Chapter to our times: Societal Choices in Contemporary Quebec. Section 5: Environmental Choices in Contemporary Quebec Part 2

Transcription

1 Chapter to our times: Societal Choices in Contemporary Quebec Section 5: Environmental Choices in Contemporary Quebec Part 2

2 Pages that correspond to this presentation Environmental choices in contemporary Quebec: Pages

3 Resource Exploitation: Oil Oil sands in Alberta Since the early 2000s transporting oil to both the East and West coasts of Canada pipelines 2013 TransCanada Energy East pipeline project Alberta to New Brunswick 700km of this would be in Quebec Resistance to the oil sands and the pipelines GHGs emitted from the oil sands and the refining of the oil, destruction of ecosystems because of oil sand extraction, soil and water contamination if a pipeline breaks and spills oil

4 Resource Exploitation: Oil Map of Alberta Oil Sands Source: Wikipedia. <

5 Resource Exploitation: Oil Oil Sands Refinery near Fort McMurray, Alberta Source: Huffington Post. <

6 Resource Exploitation: Oil Notice the edge of the picture that is what the territory SHOULD look like Source: The Narwhal Online. <

7 Resource Exploitation: Oil The proposed TransCanada Energy East Pipeline Route Source: CBC. <

8 Resource Exploitation: Oil The proposed TransCanada Energy East Pipeline was scrapped after government pushback and protests See a CBC article on the discontinuation of the TransCanada Energy East pipeline project HERE Source: Montreal Gazette. <

9 Resource Exploitation: Natural Gas Shale gas Natural gas found trapped underground in layers of rocks Exploitation of this resource was placed under a moratorium in 2012 unknown effects on groundwater BAPE suggested that there needs to be more data in order for the public to trust shale gas extraction (fracking) 2016 Quebec government allows oil and gas companies to extract resources from private property even if landowners refuse

10 Resource Exploitation: Renewable Energy The benefits of renewable energy include: low levels of GHGs and the fact that they are RENEWABLE Hydroelectric energy: Perpetually renewed energy as water flows through the dams Hydro Quebec s energy production has increased 2.5 times since 1980 new dams being built

11 Resource Exploitation: Renewable Energy Wind energy: Since 1999 growth of wind energy in Quebec Major expansion of this sector since 2010 By wind farms in Quebec at full capacity can produce 1/10 of the power produced by Hydro Quebec dams

12 Resource Exploitation: Renewable Energy Click HERE to see a hydro Quebec map with major wind farm projects Click HERE to see Hydro Quebec s Understanding Energy page Click HERE to see an old CBC article about the benefits of wind power in Quebec (2008) Click HERE to see a BBC website called Bitesize information of different types of electricity production

13 Resource Exploitation: Renewable Energy Wind Farm on the Gaspe Peninsula Source: Radio Canada International.<

14 Resource Exploitation: Renewable Energy Major Hydroelectric projects since 1979 Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education Page 347

15 Resource Exploitation: Renewable Energy Renewable but not always perfect Hydro electric dams: River diversion Flooding of areas that were forested Rise in mercury levels affecting fish and mammals Habitats destroyed Traditional hunting and fishing areas of Indigenous people are now one due to flooding People living close to wind farms complain about noise emitted by wind turbines Some people say wind farms cause flocks of birds to change their migration patterns

16 The Exploitation of Forests 1986 The Forest Act in Quebec Outlining the rules of forestry/logging in the province including the replanting of tree that are cut 1999 A documentary called L erreur Boreale exposed the forestry industry in Quebec overcutting the Boreale Forest 2003 the Quebec government set up an inquiry to investigate and the investigation found evidence that the documentary had the right information

17 The Exploitation of Forests Too many trees were being cut, clear cutting and little effort to help forest regeneration after trees were cut 2015 An Act to Amend the Forest Act and Other Legislative Provisions Applicable to Forest Management Activities a major component was that the number of logging companies in Quebec was reduced 2013 Sustainable Forest Development Act aimed to consider the conservation of forest ecosystems and to consult local organizations before harvesting trees Click HERE to see an article from the National Obsever including a video on the importance of the Boreal Forest to Indigenous groups

18 The Exploitation of Forests An example of clear cutting in Alberta Source: Radio Canada International.<

19 Mining in Quebec Despite the fact that mining companies need permits to dig for natural resources below the soil there are still environmental impacts Mines produce waste which can cause environmental problems contamination of waterways, destruction of ecosystems, etc. Early 2000s The Quebec government has begun to decontaminate abandoned mines which could cost up to $1.2 billion dollars 2013 Mining Act to force new mines to have a plan of action to make sure restore the environment after they are done mining

20 Mining in Quebec Abandoned Mine in Quebec Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education Page 348

21 2011 Plan Nord 2011 Quebec premier Jean Charest Plan Nord a plan to make sure resource exploitation in Northern Quebec (North of the 49 th Parallel) is sustainable Exploitation of: nickel, iron, lithium, diamonds, etc. The construction of roads The establishment of protected areas See a news article on the 2015 revival of the Plan Nord project HERE

22 Natural Disasters in Quebec July 1996 Saguenay-Lac-St.-Jean region 250 millimeters of rain fell in less than a day and a half Flooded roads, landslides and rising water levels People were trapped in their homes Canadian military and Red Cross called in to help 10 people died, 16,000 people evacuated, 50 towns/villages flooded $1 billion in damage Amount of rain and poorly kept dams contributed to this disaster

23 Natural Disasters in Quebec Flooding in Downtown Chicoutimi in 1996 Source: CBC. <

24 Natural Disasters in Quebec This house became a symbol of the 1996 floods in the Saguenay region See the article this picture came from HERE See news reporting from 1996 of the floods HERE Source: CBC. <

25 Natural Disasters in Quebec January 1998 The Ice Storm Montreal, the Monteregie region, Eastern Ontario and Northern New York State and Northern Vermont 100 millimeters of freezing precipitation over 80 hours 30 people dead, half of Quebec without power at one point, over 1000 power transmission towers downed Other issues included lack of heating and a water supply shortage

26 Natural Disasters in Quebec Map of affected areas during 1998 ice storm Source: Radio Canada International. <

27 Natural Disasters in Quebec Downed power transmitters during 1998 ice storm Source: Radio Canada International. <

28 Natural Disasters in Quebec Street covered in ice in Montreal 1998 ice storm Source: Radio Canada International. <

29 Natural Disasters in Quebec One of the original CBC news reports on the 1998 Ice Storm HERE Click HERE to see a report on January 10 th Montreal s South Shore the Triangle of Darkness

30 Connections to the Precisions of Learning