http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Quebec/2012/09/20/002-martine-ouellet-moratoire-complet-gaz-de-schiste.shtml
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Here are the links to the articles I had read last week. I thought they were fairly interesting and showed a more 'political side' to the class' subject matter.
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The first thing I should do is give some background to this all, other-wise it may not make any sense! First off, Quebec gets the bulk of it's power from hydro.
After all; "Quebec has one of the world's largest reserves of freshwater, occupying 12% of its surface. It has 3% of the world's renewable fresh water, whereas it has only 0.1% of its population. More than half a million lakes, including 30 with an area greater than 250 km², and 4,500 rivers pour their torrents into the Atlantic Ocean, through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Arctic Ocean, byJames, Hudson and Ungava bays." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec#Hydrography)
That said, the province still has gas, thermo and nuclear sources. None of which are as clean and job efficient as Hydro.
Now, on September 4th, Quebeckers gave the boot to the long standing liberal premier, Jean Charest (Let's hope Ontario does the same to Mc Guinty in the next election.) and they elected their first PQ government since 2003 and the first female premier the province has ever had (Yay!). The incoming government is a much more progressive, heritage aware and forward thinking government. The two article talk about,
A: The announcement to terminate the Gentilly-2 reactor and invest 200 million in the affected regions to compensate, and
B: That the incoming government will be imposing an indefinite moratorium on Shale Gas exploration, extraction and on shale gas exports until the government can be satisfied that a cleaner and safe way of extraction has been invented, something the new PoQ Minister of Nat. Resources doubts will ever happen.
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Enjoy the reads attached, and I also going to link a graphic explaining where Hydro Quebec gets its power.
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Pauline Marois commence en lion
Pauline Marois (premier of PoQ) starts out fiercely.
The Premier of Quebec announces the closing of Gentilly-2 as well as the abolition of the health tax and the hike in student tuition.
Robert Dutrisac, 21 septembre 2012, Québec
This is a cannon start for the government of Pauline Marois which held it’s first meeting of the council of ministers on thursday.
...
Another decision taken by the council of ministers, and certainly not the least: the nuclear reactor Gentilly-2 will be shut down definitively. An economic divestment fund of $200 million will be created for the two affected regions as a result of the reactor’s termination, Centre-du-Québec and la Mauricie.
«I have the intention of acting quickly to offer the best possible results for Quebeckers. It starts now, on day 1 of our mandate», affirmed Pauline Marois during her first press conference as the first female premier of Quebec.
...
As for the closing of Gentilly-2, Pauline Marois asked the Minister of Nat. Resources, Martine Ouellet, and Hydro Québec to produce a report on the implications and conditions surrounding the termination of the reactors. «I want this act to become a symbol of Quebec’s promise to the environment and to the well-being of future generations , as well as a promise to the rigorous management of our finances» said Marois. Nature Québec and the David Suzuki Foundation welcomed the government’s decision.
Robert Dutrisac, 21 septembre 2012, Québec
This is a cannon start for the government of Pauline Marois which held it’s first meeting of the council of ministers on thursday.
...
Another decision taken by the council of ministers, and certainly not the least: the nuclear reactor Gentilly-2 will be shut down definitively. An economic divestment fund of $200 million will be created for the two affected regions as a result of the reactor’s termination, Centre-du-Québec and la Mauricie.
«I have the intention of acting quickly to offer the best possible results for Quebeckers. It starts now, on day 1 of our mandate», affirmed Pauline Marois during her first press conference as the first female premier of Quebec.
...
As for the closing of Gentilly-2, Pauline Marois asked the Minister of Nat. Resources, Martine Ouellet, and Hydro Québec to produce a report on the implications and conditions surrounding the termination of the reactors. «I want this act to become a symbol of Quebec’s promise to the environment and to the well-being of future generations , as well as a promise to the rigorous management of our finances» said Marois. Nature Québec and the David Suzuki Foundation welcomed the government’s decision.
...
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Le PQ ferme définitivement la porte à l'industrie du gaz de schiste
The PQ indefinitely shuts the door to the shale gas industry.
The PQ indefinitely shuts the door to the shale gas industry.
Mise à jour le jeudi 20 septembre 2012 à 18 h 27
Less than 24 hours after her swearing in, the new Minister of Natural Resources, Martine Ouellet, has confirmed on thursday morning that Pauline Marois’ government would be imposing a full moratorium on the exploration and exporting of shale gas in the PoQ.
The Parti Quebecois’ platform had already made allusion to a moratorium of this extent, they had previously specified that the regulations around this industry would be revised and that the operations of his industry would not be able to continue until safe regulations existed.
Thursday morning, Martine Ouellet was more precise. She rejected all possibilities of opening the door to shale gas exploration. The minister stated she did not see a day when the (fracking) technology would be secure enough to explore and extract gas safely.
«Our position is very clear when it comes to shale gas: a full moratorium for both exploring and exporting.» -Minister of Nat.Resources Martine Ouellet.
AQLPA says: Good news
The president of the AQLPA, (Quebec Association Against Atmospheric Pollution) André Bélisle applauds the incoming governments decision. «Its a clear, brave, firm, and solid decision, and, we welcome it because it is an image which reflects reality. She has decided this after many trips to Pennsylvania where, she saw horrible things.» Said Bélisle.
The mandate of the committee created by the (former) liberal government to do a strategic and environmental study on shale gas exploration will be widened and transferred to the BAPE (The Office for Public Hearings on the Environment).
In the opinion of André Bélisle, this is a good idea. «It’s what we’ve been asking for. We need a consistent BAPE (Office for Public Hearings on the Environment) to answer the question: “Does there exist an alternative way and what are our realistic needs when it comes to methane or natural gas?”
New Environment Minister
The Parti Quebecois’ platform had already made allusion to a moratorium of this extent, they had previously specified that the regulations around this industry would be revised and that the operations of his industry would not be able to continue until safe regulations existed.
Thursday morning, Martine Ouellet was more precise. She rejected all possibilities of opening the door to shale gas exploration. The minister stated she did not see a day when the (fracking) technology would be secure enough to explore and extract gas safely.
«Our position is very clear when it comes to shale gas: a full moratorium for both exploring and exporting.» -Minister of Nat.Resources Martine Ouellet.
AQLPA says: Good news
The president of the AQLPA, (Quebec Association Against Atmospheric Pollution) André Bélisle applauds the incoming governments decision. «Its a clear, brave, firm, and solid decision, and, we welcome it because it is an image which reflects reality. She has decided this after many trips to Pennsylvania where, she saw horrible things.» Said Bélisle.
The mandate of the committee created by the (former) liberal government to do a strategic and environmental study on shale gas exploration will be widened and transferred to the BAPE (The Office for Public Hearings on the Environment).
In the opinion of André Bélisle, this is a good idea. «It’s what we’ve been asking for. We need a consistent BAPE (Office for Public Hearings on the Environment) to answer the question: “Does there exist an alternative way and what are our realistic needs when it comes to methane or natural gas?”
New Environment Minister
Elsewhere, the AQLPA (Quebec Association Against Atmospheric Pollution) is also applauding the nomination of Daniel Breton for position of Environment Minister for the PoQ. M. Breton is a know environmentalist who is recognized for his work with «Quebec vert Kyoto» (Quebec towards -a homonym to green or ‘eco’- Kyoto) and «Maîtres chez nous 21e sciècle» (A movement which pushed the PoQ gov. to recognize Quebeckers as the owners of the provinces’ natural resources).
André Bélisle notes that it will be the 38th Environment Minister he and his organisation will have dealt with and that its the 1st time that minister is an ecologist. «If that is worrisome, it’s a good thing, because for too long we’ve been asleep or playing games when it comes to the environment.»
Juxen execs. are worried.
André Bélisle notes that it will be the 38th Environment Minister he and his organisation will have dealt with and that its the 1st time that minister is an ecologist. «If that is worrisome, it’s a good thing, because for too long we’ve been asleep or playing games when it comes to the environment.»
Juxen execs. are worried.
The chief of Junnex, a company which handles the exploration of gas and petrol products, the government is running on false pretenses.
«A small company like Junex, just on our land, is able to recuperate 3,7 trillion cubic feet of gas. This is a significant amount which represents roughly 40 years of production for Quebeckers. We can’t just shut down and set our needs aside. Why are we scared? We built Hydro Québec. We were scared of dams, not anymore.» Affirms Jean-Yves Lavoie.
Jean-Yves believes the government should set up test projects on public land to determine that shale exploration is in-fact safe.
«A small company like Junex, just on our land, is able to recuperate 3,7 trillion cubic feet of gas. This is a significant amount which represents roughly 40 years of production for Quebeckers. We can’t just shut down and set our needs aside. Why are we scared? We built Hydro Québec. We were scared of dams, not anymore.» Affirms Jean-Yves Lavoie.
Jean-Yves believes the government should set up test projects on public land to determine that shale exploration is in-fact safe.
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Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteThe news on a moratorium on shale gas exploration is great news. The post is well done; you acknowledge your source and have included graphics.
Good work,
Beth