SAINTE-LUCE – Marc Garneau, Member of Parliament and the Official Opposition Critic for Industry, Science and Technology, and Denis Coderre, Member of Parliament and Official Opposition Critic for Natural Resources, were in the Regional Council Municipality of Mitis and Matane today to evaluate the consequences of the Harper government’s inaction on environmental matters.
“How can this government pretend that it will make Quebec’s regions a priority when it was incapable of taking the necessary measures to prevent foreseeable situations like the flooding that has affected the people in this region?” asked Marc Garneau who added that the Harper government needs to stop turning its back on Quebec regions and start implementing significant and well-planned measures instead of handing out election-time gifts.
In order to better understand the reality confronting the region the two MPs, accompanied by Liberal candidate Nancy Charest, met with flooding victims, local business-owners – notably shareholders of PMI to discuss forest biomass – and a large number of elected municipal officials including the mayors of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, La-Martre, Marsoui, Sainte-Félicité, Grosses-Roches, Saint-Ulric, Métis-sur-Mer, Grand-Métis, Sainte-Flavie, Sainte-Luce and Matane.
“We are here to denounce the Harper government’s inaction and to show our support for communities affected by the recent flooding,” said Denis Coderre. “We are here first and foremost to meet and listen to the community leaders, businesspersons and people in the cities and towns of this region in order to discuss the issues that affect them all, such as the environment and the future of the forestry and fishing sectors, among others, in order to find a road forward.”
“What is the government waiting for before taking action to stop the erosion of shorelines and river banks?” asked Nancy Charest who also indicated that today’s intervention was consistent with one undertaken last November 12th during a roundtable organized by Francis Scarpaleggia, the Liberal Critic on Water Issues.
A future Liberal government would support efforts in vulnerable and affected communities to reinforce their shorelines and protect their cities. Consistent with their plans for a National Water Strategy, a Liberal government would commit, among other things, to collaborate in a serious and responsible way in the development of future Plans du Saint Laurent. In addition, a Liberal government would consider funding ecological projects aimed at protecting and strengthening riverbanks and shorelines as part of a “revegetation” of banks aimed at significantly lessening the effects of erosion caused by heavy rains and storms.
With regards to greenhouse gases, a Liberal government would ensure that Canada regained the leadership role it had under previous Liberal governments by cooperating on the international stage to reach an international climate agreement to follow-up on the Kyoto protocol. Liberals are committed to implementing an emissions reduction plan that will help to ensure global temperature rise does not exceed 2 degrees Celsius. As for the clean and renewable technology, a Liberal government would take advantage of the incredible opportunities for economic development in this emerging market.
“The erosion of riverbanks and shorelines and the increasing occurrence of severe storms are indisputable issues for Quebec’s regions and it is high time that our regions have elected federal officials who will help us take action on this,” concluded the Liberal candidate.
