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HIGHLIGHTS
- 53% of Quebecers are in favour of the Northvolt battery plant project.
- 68% of those polled agree that the Northvolt project should be subject to a public inquiry and consultation by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE). Only 24% disagreed.
- 53% of Quebecers reject the government's approach with regards to this project (changing regulations and thereby exempting Northvolt from a mandatory BAPE).
Montreal, February 28, 2024 - While a majority of Quebecers support the Northvolt battery plant construction project (53%), just as many reject the government's approach of modifying regulations, and thereby exempting the Northvolt project from a mandatory BAPE. These are the findings of a Pallas poll commissioned by a collective of environmental groups*.
According to the groups, with nearly one in five respondents saying they are undecided about the Northvolt project, the government would do well to ensure that the public is better informed about the details of the project.
The groups are concerned that in modifying the regulations, the government has created mistrust in its decisions and in the projects it proposes. They highlight that the best way to ensure public support for the projects proposed by the Quebec government is to follow the rules in place and respect the work of the institutions that people trust.
According to the groups, the Minister of the Environment can and must use his discretionary power to trigger a BAPE assessment of the Northvolt project by March 22, in accordance with the deadlines set out in the Environment Quality Act. On January 17, a number of environmental groups called for an independent environmental assessment of Northvolt. This request was supported by over 180 groups and signatories in a letter sent on January 19 to the Minister of the Environment, which remains unanswered.
*List of environmental groups that commissioned the survey: David Suzuki Foundation, Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE), Greenpeace, Nature Québec, Équiterre, SNAP Québec, Eau Secours, Front commun québécois pour une gestion écologique des déchets (FCQGED)
For more information :
Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE)
Sophie Turri ; sophie.turri@cqde.org ; 438-979-7951
Eau Secours
Mathieu Langlois ; communications@eausecours.org
Équiterre
Anthony Côté-Leduc ; acoteleduc@equiterre.org ; 514-605-2000
Fondation David Suzuki
Charles Bonhomme ; cbonhomme@davidsuzuki.org ; 438-883-8348
Front commun québécois pour une gestion écologique des déchets (FCQGED)
Karel Ménard ; karelmenard@fcqged.org
Greenpeace Canada
Patrick Bonin ; pbonin@greenpeace.org ; 514-594-1221
Nature Québec
Gabriel Marquis ; gabriel.marquis@naturequebec.org ; 581-307-8613
SNAP Québec
Charlène Daubenfeld ; communications@snapquebec.org ; 514 378-3880
