails near waterways, the party believes there is inequality within the population regarding access to these places of relaxation and open air.
Some regions have many accessible bodies of water, but they are very far from large urban centres, which, on the contrary, have a much more limited supply.
“I am a regional MP, so we have a lake for two people”, illustrates the united MP for Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, Émilise Lessard-Therrien, who will carry this bill.
“So it’s less of an issue than for people who, for example, live on the island of Montreal, who don’t have a car and who can’t afford to rent a car to go to a national park or take advantage of our outdoor spaces. »
Since it is nothing less than a “public health issue” according to QS, Ms. Lessard-Therrien will table her bill by the end of the current parliamentary session.
In interview with The Canadian Pressthe member could not reveal the content of her bill, due to the rules of the National Assembly, but she explained that the idea will be to ensure that all Quebecers know where they can go go to enjoy a body of water, without having to spend a fortune.
“Going out to practice outdoor activities is made as good as having a healthy diet and doing physical activity,” recalls the MNA. But at present, not everyone has the same chance to practice these activities, to escape to the open air and cool off in a lake. »
“So the idea is really to come and restore fairness. »
The pandemic has brought these inequalities to light, according to QS, as it became clear that many families confined to their homes, especially in large cities, were having difficulty finding places to cool off during heat waves.
The party’s idea is not to take away the owners of private spaces from their access to water, but rather to add places that are open to everyone and make them better known by citizens. .
Ms. Lessard-Therrien recognizes that work will have to be done with the cities regarding the launching ramps for recreational boats, since some cost “a fortune” to use.
“A lot of shorelines are under municipal jurisdiction, so there’s a lot of work to be done with the municipalities, but we have to start sowing seeds about the importance of guaranteeing access to water bodies,” he explains. she.
This QS project is part of its desire to facilitate access for Quebecers to the nature that surrounds them. Earlier this week, the party unveiled its election pledge to make entry to national parks and wildlife reserves completely free.