Northvolt says it has stopped felling trees on the site of its future factory in Montérégie after filing an application for an injunction yesterday, which is due to be heard today.
On Thursday, the Quebec Environmental Law Center (CQDE) and three citizens filed a petition for an injunction with the Supreme Court to demand the immediate halt to work on the battery factory project in the region.
Earlier this week, tree felling began on the site of the future factory in McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand. The Ministry of the Environment had approved it.
The CQDE justifies its call to suspend the felling work with the associated risks to biodiversity. No fewer than twelve environmental groups issued a press release last Wednesday calling for an independent environmental impact assessment of the site of the future Northvolt factory.
These groups expressed their fears, saying that without an independent assessment the government will become a prisoner of the concessions made so far.
The Ministry of the Environment had approved the start of construction work on the facility without inspection by the Bureau d'audiences publique sur l'environnement (BAPE).