Quebec minister's office vandalized after province authorizes expansion of toxic waste dump

Warning: This story includes an image with vulgar language.

Quebec provincial police are investigating after the constituency office of Quebec's natural resources minister was vandalized Thursday morning. 

The door of Maïté Blanchette Vézina's riding office in Rimouski, Que., was graffitied and bags of garbage were dumped outside.

A letter posted on the door, signed by "a disappointed and angry taxpayer," criticizes the government's recent decision to adopt Bill 93, a controversial piece of legislation that forces the City of Blainville to sell a parcel of land to Stablex, a private company that plans to expand its toxic waste dump.

Quebec took action after the company said it might have to suspend operations if it didn't start work on the expansion project in April. 

The expansion, set to begin shortly, will give Stablex an additional 40 years of storage.

On Thursday morning, Blanchette Vézina took to X to criticize the "unacceptable act."

"This morning, hateful graffiti and garbage were left outside my riding office," she wrote. "Such actions have no place in a society where the exchange of ideas must be respectful, even when divergent." 

Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Bérubé replied to her post saying, "I condemn this vandalism at my constituency neighbour's office. This is no way to express opposition."

The opposition parties at the National Assembly rejected the province's bill, despite Blanchette Vézina's call for collaboration with the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government. The piece of legislation also drew the ire of protesters.

Multiple municipal councils and the organization that represents municipalities, the Fédération des municipalités du Québec, have also slammed it, considering it as an attack on municipal autonomy. 

Last week, Quebec's Superior Court rejected the City of Blainville's request for an injunction to suspend the expansion. The City of Blainville has said it intends to appeal the court's decision. 

WATCH | The controversy, explained: 

Toxic waste dump at centre of battle between Quebec government and Montreal suburb

2 months ago

Duration 3:33

Blainville, Que., residents and their mayor are calling out the government for pushing the expansion of a hazardous waste landfill in their community.