“We hear the“ against ”a lot. We also know that there are “for”, but we do not hear them, ”argues the mayor of Saint-Maurice, Gérard Bruneau.
If the petitions seem to testify to a certain opposition to your Canada and its wind farm, Gérard Bruneau thinks that in the intimacy of the voting booth, the citizens will be able to give him the right time, in an unreacious manner.
“We were elected to make decisions for the population. And when the time comes to make a decision, you have to know what the population thinks. ”— Gérard Bruneau, mayor of Saint-Maurice
During its last update, your Canada announced that nine of the 133 wind turbines which must feed its Shawinigan plant in electricity should be established on the territory of Saint-Maurice.
Gérard Bruneau specifies that the referendum will not relate to the wind sector as a whole, but of course your Canada’s project itself. The date of the consultation remains to be determined. However, the approach will be done according to the rules provided for by law on elections and referendums in the municipalities, assures the mayor.
“With what we know, then with what we do not know, we know that the municipality is divided … We want the population to decide, and not only those who are in the affected areas, that concerns everyone.”— Gérard Bruneau, mayor of Saint-Maurice
The first magistrate refrains from commenting on the private green hydrogen production project, which announces major economic benefits in the region. “He has valid arguments on both sides,” he maintains
Following the result of the consultation, and if the population was to reject the project, Mr. Bruneau sees that discussions will have to take place with the promoter. “We will see how they react,” he observes, without advancing more.
“When the time comes to make a decision, you have to know what the population thinks,” says the mayor of Saint-Maurice, Gérard Bruneau. (SYLVAIN MAYER/SYLVAIN MAYER)
If the population was to position themselves in favor of the project, the mayor of Saint-Maurice recalls that the municipal regulations [toujours en élaboration] provides that citizens of a affected area still have the opportunity to decide on the project.
Gérard Bruneau agrees that the organization of a referendum will cause expenses – “probably as much as an election”. He nevertheless believes that given the issues, the measure is justified.
For his part, the citizen Jean Guilbert greets the decision of the municipal council and already sees as a partial victory. “Our collective has been pressure for a year,” recalls the opponent. He indicates that it was in Saint-Maurice that the petitions have obtained the greatest number of signatures. For him, the results of the upcoming consultation are not doubtful.
End of inadmissibility in Saint-Stanislas
In Saint-Stanislas, where your Canada aims to erect 19 wind turbines, the mayor Luc Pellerin had already meant that “the council is not really in favor of that”.
It appears that elected officials have gone from speech to acts. On April 8, the municipal council resolved to confirm “Éric Gauthier to Mr. Éric Gauthier [PDG de l’entreprise]his will that the territory of the municipality of Saint-Stanislas is excluded from the project of your Canada in Mauricie ”.
Invited to comment on recent developments in the file, your Canada indicates that “the current location of wind turbines is based on information available at the time of environmental studies and takes into account the regulations in force at this time”.
The resolution of April 8, adopted in Saint-Stanislas, requests that the municipality be excluded from the TES Canada project in Mauricie. (Municipality of Saint-Stanislas)
The promoter maintains that in Saint-Stanislas, “the locations are all located on land whose owners wish to receive wind turbines”. However, the company had not read the will of Saint-Maurice to trigger a referendum process when responding to us.
However, your Canada notes that once the CHANNAUX MRC has finalized its regulations aimed at supervising the wind sector on its territory, the company will be able to reassess all the locations of the wind turbines “taking into account the comments expressed by all stakeholders”.
“We will continue to work with the communities who wish to be project partners,” underlines your Canada in the communication that has been transmitted to us.
