QS calls for environment minister to resign for 'lying by omission' over nickel air standards
Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette responds to the Opposition during question period, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Quebec City -
Québec solidaire (QS) called for the resignation of Environment Minister Benoit Charette on Friday after accusing him of lying about exceeding of nickel air standards in the Limoilou district of Quebec City.
The Minister retaliated by demanding an "official apology" from QS MNA Sol Zanetti for having made a "shameful political recuperation."
The confrontation comes as a by-election is in full swing in Quebec City's Jean-Talon riding.
Air pollution is being monitored in Limoilou, mainly due to nickel shipment operations at the Port of Quebec.
At a press conference in August on the release of data collected by sampling stations between October and December, the minister made no mention of the exceedance of the nickel standard in December and January.
"He lied by omission," said Zanetti, the MNA for Jean-Lesage, whose riding includes Limoilou, in a press scrum on Friday.
"He didn't correct the Port of Quebec, which was telling him something that wasn't true, and I think he knew it wasn't true. His role is to inform and protect us. What he's doing is not informing us; he's protecting the port and hiding information in abstruse, scientific documents that nobody understands except specialists," he said.
"I demand an official apology from Sol Zanetti and invite him to elevate the debate on this issue," the minister said in a post on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
"This political exploitation is shameful and unworthy of the role of MNA," he continued.
He maintained that all the data had already been made public online on May 16.
However, Zanetti maintained that the documents posted on the Données Québec website were simply incomprehensible.
In support of his argument, he unrolled pages and pages of data from both Rouyn-Noranda and Quebec City sampling stations published on the site.
This report was published by The Canadian Press in French on Sept. 22, 2023.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Montreal Top Stories
-
-
WEATHER WARNINGWEATHER WARNING Snowfall warning issued for Montreal, southern Quebec
-
-
-
-
-
-
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. assassination attempt charges 'confirm' Trudeau's claims about India had 'real substance,' former national security advisers say
The indictment of an Indian national for the attempted assassination of a Sikh separatist and dual U.S.-Canadian national 'validates' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen as having 'real substance,' according to two of Canada's former national security advisers.
7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines and a tsunami warning is issued
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the cost of the southern Philippines island of Mindanao and Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning.
Hoopla expected to hit new heights as Sinclair's farewell game in Vancouver nears
Canada's lopsided 5-0 win over an experimental Australia side in the rain Friday at Starlight Stadium and the hoopla surrounding it provided a taste of what is to come in Christine Sinclair's farewell game at B.C. Place Stadium.
Search for runaway kangaroo in Ontario continues
The search continues for the kangaroo that is hopping around somewhere in Ontario after it escaped zoo handlers from a transport truck Thursday night.
What was a hospital like in medieval times? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out
In medieval times, hospitals took care of the 'poor and infirm,' but how were inhabitants selected and what were their lives like? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out.
Crombie leading after second round of voting for Ontario Liberal leader
Voting for the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party is going to a third round, with Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie having nearly secured enough votes for the win.
'Big, dark canvas of despair': Rick Hansen speaks on how his mindset changed after being paralyzed
Rick Hansen's life changed the day he was told he'd never walk again, but instead of letting his disability stand in his way, he became an advocate for accessibility rights and a Paralympic Athlete. Here's how that happened.
'Every tool at our disposal': Lawyers submit amended application to challenge Sask. pronoun legislation
LGBTQ2S+ advocates are not backing down in their legal fight against the Sask. Party’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, submitting an amended application against the legislation on Friday evening.
Amid housing crisis, jail seen as preferable to living on the street
Michael Keough has to pause in the middle of his phone call from Newfoundland and Labrador's largest jail to cough and wipe his eyes -- there's black mould on the wall where the phones are, he explains, and it irritates him after a while.
Toronto
-
Crombie leading after second round of voting for Ontario Liberal leader
Voting for the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party is going to a third round, with Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie having nearly secured enough votes for the win.
-
Canadian couple told new car cannot be insured in U.S. after moving to Florida
A couple from Montreal who recently moved to Florida fear they may have to sell their newly purchased vehicle after Toyota refused to provide them a compliance letter, a policy by some manufacturing companies that has seen owners unable to import their cars into the United States.
-
One dead, one in hospital after vehicle crashes into Lake Ontario
A man is dead and another is in hospital after a vehicle crashed into Lake Ontario early on Saturday morning.
Atlantic
-
The 60th Annual Christmas Daddies Telethon
Hosted and produced by CTV on-air and off-air staff, the Christmas Daddies Telethon, with broadcast time donated by CTV, helps provide a better holiday season for some Maritime children.
-
Police investigating report of gunshots in Dartmouth
Halifax Regional Police say they responded to a report of possible gun shots in Dartmouth, Friday night.
-
3 youths arrested after irritant sprayed inside Halifax-area school
Three youths were arrested after an irritant was sprayed Friday morning at a school in the Halifax area.
London
-
'Brings everyone together': Argyle BIA Santa Claus Parade draws thousands to east London, Ont.
Thousands of people lined Dundas Street in London’s east end for the ninth annual Argyle BIA (business improvement area) Santa Claus Parade on Saturday.
-
One dead, one in hospital after vehicle crashes into Lake Ontario
A man is dead and another is in hospital after a vehicle crashed into Lake Ontario early on Saturday morning.
-
Business Cares Food Drive held at London, Ont. grocery stores
The Business Cares Food Drive grocery store campaign is on this weekend. Hundreds of volunteers, including some Bell Media personalities, are spread out at 37 grocery stores across London.
Northern Ontario
-
How to watch the 2023 CTV Lions Children's Christmas Telethon
Once again, the annual Sudbury tradition of the CTV Lions Children's Christmas Telethon returns Saturday, Dec. 2 and is marking a major milestone with its 75th anniversary this year.
-
One dead, one in hospital after vehicle crashes into Lake Ontario
A man is dead and another is in hospital after a vehicle crashed into Lake Ontario early on Saturday morning.
-
Sudbury Wacky Wings owner ‘heartbroken’ restaurant being expropriated, vows to reopen
While he’s a big supporter of what the city has planned for downtown, the owner of Wacky Wings on Shaughnessy Street says he and his staff are “heartbroken” they are being forced out of their location.
Calgary
-
Calgary woman dies when her vehicle hits power pole south of Airdrie
A Calgary woman died early Saturday when her vehicle struck a power pole near Airdrie.
-
1 dead after being struck by vehicle on Highway 3 in southern Alberta
A woman died after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 3 early Saturday morning.
-
Calgary police say they are working with organizers of pro-Palestine rally to minimize disruptions to community
Calgary police say they are working closely with organizers of a pro-Palestinian protest this weekend to minimize disruption to businesses and the public.
Kitchener
-
Alleged victims speak out after a Waterloo, Ont. man posed as a CSIS agent and scammed women out of millions
Several women have come forward claiming they were victims of a romance scam by a Waterloo, Ont. man. Police believe he allegedly defrauded dozens of women out of more than $2 million over 15 years.
-
Waterloo man considered 'armed and dangerous' arrested after police chase
A man from Waterloo, who was wanted for an armed home invasion, has been arrested following a police chase in Kitchener.
-
Brantford ranked most dangerous city to drive in Ontario, Kitchener ranked 10th
The Telephone City has topped the list of most dangerous Ontario cities to drive in.
Vancouver
-
13-year-old boy and father targeted in Richmond double homicide, investigators say
Homicide investigators say the two people found dead inside a Richmond home Thursday night were father and son, and evidence gathered so far suggests they were targeted.
-
'The targeting of the Pride flag is hate,' Delta police say after latest church vandalism
Police in Delta are once investigating an act of vandalism apparently targeting a church over its prominently displayed Pride flags.
-
Sole survivor of Sea to Sky Highway crash on how faith, community are helping her unimaginable grief
Iris Paguia-Portillo was in the front passenger seat, and her brother James and two-year-old daughter Natalia in the back seat on their late night drive home from a church gathering on Nov. 26. Just 20 minutes from their Whistler home, she heard her husband Josefat Portillo scream as their car hit black ice and struck a tree.
Edmonton
-
Pedestrian hit by semi truck on QEII near Red Deer Friday
A person is in serious condition after being hit by a semi truck on the QE II Highway at Gasoline Alley Friday.
-
Devon, Alta., town council will seek to disqualify Anita Fisher following jail sentence
An elected official for the Town of Devon should be kicked out of her council seat, the town's mayor said Friday, the day after she was sentenced to 120 days in jail.
-
Edmonton Coun. Jennifer Rice offers apology, but says reports she bullied staff are 'inaccurate'
Jennifer Rice, the Edmonton city councillor for Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi, is disputing reports that she bullied staff and created a toxic work environment, but is still refusing to take questions about what happened.
Windsor
-
An emergency meeting is held over NextStar, new rules will give homebuyers more transparency, and the E.C. Row Expressway: Top Windsor stories this week
Mayor Drew Dilkens wants the province to take ownership of the E.C. Row Expressway, Conservative MPs want the contract between Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions to be publicly released, and Windsorites will soon have more transparency during the homebuying process. Here’s a look at the top stories on ctvnewswindsor.ca this week.
-
One dead, one in hospital after vehicle crashes into Lake Ontario
A man is dead and another is in hospital after a vehicle crashed into Lake Ontario early on Saturday morning.
-
Man facing charges after pouring beer over woman, her electronics: Chatham-Kent police
A man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly poured beer over a woman and her electronics during a domestic dispute in Chatham on Friday night.
Regina
-
'Every tool at our disposal': Lawyers submit amended application to challenge Sask. pronoun legislation
LGBTQ2S+ advocates are not backing down in their legal fight against the Sask. Party’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, submitting an amended application against the legislation on Friday evening.
-
El Nino doesn't guarantee a 'brown Christmas' in Sask., meteorologist says
With the weather phenomenon known as El Nino expected to impact much of western Canada this winter, including Saskatchewan, one meteorologist wants people to know it doesn’t mean no snow and above-zero temperatures will be the everyday norm.
-
Woman charged with murder after man found dead inside Yorkton home
RCMP say a homicide investigation in Yorkton has led to a second-degree murder charge for a 61-year-old woman.
Ottawa
-
Man rescued from Rideau Canal in critical condition
Ottawa Fire Services says a man was rescued from the Rideau Canal Saturday morning.
-
SNOWFALL WARNING
SNOWFALL WARNING Ottawa could see 15 to 20 cm of snow on Sunday and Monday
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Ottawa, calling for 15 to 20 cm of snow to accumulate between Sunday afternoon and Monday. Ottawa received 4 cm of snow on Saturday.
-
Here is when roads and sidewalks will be cleared of snow this winter in Ottawa
The city of Ottawa says snow clearing is done using a "road-priority system," with high-use, emergency and transit routes cleared first. Here is a look at when roads and sidewalks will be plowed during significant snowfall events, according to the city's website:
Saskatoon
-
'Screaming for help': Saskatoon man injured saving family from dog attack
An evening stroll for a Saskatoon man and his three children quickly turned violent, when two Pit bull dogs aggressively approached and attacked them on Wednesday in the Holiday Park neighbourhood.
-
Saskatoon business says rise in 'incidents' in Pleasant Hill reason for planned closure
The CEO of a financial institution that’s closing its doors next year says a rise in frequency and severity of incidents in the Pleasant Hill community where the building is located is the main reason for the planned closure.
-
'Every tool at our disposal': Lawyers submit amended application to challenge Sask. pronoun legislation
LGBTQ2S+ advocates are not backing down in their legal fight against the Sask. Party’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, submitting an amended application against the legislation on Friday evening.
