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e-4799 (Environment)

E-petition
Initiated by Daniel Green from Hampstead, Quebec

Original language of petition: French

Petition to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Whereas:
  • The Northvolt battery plant is to be built on a highly contaminated site along the Richelieu River;
  • Toxic substances in the soil could seep through during construction and contaminate the Richelieu and St. Lawrence rivers, causing serious harm to the species that live there, including the copper redhorse and beluga whale - two protected species; and
  • It is essential to protect our rivers and ecosystems by conducting a proper environmental assessment of this project.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to:
1. Initiate public environmental assessment hearings to ensure transparency and protect our precious natural resources;
2. Not blindly trust a large, private company to protect the public’s interests; and
3. Undertake a thorough environmental assessment of the Northvolt project to prevent potential negative impacts on our precious environment.

Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULT

The Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and its regulations establish the legal framework for federal impact assessments. Under subsection 9(1) of the IAA, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister) has the authority to designate a project that is not listed in the Physical Activities Regulations if, in the Minister’s opinion, the carrying out of the project may cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction or direct or incidental adverse effects. The Minister’s authority to designate a project is typically exercised under exceptional circumstances where the project has the potential to cause adverse effects in areas of federal jurisdiction, and where there are no other regulatory oversight mechanisms to address these effects.

Subsection 9(7) of the IAA prohibits designation of a project if the project has substantially begun or a federal authority has made a decision under another Act of Parliament that permits the project to be carried out, in whole or in part.

On June 25, 2024, the Minister received a request to designate the Northvolt Six Battery Plant.

On September 25, 2024, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s Vice-President of Operations, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, responded to the request to designate the Northvolt Six Battery Plant Project (the project). The response pertains to two of the three components of the project. The battery cell component production and assembly plant and the crushing and sorting facility cannot be designated under the amended Impact Assessment Act that came into force on June 20, 2024, because these two components of the project have substantially begun.

The carrying out of the physical activities has substantially begun; as permanent works have started that have a direct linkage to the physical activities, and are an essential part of the physical activities that are long-lasting and occurred over an extended period of time, from January 8 to March 1, 2024:

  • Land clearing (tree cutting and stump removal)
  • Wetland backfilling
  • Other site preparation work

The designation request analysis process continues for the battery recycling plant. 

 

 

Open for signature
February 26, 2024, at 3:13 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
June 25, 2024, at 3:13 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)
October 2, 2024 (Petition No. 441-02647)
Government response tabled
November 18, 2024
Photo - Elizabeth May
Saanich—Gulf Islands
Green Party Caucus
British Columbia