Colacem's L'Orignal plant could see fresh environmental objections

Colacem’s Canadian cement plant could face further objections. Victor Bonspille, the Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake, near Oka, Québec, wants the federal and Ontario governments to reconsider plans by Colacem to build a new cement plant near L’Orignal and for more consultation.

On 19 December 2022, Mr Bonspille wrote to the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, who, had rejected Action Champlain’s request for a federal Impact Assessment on 3 November 2022. Mr Bonspille’s letter requests that Mr Guilbeault immediately direct the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to review the cement plant project until such time as the Crown in right of Canada has met its constitutional and legal obligations to consult with the Kanesatake community. 

“Kanesatake is the closest of all First Nations communities to the project, located approximately 50km downwind and downstream from the project site, our community would be directly affected by adverse environmental impacts of the project potentially leading to negative health, social, and economic impacts on our community as well,” Mr Bonspille wrote to Mr Guilbault.

Mr Bonspille told Mr Guilbault that Kanesatake explicitly rejects the claim of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, made on 22 November 2022, that Kanesatake was consulted. Therefore, Mr Bonspille also told Me Guilbault that the Crown is in breach of its constitutional duty to consult with the community about the project.