Noises, smells, transportation… angry McMasterville residents want nothing to do with one of the world’s largest battery factories landing in their backyard near Richelieu.
“We are afraid of the noise. They need to be decontaminated. We don’t want toxic dust,” says François Cousineau, who lives near the site of Swedish giant Northvolt’s future mega-factory, the location of which has not yet been confirmed.
On Monday, Le Journal revealed that Quebec is juggling the scenario of spending nearly $1.4 billion to build the Northvolt mega-factory in the Richelieu Valley.
But while nothing has been officially announced, some residents say they are already fearful about the scale of the $7 billion megaproject.
François Cousineau hopes to collect signatures to present his petition to local elected officials. Photo Francis Halin
“I am against the rezoning of residential areas to make room for Northvolt. I would like to submit my petition to the city council on September 25th,” sighs François Cousineau. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 379 people had already signed it after a door-to-door tour.
Opponents of the project argue that there is no reasonable buffer zone between the factory and the homes. Photo Francis Halin
Concerned residents
Last March, Le Journal visited St. Thomas, Ontario, a city of 43,000 where the Volkswagen mega-factory had just been built. The mayor and the business community cheered, but residents of a neighboring community feared the harassment.
“We know nothing about the pollution of water, air, soil, noise and light,” denounced Diane Dubois, who lives in Central Elgin, on the border of the German mega-giant Volkswagen’s future battery plant in St. Thomas.
“It makes us all cry to see this,” Diane Dubois, who lives next to the Volkswagen megafactory, told the Journal last March. Photo Francis Halin
As the development of the battery sector accelerates here, it is now the turn of Montérégie citizens like François Cousineau to fear the worst.
The property is fenced and has barbed wire in places. Photo Francis Halin
In the journal he points out a retirement home and daycare centers next to the site of the Northvolt megafactory.
“I told my loved ones that I would move if it was built. I’m at 2000 feet. I do all this for my children,” continues François Cousineau.
A few meters away, Cynthia Blain, mother of two, has a hard time even understanding that we are preparing to cut down trees to make concrete over a green island, while heatwaves wreak havoc and we desperately need green spaces to improve air quality to improve.
Cynthia Blain and her daughter Estelle. Photo Francis Halin
“It’s extremely worrying for nearby waterways and wildlife,” she sighs.
“We are afraid for our quality of life. We are afraid of noise and light. We can barely see the stars even now. It would be over,” she says.
She believes the job creation argument is unsound. “There are jobs everywhere. What’s the point of creating more in the midst of scarcity than destroying it?” she asks herself.
Two steps away from her, her neighbor behind her, who is looking at the public transport park-and-ride system, sees the arrival of the mega-factory as positive.
Luc Hamelin Photo Francis Halin
“This is a good thing for the local economy. It will evolve. I’m for it, but I wonder where these employees will go,” asks retired Luc Hamelin.
Contacted by Le Journal, the owner of the sought-after property, real estate investor Luc Poirier, was optimistic despite the waves caused.
“In general, over time, people realize that it is very good. I see that in all my projects,” he noted.
Nature seems to have reclaimed its rights on the site of the future mega-factory. Photo Francis Halin
“My plans are grand. They change neighborhoods and cities, people, I understand them, but then they see the positive that comes with it,” he continued.
Cautious mayors
The mayors of Saint-Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville were contacted for comment and said they wanted to explain the project’s problems to their fellow citizens.
“The local council has adopted a resolution allowing a delegation to participate in an industrial visit to understand the activities of this type of company and analyze their compatibility with the current and future development of the city of Saint-Basile-le. “Great,” said its mayor Yves Lessard.
McMasterville Mayor Martin Dulac acknowledged that it was “totally legitimate to ask questions.”
“We find it unfortunate that people are afraid of a project that hasn’t even been announced yet,” he breathed.
“We bet that citizens will see the positive effects before they turn against it,” he concluded.
Northvolt did not want to grant an interview in the last few days because it has not yet started a project here.
Last Tuesday, the parliamentary budget officer reported that the $28.2 billion in Canadian and Ontario subsidies for the Stellantis-LGES and Volkswagen mega-factories would not be profitable for 20 years.
– In collaboration with Philippe Langlois
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