Around twenty organizations are asking federal political parties to commit to respecting Quebec’s environmental achievements, as part of the development of their political platform.
Posted at 2:34 p.m.
Stéphane Blais
The Canadian Press
On the eve of possible federal elections, the Vire au vert coalition is asking federal parties to make known their position on Quebec’s environmental achievements.
Pricing pollution through the carbon market, adoption of a standard on zero-emission vehicles, adherence to the objectives of the Paris Agreement, compliance with pesticide reduction targets in agriculture, the ban on hydrocarbon production in Quebec are some of the examples of achievements that appear in the “Quebec Environmental Consensus”, which was sent to the different political parties a few days ago.
This consensus “allows us to draw the line” to determine the political promises that “will be credible”, in “other words, what we are putting forward today is common environmental sense”. said Marc-André Viau, director of government relations for Équiterre, during a press conference in Montreal.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Marc-André Viau, director of government relations for Équiterre
“These are achievements on which we are building the future, achievements based on common sense,” argued Maggie Harvey, of Trajectoire Québec, which promotes citizens’ rights in matters of public transport.
The spokesperson for the Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment, Patricia Clermont, added that the coalition wanted to see policy proposals oriented toward environmental protection, because protecting the environment helps protect human health.
“It’s a matter of common sense,” she said.
Although the three spokespeople used Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s slogan during the press conference, they in no way indicated that their approach was aimed at the party that maintains that carbon pricing will cause “starvation.” and “a nuclear winter”.
Asked whether he feared that a Conservative victory in the next election would constitute a setback for environmental protection, Marc-André Viau offered a cautious response.
The current government purchased a pipeline that cost us $35 billion, so setbacks, or lack of progress, we experience on a daily basis, regardless of the government in power, we work to ensure that it improves the environmental situation , instead of participating in its degradation.”
Marc-André Viau, director of government relations for Équiterre
Alluding to Pierre Poilievre’s party, the director of government relations for Équiterre added “that apart from a sweater with a slogan on it, we don’t have much to eat,” hence the The importance, according to him, of political parties detailing their proposals.
A letter asking them to take a position was sent to the parties and the coalition “expects a rapid response” from them.
Among the other achievements that appear in the “Quebec environmental consensus”, there is the Quebec law against planned obsolescence, the ban by several municipalities on disposable plastic products, adherence to the Kunming-Montreal agreement on biodiversity, the law on the conservation of wetlands and water environments, in particular.
The Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment, Living in the city, the David Suzuki Foundation, Équiterre, Eau rescue, the Coalition for Quebec to look better, Youth Environment, Sustainable transport access, the Urban Ecology Center, Foundation Rivières, the FCQGED, the Student Climate Action Front, Greenpeace, Mères au front, Nature Québec, Pétons Québec, Climatique Réalité Canada, RNCREQ, Trajectoire, Vigilance OGM as well as Vélo Québec are part of the Vire au vert coalition.
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