Quebec’s environment minister, Benoit Charette, has signaled that the provincial government may reconsider the controversial LNG-Québec project, which was shelved in 2021 due to environmental concerns. As Quebec faces growing economic uncertainty, particularly regarding its relationship with the U.S., the province is now open to revisiting the idea of a natural gas pipeline and export facility, provided it addresses previous environmental and public concerns.
LNG-Québec: A Controversial Project
The LNG-Québec project, which was initially supported by the Legault government, proposed building a 780-kilometre natural gas pipeline from northern Ontario to the Saguenay region, along with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant for export. The plan aimed to diversify the economy of the Saguenay area, which is heavily dependent on industries like aluminum and forestry.
However, the project was rejected in 2021 after the Quebec Public Consultation Bureau (BAPE) raised concerns about its environmental impact. The BAPE highlighted risks such as increased tanker traffic in the Saguenay River, which could endanger the already vulnerable beluga whale population, and the potential for a significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Quebecers also expressed concerns over the pipeline, leading the government to withdraw its support.
Environmental and Public Concerns Still a Key Issue
Despite the changing economic landscape, Charette emphasized that any renewed effort to push the LNG-Québec project forward would have to address these key concerns. He noted that if the revised project doesn’t meet environmental criteria, it would face the same fate as before. “If it’s the same project with the same specifications, the decision will be the same,” Charette remarked. “Projects are studied based on their merits.”
For the project to be reconsidered, it must respond to the critiques of the BAPE, the Ministry of Environment, and the public, particularly regarding its environmental impact and social acceptability.
Economic Diversification Amid U.S. Tensions
Quebec’s renewed interest in LNG-Québec comes as Premier François Legault and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly call for more diversification of Quebec’s exports. Canada’s reliance on the U.S. as its main trade partner has become a growing concern, particularly with increasing protectionist rhetoric from Washington.
Joly pointed out that the LNG-Québec project could offer Canada an opportunity to access new international markets, such as Europe, for its oil and gas. “We currently have a vulnerability with respect to the United States for our oil and gas,” Joly stated. “For Alberta oil, 98 percent of the oil goes to the U.S., but we don’t have pipelines that cross Canada to come to Quebec.”
The idea of exporting Canadian energy resources to markets outside of the U.S. has gained traction, with some advocating for the project as a way to reduce dependency on American consumers and increase profits from higher European prices.
Political Reactions: A Divided Opinion
The potential revival of the LNG-Québec project has sparked mixed reactions within Quebec’s political landscape. Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre has openly supported the project, arguing that it would help Canada capitalize on global energy markets rather than relying solely on the U.S. “We can sell something 200 or 300 percent higher in Europe if we export overseas instead of giving all our gas to the Americans,” Poilievre said, calling the current arrangement “ridiculous.”
On the other hand, some Quebec political parties remain cautious. Pascal Paradis, a member of the Parti Québécois (PQ), argued that decisions about the pipeline should remain in the hands of Quebecers. “It’s not Mélanie Joly or the Conservative Party to decide for Quebecers,” he said. “There was a big debate on this project, and it wasn’t determined to be in Quebec’s economic interests at the time.”
While the federal government rejected the project in 2022, Quebec’s environmental review and political figures are now considering a potential shift in strategy, though questions of social acceptance and environmental risks remain.
Looking Ahead
As Quebec grapples with the challenges of economic diversification and environmental responsibility, the future of the LNG-Québec project hangs in the balance. The government’s willingness to reconsider the pipeline project signals a shift in strategy, but it remains clear that the environmental and public concerns that led to its initial cancellation will continue to play a central role in any future decision-making.
The debate over LNG-Québec highlights the larger conversation about how Canada can balance its energy exports with its environmental commitments, all while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics. Whether the project moves forward or not, Quebec’s approach to natural gas exports will likely set the stage for future discussions on energy policy in the province.
