The Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) of Quebec is contacting the Legault government and asking it to correct the “deviant situation” and the “nonsense” of excluding the Rabaska areas from the green zone by immediately issuing a decree to include them in the green zone back to agricultural land.
• Read the open letter from the President of the UPA: For reincorporating the Rabaska lands into the agricultural zone
The national UPA, the Fédération de la Chaudière-Appalaches and the Syndicat de l’UPA de Lévis interfere in the debate over the use of land in eastern Lévis, which the port and city of Lévis are in contention for ownership.
They “officially request the Quebec government to decree to reinstate in the agricultural zone the 271.7 hectares that were unnecessarily excluded more than 16 years ago.”
These currently forested or farmed properties are owned by the limited partnership Rabaska, which wanted to build an LNG port project there. They were dezoned by decree, despite the negative opinion of the Commission for the Protection of Agricultural Areas of Quebec (CPTAQ), recalls the UPA, which speaks of a “highly questionable” practice.
• Also read: Rabaska: Marchand recognizes that not everything is “in good condition”.
broken promise
But after the project was abandoned in 2013, the Port of Quebec signed a bid to buy all 271.7 hectares, before the city of Lévis pulled the rug out from under it and wanted to expropriate 158 hectares to turn it into a port industrial park .
The UPA is intervening to remind the government of its promise to turn that land back into an agricultural zone if the LNG port project fails.
In fact, Rabaska had pledged to support a reinstatement motion.
“Rabaska is not honoring his commitment despite a formal request,” said UPA President Martin Caron and President of the Chaudière-Appalaches Federation of the UPA James Allen.
In contrast to protective values
The City of Lévis’ intentions to turn it into an industrial park “contradicts all the values proclaimed by the government to protect and preserve the natural environment,” the UPA points out.
In addition, the loss of this environment will be lamented by citizens and will prevent the achievement of the goals of the National Architecture and Land Use Planning Policy, it said.
• Also read – Expropriation of Rabaska: Lehouillier attacks the Port of Quebec
With this gesture, the government would give a “clear signal” that its policies lay the basis of a future vision aimed at climate change adaptation and food autonomy, argues the UPA, which is calling on ministers for agriculture, the environment, forestry and municipal affairs.
Bruno Marchand’s reaction
Bruno Marchand recognized the importance of protecting the natural environment and again avoided directly intervening in the dispute between the city of Lévis and the Port of Quebec.
“I will wait and see how the city of Lévis and the port react to this matter. We on the North Shore will do everything we can to ensure that the port develops further. This is one of the ways to improve our economy,” Quebec’s mayor said in an impromptu press statement on Tuesday afternoon.
In collaboration with Taieb Moalla
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