Quebec passes controversial bill allowing oil, gas exploration

The Liberals' controversial Bill 106, which would implement Quebec's clean energy plan as well as open the province to oil and gas exploration, passed after the Philippe Couillard government forced the legislation to a vote.

The bill was passed early Saturday morning following a marathon night of debate at the National Assembly before elected officials broke for the holiday.

Bill 106 would create Energy Transition Quebec, an agency charged with implementing the government's ambitious clean energy plans.

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However, it would also put in place the Petroleum Resources Act, which lays out the government's plan to oversee the sustainable development of oil resources.

The Couillard government invoked "closure," cutting off debate and forcing the bill to a vote, a decision that drew criticism from opposition parties and environmental groups.

Carole Dupuis from the hydrocarbon awareness group, the Regroupement vigilance hydrocarbures Québec, said Quebecers never got to weigh in on the bill before it passed into legislation.

"It's despicable to use the closure to adopt a law that has no sense of urgency," said Dupuis.

A divided National Assembly

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Pierre Arcand told Radio-Canada that he was tired, but relieved that the bill passed. The government's first priority is to create Energy Transition Quebec as quickly as possible.

"Our goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 37.5 per cent by 2030. We should have a new organization in place and fully functional by April," said Arcand.

The Parti Québécois, the official Opposition which denounced the bill in September alongside Québec Solidaire, Greenpeace and environmental groups, wasn't quick to praise the new legislation to promote oil and gas development.

"Quebecers have no reason to rejoice over chapter four on hydrocarbures," PQ MNA Sylvain Rochon said.

While the PQ and Coalition Avenir Québec debated with Arcand for most of Friday night into Saturday morning, Québec Solidaire MNAs were absent from the National Assembly during that part.

Bill 106 passed around 4:40 a.m. Saturday morning with 62 votes for and 38 against.

Parliamentary session resumes in February 2017.

Closure motion sparks protest

The hydrocarbon awareness group, the Regroupement vigilance hydrocarbures Québec, picketed outside the Quebec City building late into the night to protest a lack of open debate around Bill 106.

Jacques Tétreault from the group said the bill should have been divided into two separate bills, one to address clean energy plans and another for oil and gas exploration.

The bill may have passed but that doesn't mean the fight is over, said Tetréault.

"We have 130 committees all over the province," he said. "Citizens and municipal elected officials are angry."

The protest also drew the support of the opposition parties, including QS MNA Manon Massé, who stayed outside with demonstrators until it came time to vote.

"It's a bill that sets Quebec back," said PQ MNA Martine Ouellet to the applause of protesters.