When a development project is launched, it is obvious that the Bureau d’audiences publiques en environnement (BAPE) hearings have to be held in the affected communities. This regional presence testifies precisely to the relevance of the BAPE as one of our best democratic institutions and we are proud of it. Thus, to hold such hearings on the huge hydroelectric project of La Romaine River in Havre-Saint-Pierre is totally justified.

But to hold these public hearings only in Havre-Saint-Pierre is not in conformity with the citizens’ participation intentions that precisely gave rise to the creation of the BAPE. The eight billion dollars Romaine project is a project of national scale.  National, for the costs would be billed to all Quebec taxpayers.  National also, because this project’s future pay-off is more than dubious. Indeed, at a time when 200 million dollars per year is paid to TransEnergy to close its Bécancour power station due to Quebec electricity surpluses so significant as to become unsaleable on the export market, it is quite justifiable to wonder what will be done with La Romaine very expensive energy, especially when no sales contract is in sight.  Moreover, our American neighbours and potential clients are on the way to change dramatically their energy environment by launching massive new production sources and energy efficiency programs.

And then, of course, there is the Saint-Lawrence estuary, our national water source. La Romaine project environmental impacts concern us all. To harness one of Côte-Nord’s last virgin rivers would have national, if not continental, consequences. For instance, La Romaine fresh water input into the estuary, “artificialized” after the dams, could modify greatly the marine ecosystem of the Saint-Lawrence River. In the same way, the mercury contamination resulting from the flooding of the boreal forests, transforming La Romaine into four reservoirs, would spread well beyond the limits of Côte-Nord. 

In this context, Fondation Rivières’ request to hold videoconferences of the BAPE public hearings in Montreal and Quebec is far from futile. On the contrary, this request aims at bringing back the democratic and participative intentions behind the BAPE institution on any projects of national scale.  This issue has to be fought for the benefit of all Quebec citizens who, increasingly, find themselves helpless vis-a-vis the BAPE processes and accessibility. Too often, indeed, citizens contact us to ask for help in going through the maze of procedures and, even worse, ask us where to find financial assistance in order to be able to participate.  And really, how can normal citizens, with little time and no money since the BAPE does not grant any financial support, evaluate and, more importantly, counter-assess the erudite impact studies which often have more than 1000 pages?

Fondation Rivières and other environmental groups are the only independent expert resources available to question and counter-assess the promoters’ impacts studies. We are independent, free of promoters and any other interest. Our sole concern is the public’s good, in the short term as well as in the long term.  We work with and for the citizens.  In the Romaine’s case, to require the government’s assistance to the BAPE so that it can truly achieve its mandate of allowing public participation, is one of our group’s fundamental missions.

The BAPE is one of our greatest institutions, and we respect it. But it has to be given back to citizens. It has to give citizens, through direct interaction with the promoters, the assurance that their questions will be heard and answered in a proper and satisfactory way. It is only in this truly participative process, that we will, collectively, be able to build the future for which we wish. Isn't this the true definition of a democracy?

Roy Dupuis
President
Fondation Rivières