Open letter: Uranium, BAPE and social acceptability in Quebec

The 70 Quebec scientists and professionals from industry and academia who have signed this open letter are committed to using their know-how in an ethical, socially responsible and environmentally responsible manner. Exploration for and development of any mineral, including uranium, cannot go against the public interest.

It is possible for the uranium industry to gain broad public support. In Saskatchewan, 80% of the population supports uranium mining, including 76% of people in the communities and First Nations reserves of northern Saskatchewan, where the uranium mines are found (Fast Consulting Community Intelligence, November 2013). Saskatchewan has been mining the world’s highest-grade uranium deposits for 60 years.

Several places in the world — including Labrador, Greenland and Queensland in Australia — recently lifted moratoria that they now perceive as unjustified. The role that nuclear energy could play in combating global warming was underscored in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an organization established by the United Nations Environment Programme and free from suspicion of complicity with industry.

In this context, the signatories question the relevance of the process established by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) on “Quebec uranium industry issues.” We are heading into a process that was borne of uranium fear mongering, fuelled by an archaic and biased view of the mining industry.

The question, in this period of fiscal restraint, is whether this “generic BAPE,” which will cost over $2 million of public funds, should even be held. The choice of Louis-Gilles Francoeur to chair the commission is also perplexing. Throughout his career, Mr. Francoeur has tended to echo uranium industry critics.

The BAPE is an institution founded on the principle of absolute neutrality. What would become of the BAPE’s credibility if a former mining executive were appointed chairman of the commission?

We must not forget that all stages of the uranium industry, including its aspects of public health and environmental protection, are strictly regulated by federal and provincial legislation. It is impossible for any uranium deposit to be developed, and then mined, without the project meeting the most stringent standards and being subject to public hearings. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, a globally recognized agency with no ties to industry, sets the standards and has permanent monitoring and, if needed, enforcement powers over all nuclear industry activities.

Signatories:

David H. Albert, geologist, Montreal

Gail Amyot, engineer, Montreal

Paul Archer, engineer, Quebec

Charles Beaudry, geologist, Toronto

Alain-Jean Beauregard, geologist, Val-d’Or

Pierre Bérubé, engineer, Val-d’Or

François Bissonnette, geologist, Longueuil

François Bouchard, geologist, Malartic

Christian Bourcier, engineer, Val-d’Or

Guy Bourque, engineer, Longueuil

Simon Britt, CPA, CA, Saint-Lambert

Serge Bureau, engineer, Candiac

Eddy Canova, geologist, Montreal

Alain Carrier, geologist, Val-d’Or

Gilles Carrier, engineer, La Sarre

Peter Cashin, geologist, Toronto

John D. Charlton, geologist, Montreal

Normand Champigny, engineer, Montreal

Rémi Charbonneau, geologist, Montreal

Philippe Cloutier, geologist, Val-d’Or

Olivier Côté-Mantha, geologist, Val-d’Or

Isabelle D’Amours, engineer, Brossard

Julien Davy, geologist, Montreal

Brigitte Dejou, engineer, Montreal

Jean Demers, geologist, Verchères

Eric Desaulniers, geologist, L’Ange-Gardien

Harold Desbiens, geologist, Saint-Lambert

Caroll Desormeaux, jr engineer, Montreal

Dominique Doucet, engineer, Montreal

Joël Dubé, engineer, Ottawa

Marc Ducharme, geologist, Val-d’Or

Yan Ducharme, geologist, Val-d’Or

Claude Dufresne, engineer, Montreal

Francine Fallara, geologist, Val-d’Or

Ghislain Fournier, engineer, Val-d’Or

Damien Gaboury, geologist, Saguenay

André Gaumond, engineer, Quebec

Marie-José Girard, geologist, Montreal

Patrick Godin, engineer, Longueuil

Normand Goulet, geologist, Montreal

Danièle Héon, geologist, Whitehorse

Jean Hubert, engineer, Quebec

Catherine Jalbert, geologist, Val-d’Or

Vincent Jourdain, engineer, Val-d’Or

Gaétan Lavallière, geologist, Val-d’Or

Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, geologist, Val-d’Or

Richard Lavallée, engineer, La Sarre

Gilles Laverdière, geologist, Montreal

Jérôme Lavoie, engineer, Quebec

Marc Legault, geologist, Rouyn-Noranda

Eric Lemieux, geologist, Drummondville

Jean-Marc Lulin, geologist, Montreal

Mario Masson, geologist, Rouyn-Noranda

Patrick Mercier, engineer, Longueuil

Robert Oswald, geologist, Rouyn-Noranda

Jean-François Ouellette, geologist, Rouyn-Noranda

Vital Pearson, engineer, Quebec

Pierre-Alexandre Pelletier, jr geologist, Boucherville

Ghislain Poirier, engineer, Longueuil

Michel Proulx, geologist, Val-d’Or

Michel Rheault, geologist, Montreal

Isabelle Robillard, geologist, Montreal

Gino Roger, engineer, Rosemère

Mathi
eu Savard, geologist, Quebec

Camille St-Hilaire, geologist, Rouyn-Noranda

Marjorie Simard, geologist, Val-d’Or

Donald Trudel, geologist, St-Laurent

Simon Tshimbalanga, engineer, Quebec

Denis Vaillancourt, geologist, Val-d’Or

Robert Wares, geologist, Montreal