The Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks announces that it has issued an order regarding the company Les Excavations Léon Chouinard et Fils Ltée, as well as the with regard to the company 9132-8369 Québec inc. and Mr. Mario Lachance, as owners of the site, so that they stop illegal work affecting wetlands and water environments in Rimouski.
Order no.o 736, imposed under the Environmental Quality Act (EQA), follows the Ministry’s interventions with the aim of stopping work in wetlands and bodies of water. This order is valid for a period of 90 days.
Since October 2023, the Ministry has received several reports related to work in wetlands and aquatic environments on lots 3 182 415 and 3 182 421, in Rimouski. An inspection carried out on November 30, 2023, found that the company was carrying out deforestation and backfilling work with clay soils in a wooded peat bog and a swamp on lot 3 182 415, without having first obtained authorization from the Minister. Despite the transmission of notices of non-compliance requesting that these deficiencies be remedied immediately, they continue.
A new inspection carried out on June 13, 2024 confirmed that no corrective measures to remedy the shortcomings noted on November 30, 2023 had been carried out and that new work in a humid environment was still in progress, both on lot 3 182 415 than on lot 3 182 421, without authorization.
The Ministry reminds that interventions in a wetland disrupt its hydrological functions, have impacts on soils, vegetation and wildlife and can cause irreversible damage. Since the continuation of the work by the company Les Excavations Léon Chouinard et Fils Ltée would have the effect of destroying more wetlands, the Ministry is using the remedies at its disposal and is now issuing an order in this matter.
