14 demands from a regrouping of civil society for a fair and viable energy future in Quebec
Citizen groups, ecologists, unions, community groups, scientists, professionals and specialists from various fields come together and present 14 demands to the government of Quebec in the form of a “Manifesto for a just and viable energy future”.
Faced with the immense challenge presented by the decarbonization of Quebec and in anticipation of the tabling of the bill aimed at “modernizing” the legal and regulatory framework of the energy sector – whose decisions seem to be taken behind closed doors by a handful of people when they should emerge from social dialogue and democratic debate – around a hundred groups from Quebec civil society present for the first time their common vision of our energy future in the form of a manifesto. This is the result of several months of research, exchanges and consultation efforts.
Concerned about the construction of possible hydroelectric dams, Fondation Rivières joined the movement in order to promote informed decision-making that fully takes into account the impact of our future sources of energy supply on the territory and local communities.
However, it is as a spokesperson that she presents the manifesto to you here, which is the fruit of the collective efforts of a large number of organizations and individuals.
Donnez votre appui au Manifeste pour un avenir énergétique juste et viable
Manifesto for a fair and viable energy future
Our vision
Our efforts must no longer be devoted primarily to opposing destructive projects. Instead, we must work to build a viable future. We firmly believe that energy must be managed responsibly, that is to say in a democratic way, oriented towards the public interest and generated while respecting the biophysical limits of the planet. We demand that energy be considered a public good. We are calling for a broad debate on Quebec's energy future leading to a new coherent energy policy. This must be based on integrated resource planning and allow a reduction in energy demands as well as a fair, gradual and predictable, but rapid, exit from fossil fuels.
We oppose any increase in electricity prices which would increase insecurity and risk slowing down the energy transition. We demand better protection of territories, which will be done by consulting indigenous peoples and with the consent of local communities, ensuring their participation in decision-making that concerns them and recognizing their rights. By committing ourselves in this way, we aim to protect our common energy heritage for future generations.
Our core values
We firmly stand for the common good, democracy, transparency, accountability, social justice, tolerance, taking into account the biophysical limits of the planet, social stability, energy security, the preservation of our achievements social, responsibility towards future generations and quality of life for all. We want to dedicate ourselves to building a resilient, carbon-free, viable and just Quebec.
Our 14 demands
- For public energy under democratic control
- For a debate on energy in Quebec
- For a new energy policy in Quebec
- For integrated resource planning
- For measures that promote the reduction of energy demands
- For binding plans aimed at a gradual and predictable, but rapid, exit from fossil fuels
- Against the polluter-pays principle
- Against the total or partial privatization of Hydro-Québec
- For the safeguarding and strengthening of the powers of the Energy Authority
- For a just transition for workers
- Against an increase in electricity prices which would increase insecurity and risk slowing down the energy transition
- For the protection of the territory
- For the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples
- For the consent of local populations
What we commit to doing
Faced with the threats to our energy future, we are ready to intensify our mobilization to put more pressure on public office holders. We are determined to make our voices heard and demand a legislative framework that will be adapted to the current and future context. Together, we will work tirelessly to defend a viable future, based on coherent and democratic energy choices. We will not accept any regression in our quest to protect living things, the integrity of our territories and to guarantee energy equity for all.
Signatories
- Sustainable transport access
- ACEF ABE, Peninsula, Laval, Basses-Laurentides, Bois-Francs, North of Montreal, South-West of Montreal, Estrie and Lanaudière
- Outaouais Climate Action (ACO)
- Action Environment Basses-Laurentides
- Ahuntsic-Cartierville in transition
- Alliance of professional and technical health and social services personnel (APTS)
- Alliance for Youth Engagement
- Ambioterra
- Friends of the Kipawa River
- Quebec Association for the Fight against Atmospheric Pollution (AQLPA)
- Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment (AQME)
- Quebec association for the promotion of environmental education. (AQPERE)
- Workshops for biodiversity
- ATTAC-Quebec
- Canoe Kayak Quebec
- Popular education hub of Pointe-Saint-Charles
- Crossroads for participation, resourcing and training (CPRF)
- CDC Solidarités Villeray
- Central of Quebec unions
- Emotions support center
- Mauricie Budgetary and Social Intervention Center
- Community Organization Research and Consultation Center
- La Petite-Patrie Resource and Community Action Center
- Mobility Chair at Polytechnique Montréal
- Rivière-du-Nord Landfill Alert Coalition / CAER
- Montreal Climate Coalition
- Coalition against poverty of Petite-Patrie
- Montreal Coalition of Neighborhood Tables
- Coalition Let’s get the Carbon Fund out of the way
- Coalition Let's take out the gas!
- Scientific collective on energy issues in Quebec
- ZéN community of Assomption Autray
- Communities ZéN Outaouais
- Committee of Responsible Citizens of Bécancour
- Committee of Citizens for the Protection of the Maskoutain Environment (CCCPEM)
- Housing Committee
- Petite Patrie Housing Committee
- Confederation of National Trade Unions – CSN
- Central Council of Metropolitan Montreal-CSN
- Quebec Council on the Environment
- Popular convergence
- Coop Celsius
- Sens Climate Cooperative
- Quebec coordination of the World March of Women
- Évasion l’Ormière Youth Corporation
- CREPPA UQAM
- Emergency Water
- Eau Vive Quebec
- Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovation, Saint Paul University
- Ecotheque
- Autonomous education federation
- Green Technology Festival
- Don’t run with us Foundation
- David Suzuki Foundation
- Monique-Fitz-Back Foundation
- Fondation Rivières
- Greenpeace Canada
- The Assumption in transition
- LA Planète invites itself to Parliament
- THE GRAPE
- The Friends of the Chicot of Saint-Cuthbert
- Friends of the Earth of Quebec
- The forgotten ones on the bus
- League of Rights and Freedoms
- Saint-Émile Youth Center
- MARE (Regional Environmental Action Movement)
- Mothers at the front Rouyn-Noranda, Témiscouata and Madawaska
- Environmental mobilization Ahuntsic-Cartierville
- Montreal for all
- Popular Education and Community Action Movement of Quebec (MÉPACQ)
- UNEplanète eco-citizen movement
- Nature Quebec
- International Observatory for the Rights of Nature
- Collective Project
- Clean.org
- QUINTUS
- Rally against radioactive pollution
- Climate reality Canada
- Grouping of women's groups in the National Capital
- Quebec hydrocarbon vigilance group
- Women's Action Network in Health and Social Services
- Environmental Women's Network
- Association of Environmental Energy Organizations (ROEE)
- Quebec Network of Environmental Groups (RQGE)
- Consumer assistance service
- Environmental solidarity Sutton
- Quebec Public and Parapublic Service Union (SFPQ)
- Union of Hydro Québec Specialists and Professionals SCFP 4250
- Regional table of voluntary popular education organizations (TROVEP) of Montreal
- TerraVie
- Workers for Climate Justice (TJC)
- Consumers Union
- Towards a green valley
- City in green
- To live in town
Academic and professional environment
- Adrian Burke, professor, UdeM
- Alain Rouleau, retired professor, UQAC
- Anne-Sophie Gousse-Lessard, professor, UQAM
- Annie Carrier, professor-researcher, University of Sherbrooke
- Audrey Laurin-Lamothe, Associate Professor, University of York
- Béatrice Pudelko, professor, TÉLUQ
- Benoit Éthier, professor, University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Benoit Tremblay, associate professor, Laval University
- Blaise Stanislas Mamponda, doctoral candidate in environmental law, Université Laval
- Caroline Desbiens, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Heritage and Tourism and responsible for the “Territory Guardians” Certification, Laval University
- Caroline Halde, professor, Laval University
- Charles Baron, full professor, Laval University
- Charles-Antoine Bachand, professor of foundations of education, UQO
- Dan Furukawa Marques, associate professor of sociology, Laval University
- Denis Bourque, professor, Partnership research Socio-ecological transition and Philanthropy in the development of territorial communities, UQO
- Dominique Berteaux, professor-researcher, UQAR
- Eric Pineault, professor and president of the scientific committee, Institute of Environmental Sciences, UQAM
- Estelle Carde, professor, University of Montreal
- Evelyn Dionne, doctoral candidate in industrial relations specializing in the study of the impacts of the just transition on work and employment, Laval University
- Franck Scherrer, professor, University of Montreal
- Francois-Xavier Michaux, general coordinator, Transition in Common
- Frédéric Lasserre, professor, Quebec Council for Geopolitical Studies, Laval University
- Geneviève Brisson, professor and environmental anthropologist, UQAR
- Geneviève Perron, professor, UQAM
- Geneviève Therriault, full professor, UQAR
- Hélène Madénian, doctoral student, INRS
- Isabelle Arseneau, lecturer, Laval University
- Isabelle Goupil-Sormany, Assistant teaching clinician, Laval University
- Isabelle Miron, professor, UQAM
- Ivan Tchotourian, professor, Faculty of Law, Université Laval
- Jacinthe Dion, professor, UQAC
- Jean-François Blain, senior analyst, energy sector
- Jean-Sébastien Fallu, associate professor, University of Montreal
- Johanne Saint-Charles, professor, UQAM
- Karine Collette, professor, University of Sherbrooke
- Karl Janelle, doctoral student, HEC Montréal
- Laura Daleau, lecturer, Laval University
- Laurie Guimond, professor, UQAM
- Louis Favreau, sociologist, professor emeritus, UQO
- Louise Carignan, professor, UQAC
- Laurence Brière, professor, Institute of Environmental Sciences, UQAM
- Lucie Mayer, master’s candidate, UQTR
- Lucie Morin, doctoral candidate, University of Montreal
- Lyne Lefebvre, associate professor, UQAM
- Marc Lucotte, full professor, UQAM
- Marc-Urbain Proulx, professor, UQAC
- Marguerite Mendell, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Concordia University
- Marie Fall, professor, UQAM
- Marie France Labrecque, professor emeritus, Laval University
- Marie Saint-Arnaud, associate professor, Institute of Environmental Sciences, UQAM
- Marie-Hélène Lévesque, doctoral candidate, University of Sherbrooke
- Marie-Josée Drolet, professor-researcher, UQTR
- Martine D'Amours, retired associate professor, Laval University
- Mathieu Charron, professor, UQO
- Mélanie Champoux, lecturer, University of Sherbrooke
- Nadia Aubin-Horth, full professor, integrative biology and behavioral genomics, Université Laval
- Olivier Riffon, professor of eco-consulting, UQAC
- Oumar Kane, professor, UQAM
- Paquito Bernard, professor, UQAM
- Phaedra Royle, professor, University of Montreal
- Pier-Luc Turcotte, assistant professor, University of Ottawa
- Pierre Legendre, full professor, University of Montreal
- Rodolphe De Koninck, professor emeritus, University of Montreal
- Serigne Touba Mbacké Gueye, professor, UQAT
- René Lachapelle, researcher, Center for Research and Consultation in Community Organization
- Simon Tremblay-Pepin, professor, Saint-Paul University
- Sophie L. Van Neste, associate professor, INRS, Canada Research Chair in Urban Climate Action
- Thierry Pauchant, professor, Attac-Québec
- Xavier Parent-Rocheleau, professor, HEC Montréal
- Yves Caumartin, doctor, Laval University
- Yves-Marie Abraham, professor, HEC Montréal
Also supported by
- Bad Skin
- Christian Vanasse
- Christian Bégin
- Christine Beaulieu
- Debbie Lynch-White
- Dominic Champagne
- domebo
- Emmanuel Bilodeau
- Eric Jean
- Eve Landry
- Fred Savard
- Geneviève Bilodeau
- Hubert Proulx
- Jean-Félix Chénier
- Louis-Gilles Francoeur
- Maryse Letarte
- Paul Piché
- Roy Dupuis
- Salome Raven
- Valérie Ivy Hamelin