Legault considers putting environmental measures on hold

A few days after advocating a “shock treatment” to “cut deeply into bureaucracy,” Premier François Legault suggested that certain environmental measures could be put on hold.

In an interview with Radio-Canada’s Midi info on Friday, the premier said that Quebec had set itself “tough targets” for the environment and that it could not “be the only state in North America to make efforts.”

“I think we need to find a balance. (…) Can we take a break on certain measures to help Quebecers financially? These are things that Bernard Drainville will look into,” he told Alec Castonguay.

Earlier this week, during his cabinet reshuffle, Legault indicated that the new Minister of the Environment, Drainville, will have to ensure that environmental authorizations are issued more quickly.

“It’s gotten to the point where, to change a culvert, it can take years to get environmental authorizations. There really needs to be a major overhaul of the environment. Not to lower the criteria, but to remove bureaucracy and reduce delays,” he added on Friday.

The premier also indicated that Quebec was collecting more than $1 billion a year from the carbon exchange.

“We use it for environmental measures. (…) Could we use some of that money to help Quebecers’ wallets?” he wondered.

Towards lower prices at the pump?

However, there is no question of leaving the carbon market, because “it would cost billions to compensate the people who bought credits,” the premier said in another interview on 98.5.

The premier indicated that he was not ruling out reducing gasoline taxes.

“We can’t be the only ones in Canada and the United States to indirectly have a price on gasoline. A carbon price. Personally, I believe in it because I think it’s one of the ways to reduce gasoline consumption. But now Mr. Carney has decided to remove all that, and so has Mr. Trump,” he told Patrick Lagacé on Friday.

Ottawa abolished its carbon pricing last April, but Quebec has kept its own (carbon market).

La Presse reported on Friday morning that Quebec was in the process of revising its environmental targets.

It should be noted that, in accordance with international agreements, Quebec has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 37.5 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

With his approval ratings plummeting, the premier is conducting a series of interviews to discuss the new direction he wants to take his government.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews