Mont-Joli, Friday, February 25, 2011 - Following the round of consultations on the future of St. Lawrence called the St. Lawrence, it belongs to us! conducted last fall, the spokesman for the Bloc Québécois member for environment and Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie Bernard Bigras , begins a new tour of Quebec, this time to know the solutions identified by the Bloc Quebecois to meet the concerns of the people of Quebec. On the occasion of his visit to Mont-Joli, Bernard Bigras was accompanied by the Bloc Québécois candidate in Haute-Gaspésie-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia, Jean-François Fortin .
The transportation of nuclear waste: a risk not to take
"Firstly, I repeat that the Bloc Québécois formally oppose the decision of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to allow the transport of radioactive waste by the St Lawrence by granting a license to the company Bruce Power Ontario Inc.. Quebec is not responsible for nuclear waste in Ontario. Moreover, in September 2010, we had already sent a letter to the CNSC him of our formal objection to the granting of license to transport and asking the Commission to consider the environmental risks and the serious concerns of the population Quebec. Unfortunately, the Canadian agency has not taken into account, "stated Bernard Bigras .
"This decision is all the more deplorable that the CNSC accepts that nuclear steam generators are already stored safely. Transporting them on Seaway St. Lawrence towards Sweden for recycling is far from being necessary. This could pave the way for a series of shipments of radioactive waste, making the St. Lawrence Expressway a real nuclear. However, given the environmental risks for the fragile ecosystem of the St. Lawrence, the serious concerns of the people of Quebec and former entailed the granting of this permit, the Bloc Québécois is asking the CNSC to reconsider his decision and cancel the permit transportation granted to Bruce Power. We believe that Quebecers did not assume the risks associated with energy choices of its neighbors. Therefore, if the CNSC does not respond in this sense, we urge the Harper government to legislate to crack this arbitrary decision, "continued Bernard Bigras .
Shoreline erosion
"As was the case during the tour in 2005, bank erosion is the problem most frequently raised in almost all sections of the St. Lawrence and in particular in our district. However, this time, the Bloc Québécois has found that a sense of urgency even greater animates participants met on this issue. Shoreline erosion in the stretch of the Gulf and the estuary is strongly linked to climate change. According to stakeholders interviewed, the policy is on the banks not suitable for this portion of St. Lawrence where the increased strength of storms and water levels cause accelerated bank erosion. In 2010, we experienced significantly aggravating the effects of the tides fall, while the tides in some cases over four meters accompanied by strong winds caused extensive damage in our area, "said Jean-Francois Fortin .
"That is why the Bloc Québécois called for the establishment of a compensation fund for the negative impacts of climate change 500 million dollars to, firstly, to indemnify Quebec and the provinces for costs already incurred in connection with climate change and, secondly, to give them the means to finance measures to limit the acceleration of erosion . Monies from this Fund will be allocated in proportion to needs. Also, the federal government must undertake to improve the initial envelope at 100 million per year over 25 years and release the necessary fiscal space for Quebec to protect their shores from erosion, "said Bernard Bigras .
Storms and high tides
"In December 2010, of a rare intensity storms have caused torrential rains and strong winds with high tides that damaged several facilities waterfront home. The affected citizens who must give their homes, their land and their business in a state will pay thousands of dollars, they can not rely on compensation from their insurance company. The latter no longer cover floods caused by overflowing rivers, since the problem has become chronic. Hence the importance of special programs in disaster. The Quebec government has developed a comprehensive program of financial assistance in case of disaster to assist municipalities who have suffered significant damage. But this program obviously has limitations. The amounts awarded to cover 80% damage to a principal residence for up to 100,000 dollars. The Bloc Quebecois, the federal government must in turn provide disaster assistance in the form of a tax credit on reparations for injuries suffered in the disaster, showed Jean-Francois Fortin .
"Other measures should also be examined to help the victims who face the immediate consequences of global warming. For example, during the floods of 2007 in Rivière-au-Renard, DEC Canada had set up a special aid measure to compensate the businesses, companies and nonprofit organizations that were not covered by private insurance General program or financial assistance in case of disaster, "continued Bernard Bigras .
Port infrastructure
"The regional port infrastructure are no longer able to meet the needs of commercial shipping short distance nor the expectations of boaters. This is due to the fact that the federal government continues to exercise its exclusive constitutional authority in the field of navigation but does not assume its responsibilities regarding financial management, maintenance and improvement of port infrastructure. He was stubborn for years not to cede to the government of Québec or to municipalities, themselves, know the potential that These ports represent. Now the Port Divestiture Program, established in 1995, moving very slowly since April 2004, only four ports have been assigned, the last in 2007-2008, for a total of 19 in 16 years. The facility condition continues to deteriorate because Transport Canada has ceased to maintain adequate port facilities under its responsibility. The Bloc demands that the federal government accelerate the process of transfer of regional / local ports and expanding the amounts for the repairs that accompany this program, "stated Jean-François Fortin .
Fisheries and Water Protection
"As for the fishing industry, faced with a backdrop of recurrent instability, we consider it essential to develop a management plan for sustainable resource fisheries and to strengthen the plan assistance to communities affected by the fishing ban. Note also that it is imperative to take necessary measures to ensure that water is excluded from NAFTA so that our laws prohibiting the export of water are not challenged or invalidated, "said Bernard Bigras .
Let Quebec fully express their interests and skills
"The citizens express their concerns about the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons on the St. Lawrence. Since the protection of biodiversity and communities of St. Lawrence is paramount, everyone must acknowledge the correctness of the precautionary principle. The Bloc Quebecois, the federal government must respond to the motion passed unanimously by the National Assembly 20 October 2010 which claimed to await the results of evaluations Strategic Environmental requested by the Quebec government before issuing any license seismic surveys and drilling to the structure of Old Harry and suspend the current permissions. Once completed evaluations, if Quebec is able to ensure that the highest requirements for environmental protection and the highest standards of security can be deployed, it will then decide what Will make this resource. But to do this, Ottawa must stop linking hands in Quebec, allowing him to express its environmental priorities and let them decide what he intends to make all natural resources within its territory. Finally, when decisions directly affect the international St. Lawrence, the federal government should also allow Quebec to fully express their interests and skills as well as ecological and economic choices that match the aspirations and values of Quebeckers, "concluded Bernard Bigras .
information: Isabelle Monette, Press
Wing of the Bloc Québécois
Tel. : 613 947-2495
Cell. : 613 296-1041
www.blocquebecois.org
0 comments:
Post a Comment