A citizen who got involved in saving Ouiatchouan Falls faces a 34,345 $ lawsuit for having taken part in the public debate surrounding the hydroelectric power station project in Val-Jalbert. Nicolas Andrade created the parody website "valjalbert.ca", later located at "www.sosvaljalbert.com". The Val-Jalbert Regional Park Corporation maintains that the satirical site was likely to be confused with its own website.
A humorous video to denounce the prosecution
Last May more than 20 groups, including Fondation Rivières, came to support Nicolas Andrade by demanding an immediate end to the prosecution. The Zapartists, for their part, published a humorous video in support. In their words, “because laughing is such a nice way to show your teeth”!
“The information disseminated on Mr. Andrade's website brought together in an original way the criticisms already published on the Internet and widely relayed in the public space. The parody certainly brought a new perspective and supported public debate and citizen mobilization for the protection of rivers in Quebec,” declares Alain Saladzius, president of Fondation Rivières.
On January 15, Mr. Andrade learned that the settlement offer he had proposed to the plaintiffs had been refused. There will therefore be a trial next May. In a message to his supporters, Mr. Andrade recalls the details of the case and suggests several ways to support it, including one that calls for the lawsuit to be dropped.
Sign and share, to protect freedom of expression and so that no citizen gives up using public space to defend a cause that is dear to them, for fear of being prosecuted.
The Fondation Rivières invites you to widely disseminate information and take action regarding this hydroelectric power station project before it is too late!