The leader of the Green Party of Quebec, Alex Tyrrell, took the floor this Wednesday, September 7, in Quebec City, to denounce the alarming situation where residents of the Limoilou district are subjected to nickel pollution and to levels that can harm their health. Accompanied by Félix-Antoine Bérubé-Simard, official candidate of the Green Party of Quebec in the riding of Jean-Lesage for the 2022 provincial elections, they spoke out to urge the government to adopt a policy to impose stricter standards for nickel pollution from polluting industries in the Old Port of the Capitale-Nationale.
The Green Party of Quebec opposes the Legault government’s decision to increase the permissible limit of nickel in the air from 14 to 70 nanograms per cubic meter for the benefit of industries and at the expense of citizens’ health. The DMP proposes a strengthening of air quality regulations to ensure a healthy environment for all citizens, whether in Limoilou, Rouyn-Noranda, or anywhere in Quebec. It is necessary that every citizen have access to clean air, without risk to their health. The Green Party of Quebec is committed to reducing the allowable limit of nickel in the air to 10 nanograms per cubic meter. According to the GPQ and the leader of the Green Party of Quebec, it is necessary to install airborne particle detectors in all Quebec municipalities to identify air quality problems.
The purpose of the speech was to reiterate the position of the Green Party of Quebec in total disagreement with the government’s decisions to allow companies to deviate from established environmental standards on air and water emissions. The Quebec government has authorized an increase in the amount of nickel emissions allowed, despite expert advice that this would be a bad decision for public health. The Green Party of Quebec believes that we cannot let corporate interests trump public health. The GPQ is the only party calling for the immediate closure of the Horne smelter and is calling for the suspension of the activities of the many industrial companies in Quebec that have been authorized by the government to violate environmental standards until such time as the companies are able to comply.
