A call to action: Montrealers march for climate change

From heat waves to heavy rains, and floods, Montrealers have experienced a summer of extreme weather. It was the rainiest season ever recorded in the city.

On Friday, nearly two dozen Quebec cities took part in climate strikes, including one right here in Montreal.

This comes exactly five years after half a million Montrealers took the streets to walk alongside environmental activist Greta Thunberg during a climate march, marking a global movement.

Today – they are still calling for action to fight climate change.

The march was planned by Pour la suite du monde. It began at the George-Étienne Cartier Monument, and ended at metro Bonaventure.

Marie Maltais, youth speaker for Pour la suite du monde, says being a part of the march is important.

“For me, I chose to get involved; I chose to speak; I chose to write; I chose to be heard, to fight for my future,” she said.

“We are in a crisis where our future is in danger,” she adds.

She says the Quebec government needs to implement a social and ecological change and that society as a whole needs to be consulted – as it affects generations to come.

“We need to do an education reform. It is essential right now to be able to teach what is happening in elementary school, high schools, Cégeps, and university. About 68% of Cégeps classes don’t talk—or almost don’t talk—about climate change right now, which is unacceptable. So that is one big change, and we also need to make a real energy transition in Quebec.”

Anne Dionne, Vice President of Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), says that solutions have been suggested, but she is calling on the government to listen to their demands.

“We’re here today because we’re fed up with the government not making the right decisions, not making any good decisions considering the climate change, considering the climate crisis that we’re in,” she said.

“We need the government to listen to the people because the people do have solutions. We put out three or four big sheets with all kinds of good solutions that could be applied today. But we need the government to take those courageous decisions,” she adds.