Quebec says no to oil exploration and development

GLASGOW, U.K. — The Legault government has confirmed that Quebec is making a definitive move away from oil exploration and development by joining the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA).

Premier François Legault made the official announcement on Thursday at COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, currently being held in Glasgow. He was participating in a roundtable discussion.

Quebec will join states such as Costa Rica and Denmark.

At virtually the same time, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced that the federal government would end new direct public funding for coal, oil and gas development by the end of 2022.

But that's not enough, Legault argued. He noted that Justin Trudeau will end coal exports in 2030, but he said that day must come sooner.

"We need to go even further," Legault said at the final press conference of his mission to Glasgow.

He acknowledged that for an oil and gas producer like Alberta, it can't be done overnight, but that he wants the federal government to provide financial support to the affected provinces during their transition.

This membership has little impact for the time being, since oil and gas companies are practically non-existent in Quebec. However, these companies that hold rights are already claiming compensation of several million dollars for these rights that they will have to give up.

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 4, 2021.