David Suzuki Foundation, Nature Quebec, and 98 other organizations and people have joined forces to fight off renewed momentum to build pipelines.
Many people have been proposing new Canadian pipelines in light of the trade and economic conflict with the United States. The civil society groups emphasize that a "socio-ecological transition" is needed to ensure Quebec's economic prosperity and combat climate change.
At a news conference Wednesday, they described talk about fossil fuel transportation projects on Quebec territory as "mirages" and a "political and media bubble."
“These types of projects, whether GNL Québec or Énergie Est, were already outdated when they were rejected in 2015 and 2021. Imagine now! Demand for fossil gas in Europe is falling, and investors are not there. Even if these projects were to get off the ground in several years, the energy transition would have continued and we would end up with superfluous and costly infrastructure,” the signatories said.
"Quebec does not have to compromise the integrity of its territory or the health of its environment and its inhabitants to allow the oil and gas industry to sell its hydrocarbons in an attempt to respond to a temporary economic issue. Here in Quebec, we have proudly embraced the ecological transition, clean energy production and the economy of tomorrow. We will not go back," they added.
The groups also recalled the long history of "victories of the Quebec population" against the "unacceptable projects" by the fossil fuel industry over the past 15 years. A provincial law against the exploitation and exploration of these resources was put in place in 2022.
An Angus Reid survey of Canadians published February 10 found two-thirds of respondents (65%) said they were in favour of reviving Energy East, while a slight majority (54%) supported Northern Gateway. In Quebec, 47% support Energy East, up from 33% in 2019.
"People are scared about energy security, but the reality is that most of the oil that Quebec consumes comes from Western Canada and the demand for natural gas is declining in Europe, particularly in Germany. Not only do these fossil infrastructure projects not correspond to our environmental objectives, but potential customers are not and will not be there," the signatory organizations and experts said.
The groups say concerns over "climate and biodiversity" are "more fundamental" than those over energy security. They warn fossil fuel transportation can lead to accidents and spills, threats to beluga whale populations, risks to the fauna and flora of the St. Lawrence River and "serious issues" related to human health.
"Environmental crises will not take a break because U.S. President Donald Trump has mood swings. We cannot face one crisis by ignoring another. The best way to face them all is to embrace the ecological and social transition," the signatories concluded.
Quebec will receive $13.5 billion in equalization payments in 2025-26, more than the $11.9 billion it will receive in the Canada Health Transfer or the near-$3.8 billion the province will get from the Canada Social Transfer. The province receives more in equalization than any other province, though not the most per capita.