CUPE Quebec and allies were in the Quebec National Assembly today with opposition MNAs Pascal Paradis, from the Parti Québécois, and Haroun Bouazzi, from Québec Solidaire, to denounce Bill 69 on Quebec’s energy future.
“We’re in the National Assembly, the house of the people. The Coalition Avenir Québec wants to resort to closure to force passage of this bill. It’s a case of democracy denied, and it’s a burden that we’re passing down to future generations,” said Patrick Gloutney, the president of CUPE Quebec, at a press conference.
Groups in civil society and opposition MNAs are demanding that Bill 69 be withdrawn. With one voice, they are demanding that Bill 69 be thoroughly studied and that a real public debate be held on the province’s energy future.
This controversial bill was drafted by minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, who subsequently resigned. It calls for the end of Hydro-Québec’s exclusive right to distribute electricity and will enable private companies such as TES Canada and other such entities to sell electricity.
“Even partial privatization of electricity services will be expensive and hit all citizens of Quebec in the pocketbook. In addition, the more the private sector gets involved in electricity services, the more money we take away from Hydro-Québec, and the less it will give back to the government to pay for our public services such as health care and education,” said Gloutney.
The parties fear that Coalition Avenir Québec is on the verge of resorting to closure prior to the end of parliamentary proceedings on Friday, June 6.