Trois-Rivières
The Council of Canadians Montreal chapter will mark World Water Day by joining Coalition Eau Secours! for activities in Trois-Rivières.
Coalition Eau Secours! says, “The year 2015 will be a turning point for Quebec at the energy choices. Water is our first natural resource, more precious metals and hydrocarbons. Healthy water ensures the health of the population, provides its food, participates in the health of wildlife, flora and environment.”
Trois-Rivières is located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice River and Saint Lawrence River, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour. La Presse has reported that TransCanada may move its proposed Energy East pipeline marine terminal from Cacouna to Bécancour. That means that TransCanada could be looking at filling 175 supertankers a year in waters very near to Trois-Rivières. Those Suezmax supertankers, which are typically 15 storeys high and 86 storeys long, would be carrying about 800,000 to 1,000,000 barrels of bitumen.
Trois-Rivières is also located just east (downstream) of Lac Saint-Pierre and Sorel-Tracy. A joint report released last month by the Council of Canadians and Équiterre highlighted that an oil spill from the tar sands tankers that were leaving the port of Sorel-Tracy would devastate Lac Saint-Pierre. The lake is a World Biosphere Reserve recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The event starts at 2 pm on Sunday March 22. For all the details, please click here.
For more about our World Water Day activities, please click here.
Further reading
Council of Canadians & Équiterre report warns of tar sands tankers on the St. Lawrence River (February 2015 blog)
Council of Canadians writes UNESCO to stop tar sands tankers on the St. Lawrence River (October 2014 blog)
