The Coalition highly commends Mme Line Beauchamp, the Quebec minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Parks and Jean Charest’s government for their decision to reject the creation of a regional megalandfill near Danford Lake, in an area of pristine lakes and rivers that is primarily oriented towards tourism and ecotourism (http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/infuseur/communique.asp?no=1536).

This decision is the right decision, because it is consistent

• with the conclusions of the Quebec Environmental Review Board (BAPE);
• with the essential thrusts of the Sustainable Development Strategy;
• with the Quebec official Waste Management Policy;

and, last but not least, because it recognizes and conforms with the desire of the public, elected representatives in the Outaouais, and other regions of Quebec to seek alternatives to landfills and a reduction of greenhouse gases.

The Wardens in the Outaouais, the Mayor of Gatineau, and the West Quebec Council of Elected Officials should also be congratulated, since their decision in the Spring of 2008 to seek an alternative to landfill undoubtedly influenced the province’s decision.

The Coalition would also like to commend Mrs. Stéphanie Vallée, Member of the Quebec National Assembly for the Gatineau Riding, who has courageously, consistently and tenaciously defended her vision of a green Outaouais ever since she was first elected and who has always shown that she listens to the people she represents.

The Coalition will continue to involve itself with this issue by actively supporting all efforts made by the Region until a sustainable regional solution has been implemented.

The real victors in this long struggle are our lakes, and our forests, and our rivers, and our wildlife—they were unable to speak for themselves, but the people of West Quebec spoke for them, and were listened to. They can be proud that they are able to pass on their heritage to their children, unspoiled.

Many of you have had your letters to the Minister of the Environment published in various regional newspapers (Le Droit, The Low Down, The Equity, The Pontiac Journal). Hopefully the voice of the people will have an impact on the decision-making process.

In the meantime, the Coalition remains active. André Carrière and Michèle Borchers attended the last board meeting of the Outaouais Regional Council (Feb 9). They learned that things are going according to plan (call for tenders in the Spring of 2009 and signing of contract in September 2009) and that we will learn more after the next Wardens Council in mid-March. Jean Perras, Chelsea’s Mayor, will sit on it as the new Warden for the MRC Collines-de-l’Outaouais.

On February 11, the municipalities of Shawville and Clarendon (MRC Pontiac) and Pontiac (MRC Collines-de-l’Outaouais) published a joint letter (Three municipalities have answer to dump closures) in The Pontiac Journal informing the public of their endeavours to find an alternative to the Danford dump project. It is well worth reading (see attached). The basic message is:

"Our three municipalities wish to make the public aware of what they have pursued as an option should the Danford Lake project not be approved".

On February 13, André and Michèle met with Norman MacMillan, the Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region, at his Buckingham office. The exchange was open and frank.

Last minute info:
Gatineau is sending the head of its Environment Committee, Alain Riel, to Sweden to study how the Swedes manage their waste. Please read attached article from Le Droit.

Quite a few of you are Kazabazua taxpayers and, as such, are entitled to vote at this Sunday's municipal by-election. It is important that you take the time to come to Kaz and cast your vote for Councellor seat no. 1. Municipal councils have a huge influence on issues like the megadump project.

Candidates for Position #1 on the Kaz Council:
Robert Rowan, 36 Danford Road West
(Robert is a member of the Kazabazua Lakes Association)
Denis Belair, 7 Ch. Belair

Voting Day
Sunday, February 22 10 A.M. until 8 P.M.
Kazabazua Community Centre (Please take photo I.D.)

1. The City of Gatineau and all four MRCs in the Outaouais, including the Pontiac, have committed to a regional solution other than landfill to be implemented in the next 3-4 years and found an interim solution until then.   Why would the government undermine these efforts?
   
2. Four (4) of the 18 Pontiac municipalities (Danford Lake is one of them!) had already closed their trench landfills and made arrangements for the next few years. Why would the other 14 mayors of the Pontiac being rewarded for “doing nothing”?  They have turned down every other proposal presented to them, and have sat on their hands in the hope that this dump will be granted them.
   
3. The promoter has made it clear that the MRC Pontiac and the MRC Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, together, do not produce enough waste to make his project financially viable. If the Minister were to approve the project, where would the garbage really be coming from?  Please note once again that the Regional Director of the Ministry of the Environment expressed to the BAPE his concern that the dump site might accept waste coming from Ontario.
   
4. How could the Minister justify running counter to the Quebec Strategy on Sustainable Development, Quebec Waste Management Policy, to the Recommendations of the Parliamentary Commission on Waste, and to the Quebec Action Plan concerning greenhouse gases?
   
5. The Quebec Environmental Review Board (Bape), the Ministry of the Environment’s own advisory body, rejected the project in September 2007.
   

Mr. Norman MacMillan,
Minister responsible for the Outaouais
Fax: 819 986-8629
www.normanmacmillan.org
ministredelegue@mtq.gouv.qc.ca
Mr. Jean Charest
Premier ministre du Québec
Fax: 514-873-6769
E-mail: www.premier-ministre.gouv.qc.ca/premier-ministre/nous-joindre/nous-joindre.shtml

And send a copy to:

On Monday, January 26, 2009, at the Pontiac Mayors’ Council, the Pontiac Member of the National Assembly, Charlotte l’Écuyer, declared that the project will probably be approved next week and that the promoter is currently discussing the issue with the Quebec Ministry of the Environment (please see attached articles from The Equity or visit http://www.theequity.ca/te_page01.htm and http://www.theequity.ca/te_page04.htm).

Since the City of Gatineau and the other Outaouais Counties (MRCs) have committed themselves to having a green solution (waste-into-energy) within three to four years and, during the interim, they are sending their waste to the Lachute landfill site, the Ministry might approve a downsized project—to serve the Pontiac only.

However, approving such a dump only for the Pontiac and for the next thirty years, as initially proposed by the promoter, would make no sense at all—and this, for two reasons:

First of all, the Quebec Ministry of the Environment has just agreed to postpone the mandated closure of trench landfills for nine months (until September 2009) in the Pontiac. It would be much wiser for the Ministry to postpone the closure for three to four years (until the opening of a regional centre).

Secondly, the MRC Pontiac does not produce enough waste, all by itself, to make the proposed Danford project viable–this was made clear at the Quebec Environmental Board hearings. This leads to the question: where would the additional waste come from? From outside the Outaouais? Several participants at the Quebec Environmental Board hearings, including the regional director of the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, expressed a fear that it might be imported from Ontario.

At a time when both the American and Canadian governments have decided to invest heavily in green technologies, it would be a shame to see the Quebec government take a step backward by allowing the Pontiac to use a technology that many experts deem outdated.