Envîle Express Bulletin
October 15, 2009 - Volume 8, no.17
Record and interviews
Social acceptance of major projects in Montreal : Can environmental groups and promoters work together at developing better projects for Montreal?
At the begining of October, the Conseil patronal de l'environnement du Québec (CPEQ) in association with the Conseil régional de l'environnement de Montréal (CRE-Montréal) have committed to make a listing of the names of environmental organizations wishing to be consulted by the promoters during the development process of their major projects. To learn more this initiative, we have asked a few questions to Mrs. Hélène Lauzon, CPEQ's president, and to Mr. André Porlier, CRÉ-Montréal's executive director.
What explains that some major projects are being challenged by environmental groups and citizens?
Hélène Lauzon : Experience shows that certain aspects may undermine the social climate surrounding the making of some projects. Among key factors, experts mention perceptual conflicts between promoters and environmental groups, mistrust and occasionnally faltering information and consultation mechanisms. In recent years, we have also witnessed an emerging mistrust of the population towards businesses, but also of the businesses towards lobby groups. The time has now come to re-establish good faith between businesses and civil society to develop better projects.
What can be done to promote social acceptability of projects?
Hélène Lauzon : According to Me Michel Bélanger, layer at Bélanger Lauzon, it is impossible for a project to be unanimously endorsed by all of the stakeholders of a society. However, the efforts made by the promoters to improve transparency, identify drawbacks beforehand, allow citizens and groups to present divergent perspectives and to integrate mitigation measures and follow-up measures may contribute to the social acceptability of a project. These are not new factors and taking them into account has proven to be fruitful for many projects carried out in Quebec.
How can a listing of environmental groups wishing to engage in a dialogue with promoters can contribute to improve project acceptability?
Hélène Lauzon : Through CPEQ, this list will be made available to promoters and Montreal-based businesses wishing to engage a dialogue with environmental groups as early as possible in the project development process in order to better integrate environmental considerations. It not only marks a first step in bringing groups and promoters closer together, but it also initiates information and public consultation mechanisms that take place more upstream in the phasing of projects.
Could this initiative undermine the official public consultation processes such as BAPE or the Office de consultation publique de Montréal?
André Porlier : No, quite the opposite. An initiative such as this one will not affect nor substitute to official public consultation proceedures such as the ones led by the BAPE or the OCPM. It will rather create an opportunity for dialogue between groups and promoters willing to discuss right from the start of the project elaboration process. This approach should allow the emergence of solutions in the early stages of projects and doing so, should contribute to reconcile more easily the interests of both promoters and environmental groups.
Is there a risk for businesses to consult certain groups only to support their project?
Hélène Lauzon : Businesses are well aware that social acceptability for their projects essentially lies upon the establishment or the preservation of a trustworthy relationship with groups and the population. In this context, a business using groups only to support its projects risks to annihilate this trustworthy relationship and expose even more the project to opposition.