The Quebec Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, expressed to the federal government his “concerns” related to the proposed Chalk River nuclear waste landfill site, asking it in particular to better consult the affected communities.
This is what the CAQ elected official indicated on Tuesday, during the study of his ministry’s budgetary appropriations, an important accountability exercise which takes place annually in the National Assembly.
Pressed with questions by PQ MP Pascal Paradis, Mr. Charette reiterated that he had not taken an official position on the project. The federal government was, however, made aware of its reservations. “Quebec had the opportunity to express its concerns about the project,” he said.
“What we are asking of the federal government […]it is to better consult […] Indigenous communities in the Ottawa River sector. We are asking the government to better consult the municipalities in this sector, too, who are showing concern. »
Around a hundred municipalities along the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers, including Montreal and Gatineau, are publicly contesting the decision of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to grant the necessary authorization for construction in January of “a near-surface waste management facility” at the Chalk River Laboratories site in Ontario.
The Anishinaabe community of Kebaowek is also at the front to stop the project, which is located very close to the Quebec-Ontario border, along the Ottawa River.
In February, Kebaowek also took action in Federal Court to overturn the CNSC’s decision. A few days earlier, band councilor Justin Roy had indicated to the Duty that his community had detected black bears, eastern wolves, as well as several species of bats, turtles and birds in the area encompassing the facilities of the proponent, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.
Still no position
Earlier this year, Minister Charette and his colleague responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, had the opportunity to speak with the community. Kebaowek representatives had encouraged their counterparts to join the groups opposed to the project.
Québec solidaire is among those who also demand that Quebec position itself in due form. “The opposition to the Chalk River nuclear dump project is too important for the current silence of François Legault,” supported solidarity MP Sol Zanetti in January. In February, the Parti Québécois for its part tabled a motion to denounce the authorization issued by the CNSC; the CAQ government was opposed to it.
Benoit Charette does not exclude siding with Kebaowek and the Quebec municipalities who are calling for the cancellation of the project. “We first ask that the federal government be able to consult the communities, but we are sure to make assessments on our side. When we have decided on a particular positioning, we can talk about it again,” he said on Tuesday.