Visit he CAQ government recently announced that it would put an end to hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in Quebec. This is good news for the environment, and a good step in the right direction to address the oil and gas crisis. and to engage in atrue green transition.
Moreover, the exploitation of hydrocarbons has never achieved social acceptability in Quebec, as witnessed by the strong mobilization of citizens and environmental groups who forced the government to put an end to the oil and gas industry in Quebec. For this victory to be total, it is important not to offer any compensation to these major polluters, who are largely responsible for the climate crisis we are experiencing. It is therefore perfectly normal not to compensate these climate-damaging companies, especially as there is no law requiring the government to compensate them. The Centre Québécois du droit en environnement is unequivocal "If the political will is to respect Quebec's commitments in the fight against climate change and to position itself as a leader in the field, the province can pass legislation to put an end to the hydrocarbon industry on its territory, without compensation for the companies affected, even retroactively."
The Green Party of Quebec supports petitions launched by associationsWe've also heard from environmental groups and community organizations to put an end to the possibility of compensating oil and gas companies following the passage of the anti-drilling law.
In fact, such compensation can cost Quebecers millions of dollars, while these public funds can be used for other purposes, such as helping populations suffering from climate change or supporting the energy transition. As a reminder, in 2017 the Couillard government compensated its partners in the limited partnership created for the project, Hydrocarbures Anticosti, with a total of more than $61 million. This amount is in addition to the $115 million that the Marois government and its Minister of Natural Resources Martine Ouellette had paid out to the partners. to the industry to drill those same wells using hydraulic fracturing! This scenario should not be repeated with the CAQ government, especially at a time when the health crisis has severely tested the pollution portfolio. New compensation for the industry would set a dangerous precedent, especially for provinces with larger oil industries that would never have the funds to compensate their industry in the event of a state-imposed shutdown.
The Green Party of Quebec says YES to banning oil and gas development and NO to compensating oil companies operating in Quebec.
Let's stand up! No to the oil companies!
Halimatou Bah
Deputy Leader of the Quebec Green Party
Photo Credit: Daniel Barnes / Getty Images
