The former solidarity deputy Émilise Lessard-Therrien, who did not manage to be re-elected in Rouyn-Noranda-Témiscamingue, says she is “concerned” by the omnipresence of the CAQ in her region, but especially by her successor Daniel Bernard, former Liberal MP and former mining industry lobbyist.
Posted at 4:16 p.m.
“Not only does Mr. Bernard have his past as a lobbyist, but above all, he was there as a Liberal MP when the first certificates and standards for the Horne Foundry were negotiated. Already at the time, there were public notices that Glencore should reach 10 ng/m3and tend towards 3 ng/m3 as quickly as possible”, denounces Mr.me Lessard-Therrien, interviewed at The Press.
Before becoming a CAQ candidate, Daniel Bernard had indeed been a Liberal MP for the riding for years. He was first elected in 2003, then in 2008. He later became a lobbyist for the Quebec Mining Exploration Association. More recently, he had been a municipal councilor for Rouyn-Noranda. His election with the CAQ will also force an election in the municipality.
Mme Lessard-Therrien regrets that “in 2011, when the Quebec standard was set at 3 ng/m3, Mr. Bernard was no doubt aware that we were 67 times the norm in Rouyn-Noranda”. “And there is nothing that happened at that time,” she insists.
“We will judge the tree by its fruit, but I have concerns. That said, I have confidence that the population will continue to lead the fight and put pressure on the file of the Horne Foundry”, also loose the outgoing MP.
She says she is generally worried that her region has “gone entirely to powder blue” from the Coalition avenir Québec. “It means there will be no one left to ask questions and hold the government to account, apart from the media of course. I find it worrying for our democracy, ”concedes Mme Lessard-Therrien. Radio-Canada also revealed on Friday that Mme Lessard-Therrien maintained his advances in the polling stations located closest to the Horne Foundry.
“Bitterness has never been good advice”
The reaction was quick on Friday in the ranks of the caquists. “Obviously Mr.me Lessard-Therrien is bitter. Bitterness has never been good advice, so we won’t comment further. The citizens of Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue expressed themselves democratically and this choice must be respected,” wrote the press attaché for the parliamentary wing of the CAQ, Marc Danis.
As a deputy, Mr. Bernard promises to “work in the interest of all the citizens of his riding”. “As the Prime Minister has expressed on several occasions, we will not compromise on people’s health,” Mr. Danis also maintained on this subject.
In the campaign, François Legault had maintained that it would be up to the population to decide on the future of the Horne Foundry, without ruling out the holding of a referendum. The population will have to make a choice “as soon as possible”, argued the Prime Minister: accept an “improved” plan from the multinational Glencore, or close the Horne Foundry.
The CAQ leader had also maintained that he would agree to live near the factory with arsenic emissions of 15 nanograms per cubic meter of air, a threshold which remains five times higher than the standard.
With Tommy Chouinard, The Press