Québec Solidaire's Christine Labrie Calls for New BAPE Hearing on Lac-Mégantic Bypass

Québec solidaire MNA Christine Labrie, alongside Frontenac Mayor Gaby Gendron, is urging for a new environmental impact assessment hearing by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) for the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project. This demand comes nearly 11 years after the catastrophic train disaster that claimed 47 lives in 2013.

Why this matters: The Lac-Mégantic bypass project has significant environmental and social implications, affecting not only the local community but also the broader region. If the project proceeds without proper assessment, it could lead to devastating consequences, including further environmental degradation and harm to public health.

Opponents of the project, including expropriated individuals and environmental advocates, argue that new information must be considered, raising concerns about the loss of agricultural land, destruction of wetlands, and potential contamination of drinking water. They demand a 'serious and independent' environmental impact assessment from the BAPE, conditional on the 40% funding promised by the Quebec government.

The federal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is financing 60% of the project and has announced the start of work on the 12.5 km rail bypass. However, opponents feel their concerns are being ignored. Mayor Gaby Gendron criticized the federal government for not listening to local concerns, emphasizing the environmental impact, including the dumping of 55 million liters of water into the Chaudière River during drainage work.

Christine Labrie argues that there is no consensus on the social acceptability of the project. 'There are concerns about the loss of agricultural land, about wetlands that would be destroyed, about the possible contamination of drinking water... This tells us that there is no consensus on the social acceptability of this project,' she stated.

Federal Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez, who announced the start of work on the project in October 2022, believes that Ottawa and Quebec have done their homework by considering the 130 recommendations issued by the BAPE. He maintains that the majority of people support the bypass, stating, 'It's time for the rail line to move out of the city centre. The survivors see a huge train pass several times a day that contains a lot of dangerous materials. How can you turn the page and move on when you have this same train passing on the same track in the same place?'

Despite the federal government's stance, opponents continue to voice their concerns. Yolande Boulanger from the Coalition of Collateral Victims stated, 'If we really want to help the population of the Lac-Mégantic region, we must absolutely avoid creating another human, ecological, and environmental disaster.'

The Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, which occurred on July 6, 2013, when a train carrying crude oil derailed and destroyed the city center, remains a painful memory for the community. The bypass project, estimated to cost several hundred million dollars, aims to prevent such a tragedy from recurring by rerouting trains out of the city center.

As work on the project progresses, the demand for a new BAPE hearing highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between safety, environmental impact, and social acceptability. The outcome of this demand will likely shape the future of the Lac-Mégantic bypass and the community's path to healing.

Key Takeaways

• Québec solidaire MNA Christine Labrie demands new environmental impact assessment for Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project.
• Opponents raise concerns about loss of agricultural land, destruction of wetlands, and potential contamination of drinking water.
• Federal government financing 60% of project, but opponents feel concerns are being ignored.
• No consensus on social acceptability of project, with concerns about environmental impact and public health.
• New BAPE hearing demanded to balance safety, environmental impact, and social acceptability.