Quebec towns press province for more power to protect drinking water

MONTREAL — Representatives from 338 Quebec municipalities that are calling on the province to grant them increased power to protect their water supplies said Saturday that they’re ready to take the matter to court.

The towns want to be able to ensure any future oil and gas installations have to be at least two kilometres from drinking water sources, rather than the 500 metres currently required by the government.

The representatives held a meeting in Drummondville, Que. on Saturday, where they unanimously approved a resolution to take legal action if the government doesn’t indicate whether it will authorize them to apply their draft regulation.

But Gerard Jean, who is mayor of Lanoraie, said the province’s environment minister has appeared open to the committee’s request.

He said the municipalities’ position is based on more than 300 pages of scientific expertise that shows 500 metres of separation is not enough to prevent contamination.

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Provincial Environment Minister Isabelle Melancon met with the group earlier this week and has promised to have an answer by the week of April 9.

Recently, the Quebec town of Ristigouche won a battle in Superior Court against oil company Gastem, which had launched legal action against the tiny municipality after it passed a bylaw banning drilling within a two-kilometre zone.

The Canadian Press