Speech by Minister Pierre Arcand
Following the opening remarks presented by Mr. Morel and Mr. Larochelle, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks Pierre Arcand stepped in to provide some background on the implementation of the integrated management of the St. Lawrence (IMSL) in Quebec and to address the importance of concertation in protecting the resources that are associated with the River.
Check against delivery.
It is a real privilege for me to be taking part in the unveiling of the first Forum on the St. Lawrence. Today, we are beginning a new chapter in the history of the St. Lawrence, a chapter that I am convinced will lead to great strides in the conservation and development of this important resource.
A historical gem nestled in the heart of Quebec, the St. Lawrence has made a unique contribution to the social and economic development of not only Quebec, but also of Canada and North America. We must admit, however, that it has faced many pressures over time that threaten its balance and the wealth of its ecosystems.
The richness of its surface area, flow, ecosystems and natural habitats are unique and irreplaceable. It is our responsibility, as a society, to protect this wealth for the benefit of current and future generations. It is also time to push our commitment even further in order to preserve this important waterway because the actions we take today will have consequences for the society we will be tomorrow.
Canada–Quebec cooperation
The governments of Quebec and Canada have been working closely for 24 years now to ensure the sustainability of this important resource. As you know, a bilateral agreement called the "St. Lawrence Plan" was implemented in 1988 and renewed every five years. These five-year agreements have provided better oversight of government actions for the conservation and development of the St. Lawrence.
A new 15-year agreement called the St. Lawrence Action Plan 2011–2026 was signed last November. It is structured around specific issues and focuses primarily on concertation and knowledge sharing. The plan was designed to continue, to the best of our abilities, the extensive collaborative process that Quebec and Canada undertook together over 20 years ago.
Major challenges await us, but we have taken the necessary steps to live up to our objectives. With financial contributions from both governments, this action plan will have a budget of $70 million over the first five years. Among other things, these funds allow us to implement ambitious projects, designed with sustainable development in mind.
Integrated management of Quebec's water: a new governance structure
One of the major highlights of this agreement is the implementation of the IMSL.
Quebec has made water protection a core government priority. Thus, with the adoption of the Act to Affirm the Collective Nature of Water Resources and Provide for Increased Water Resource Protection in 2009, Quebec gained a new water governance structure. For the first time, water has legal status that defines it as a collective resource. This legislation consolidates the integrated and concerted management of water and Quebec's intention to put in place sustainable management measures for sound water resource governance across the entire southern portion, including the St. Lawrence, which it recognized as a hydrologic unit of outstanding significance.
Various international, national and provincial actions speak to Quebec's efforts to safeguard water resources. I would like to mention in particular the implementation of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement, signed between Quebec, Ontario and the eight US states that border the Great Lakes. This is the first initiative of its kind between federated states to regulate water use. This agreement allows the players concerned to make a concerted effort toward ensuring the resource's sustainability in this very large basin.
Moreover, by creating 40 integrated management zones per watershed, this new governance structure based on concertation between stakeholders is now well-established in all rivers across southern Quebec. Lastly, the IMSL, which takes its shape through the SLAP, complements the implementation of these measures.
All these actions show Quebec's desire to become a model for managing water reserves.
Integrated management of the St. Lawrence
Decision-making on water resources is a complex process, particularly due to the large number of players and multiple uses of the St. Lawrence. The IMSL is a permanent process based on concertation among all decision-makers, users and civil society for the planning and better alignment of protection measures and the use of the resources of this important ecosystem.
This process consists of two main components: an annual forum; and permanent, autonomous regional round tables mandated to produce regional integrated management plans.
Implementation of these round tables is now underway. I would like to take this opportunity this morning to say that the Québec and Montréal Metropolitan Communities (QMC and MMC) have agreed to coordinate the tables of their respective regions. Allow me to also mention that we have in our midst today Marc Rondeau, Director General of the QMC, and Michel Allaire, Environmental Coordinator of the MMC, both of whom are involved in the administrative efforts currently underway to reach an agreement in the near future between the Quebec Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs and these organizations for the official creation of these tables.
The Forum that brings us here today is an annual gathering place for government and non-government representatives with responsibilities or interests in managing the resources and uses of the St. Lawrence. It is in this context that you are invited today to share your expertise and solutions concerning the challenges the St. Lawrence is facing.
The importance of concertation
Concertation is a topic that often arises in discussions about integrated water management, and rightfully so! Integrated management affects a very large number of players whose motivations, expectations and goals may be quite different. I am convinced that the best management options for the St. Lawrence find their strength in numbers. A responsible and concerted commitment by all players will inject an optimal dose of environmental, social and economic measures into the decision-making process.
I want to take this opportunity to share with you a new measure announced during the recent unveiling of the 2012–2013 budget: the green and blue belt project for Greater Montréal and Quebec City. We will be investing $60 million to protect, in particular, the natural environments, banks and shorelines of the St. Lawrence and other rivers. Drawing on the concept of green belts already established in some cities across Canada and around the world, the purpose of these belts is to control disperse urban development, create natural spaces and improve the quality of life for locals.
However, our efforts to protect bodies of water do not stop there. We have decided to renew the $5 million in financial assistance over five years to get environmental organizations involved in shoreline revegetation work, at-source reduction of phosphorus emissions as well as various awareness and educational activities. The actions taken with watershed organizations and environmental regional councils have been successful and the money that has been allotted will help continue these efforts.
Our collective considerations should revolve around diverse and multidisciplinary knowledge. The uses of water resources are as diverse as the players who put them into practice.
Concertation has become essential for the development of management mechanisms adapted to the specific situations of the communities concerned.
Today, we are in the early stages of our 15-year commitment to the St. Lawrence. The ideas and motivation that drive us are the result of a long collaborative process. We are once again showcasing our willingness to preserve the St. Lawrence as the cornerstone of Quebec's development.
Let's make sure that, together, we succeed in preserving the beauty and complexity of this essential resource.