When will we finally protect our beautiful river?

The Fête du nautisme will take place in Quebec on July 9 and 10. A great opportunity to reflect on the value of our river and our bodies of water while having fun and discovering our greatest natural resource, water. This celebration aims to demonstrate how accessible the practice of water sports is and to promote our maritime heritage.

Posted at 10:30 a.m.

Daniel Guay

Daniel Guay
President Access Saint-Laurent Beauport

Let’s take a moment to think about ways to ensure the protection of our water bodies. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, famous oceanographic explorer, declared: “We protect what we love, and we love what we know. »

The importance of the oceans and the St. Lawrence

According to the United Nations (UN), the ocean occupies 70% of the Earth’s surface. It is the largest biosphere on the planet, home to up to 80% of all life in the world. It produces 50% of our oxygen needs, absorbs 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90% of the additional heat generated by these emissions.

The 2022 Ocean Conference was held at the end of June in Lisbon, Portugal. The leaders of the UN warn us: “The scientific knowledge on the subject is unequivocal. Human activities pose unprecedented threats to the ocean. Its health and ability to sustain life will only get worse as the world’s population grows and human activities expand. […] We must act now to protect our oceans. »

In Quebec, other organizations are involved. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society summarizes its findings on our river as follows: “Quebec is fortunate to have on its territory one of the most majestic rivers in the world. The St. Lawrence is home to a rich and diverse life, ranging from tiny plankton to gigantic whales, including fragile cold-water corals and the many fish and shellfish that can be found on our plates. Many threats weigh on this fragile ecosystem […] Several species of the St. Lawrence are also on the list of species at risk. “.

In addition, the media report worrying findings on the river every week: “The waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are smashing temperature records”; “Wastewater still dumped into the environment”; “Blue-green algae: The problem is as accentuated as before, if not more”; “Microplastics — the St. Lawrence would be one of the most polluted waterways in the world”.

For many of us, the political will to tackle water pollution seems absent, if not anemic.

Fortunately, on May 5, the International Observatory for the Rights of Nature simultaneously occupied the National Assembly of Quebec and the House of Commons in Ottawa. With great pride, this organization⁠1 proposed a bill granting legal personality to the St. Lawrence River. This was tabled to provide a legal framework in favor of nature and the St. Lawrence.

The provincial deputy for Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue and the federal deputy for Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie sponsored this initiative. The Observatory will strive to expand a vast alliance of partners around the St. Lawrence in order to launch a substantive debate on the rights of nature. Everyone can join and sign the petition.

As the general elections approach, it is important to convey the message to the political parties. It is a call to all. Let’s talk about the environment and take matters into our own hands.

The protection of our water, we should think about it every day.


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