Whether it is an astute public investment or the product of political favouritism, this much is true: the cement plant, which is located on the southern flank of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, will emit between 1.8 and 2.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year after it starts up this fall. This will make it the largest emitter of carbon in the province, according to Canada’s environment ministry, and will dwarf the yearly emissions of Shell Canada’s oil sands operations in Fort McMurray, Alta.
The new project wasn’t submitted to an environmental review process, which includes public hearings. The governmental logic was that the original project was proposed in 1995, months before Quebec adopted far stricter environmental standards for new projects. Therefore, it should be held to those 1995 standards.
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