The Fight Against Climate Change : Legault Detached from Reality

The CAQ government rejected a motion tabled at the National Assembly by the MNA representing Maurice-Richard and Liberal Critic for Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change and Agriculture, Ms. Marie Montpetit, that invited Mr. Legault to attend Climate Week, an event organized by the city of New York and the United Nations, as well reaffirm the need to fight climate change, to acknowledge that global warming is one of the main threats to Quebec’s economy and to reaffirm the importance of climate diplomacy.

After having refused to attend the COP 24 in Poland, where the young ecological activist Greta Thunberg gained recognition for a speech that she delivered, François Legault has added another no to the pile today by refusing to take part in Climate Week. Recall that Mr. Legault’s predecessors attended this international meeting that assembles members from governments, businesses and civil society.

By refusing to take part in large scale international meetings, François Legault demonstrates his lack of leadership and vision when it comes to the fight against climate change when Quebec would have everything to gain from maintaining its position as a global leader. It took months of public pressure for him to understand that it is time to talk about the environment. His action, however, was limited to a party caucus under that theme in May. It was just to buy time and calm things down because it has been radio silence on the matter since then. Mr. Legault won’t be attending Climate Week. Will he attend the Climate March on September 27? I am eager to see if he does. He likes to describe himself as a man of action, it’s time to prove it.

– Marie Montpetit, MNA representing Maurice-Richard and Liberal Critic for Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change and Agriculture M.Sc. Environment