(Trois-Rivières) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finds it “extremely exciting” to see the deployment of the new Energy Transformation Valley, which brings together the towns of Bécancour, Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières, in Mauricie and the Centre-du-Rivières. Quebec.
Passing through Mauricie on Saturday to attend the Liberal Party convention, Mr. Trudeau stopped at Trois-Rivières city hall in the morning to meet municipal elected officials and discuss current projects in the region.
The Prime Minister spent a few minutes with the mayor of Trois-Rivières, Jean Lamarche, the mayor of Shawinigan, Michel Angers, and the mayor of Bécancour, Lucie Allard. The general director of the Energy Transition Valley, Alain Lemieux, was also present.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Justin Trudeau with the mayor of Trois-Rivières Jean Lamarche
According to Mr. Trudeau, “the overall vision of this Valley of energy transformation is extremely exciting,” he said during the part of the meeting that journalists were able to attend.
“Shawinigan, obviously, there is great enthusiasm for energy and for transformation. Bécancour, the battery sector is excellent and exciting too,” underlined Mr. Trudeau.
The creation of the Energy Transition Valley of Bécancour, Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières was announced with great fanfare last spring by the various levels of government.
This innovation zone, the third to be recognized in Quebec, focuses on the battery sector, the electrification of transport and industrial decarbonization.
At the time of the initial announcement, Quebec Premier François Legault spoke of a “new economic golden age for the Centre-du-Québec and Mauricie region.”
Mr. Trudeau reiterated this enthusiasm on Saturday, but reminded that in the midst of all this economic growth, we must not lose sight of the needs and priorities of the people who live in these two regions.
“It’s easy to end up talking about the economy, about investment, without talking enough about people,” he maintained.
To ensure, with all this growth which will bring challenges, that we keep the citizens, the families of the region at the center of everything we are doing. Because it is essential that people, in a period of transition and transformation of our economies, of our world, feel reassured about the plan that we are implementing for the future.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
He mentioned that the federal government will provide support in housing and transport issues, among others.
After this meeting, Mr. Trudeau was to go to his political party’s congress and give a speech to activists late Saturday afternoon.
With information from Katrine Desautels