Ambitious plans to cut emissions, extract oil subject of Bill 106 hearings

A week of hearings aimed at layingout how Quebec will drastically cut greenhouse gas emissionsover the next 14 years and manage its own petroleumresources isunderway at the National Assembly.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Pierre Arcand tabled Bill 106 in early June.

Theproposed law would create Energy Transition Qubec an agencycharged with implementing the government's ambitious clean energy plans.

In 2015, Environment MinisterDavid Heurtelannounced what some consider a bold greenhouse gas emission target, a cut in emissions to 37.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030.

The agency is to be funded by royalties from energy distributors and through a new fund dedicated to clean energy projects.

Bill 106 also includes measures to fund the infrastructure necessary"for the electrification of shared transportation services."

Plan to exploit petroleum resources

As well, the bill includes provisions toput in place the Petroleum Resources Act, which lays out the government's plan tooversee the sustainable development of oil resources while making sure people, property and the environment are safe.

The law governing the Quebec Energy Board is also tobe modified, to include a new process to mediate consumer complaints. It also would include measures to improve the delivery ofnatural gas.

Environmental, business and energy interests from across Quebec and from elsewhere in Canada are scheduled to appear at the hearings.

The Parti Qubcois's energy critic, Alain Therrien, hascalled on the Liberals to divide the bill.

In a newsrelease, Therriensaid it's"contradictory to include in a bill about greenhouse gasesa bill about Quebec's clean energy transition."

He believes both issuespose significant challenges andmerit their own bills and separate debates.