LETTER

Quebec has nothing to brag about

 

Although Marcel Leclerc is right to point out the irony of Fort McMurray residents contributing with their labour to the very conditions that make forest fires more likely, we should take a look at our own actions before we criticise them.

Quebec has nothing to brag about with regard to fossil fuel use. Despite our abundant electric power, the majority of energy consumed in Quebec comes from oil and gas and transportation accounted for 43% of Quebec’s GHG emissions in 2012. Between 2006 and 2013, the number of passenger vehicles grew by 1.9% annually, while population grew only 1.1%. Granted, cars are becoming more fuel efficient and we are driving less, but we would be much more credible protesting against the Energy East pipeline and the Alberta tar sands if we were really serious about reducing our fossil fuel consumption. The more we reduce the demand for fossil fuels, the less will be produced.

Craig Gaston
Aylmer