CentrEau Webinar: Rights of Nature in Quebec: towards a Stronger Protection of the St-Charles Lake Water Source?

SPEAKER

Nathalie Gravel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Exiting President of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG)

Co-representative of the Water Governance and Management Axis at CentrEau

Department of Geography - Laval University

WEBINAR SUMMARY

It seems clear that the measures in place to protect aquatic ecosystems and water sources in Quebec are not sufficient, despite the progress made by the network of water protection stakeholders and the Quebec legal system. Consideration is being given to changing the legal status of natural entities, from object to subject of law, in several countries around the world, starting with countries with a predominantly indigenous population (Bolivia and Ecuador), as well as in New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, France, and Spain. Recognizing Lake Saint-Charles, for example, as a legal entity would grant it the status of an inalienable stakeholder in decision-making that concerns it and give it the right to be represented in order to defend its interests and its integrity. The Magpie River was the subject of such recognition, ratified by the agreement between the Minganie MRC and the Ekuanitshit nation in 2021.

The question addressed by this research is: What would be the expected implications of recognizing the status of non-human legal personality of Lake Saint-Charles for the governance of its ecosystems? Such a paradigm shift in the Nature/Culture relationship would make it possible to place respect for the ecological integrity of the water environments of Lake Saint-Charles at the center of governance decisions in its watershed instead of continuing to treat the lake as a simple object or resource.

Considered an important source of drinking water for Quebec City since 1853, it is imperative to recognize its rights under the law and to implement legal tools for participatory governance to avoid any form of pollution, so that it can maintain an adequate (minimum) ecological level and to enhance the monitoring of its watershed through lake guardians who would be appointed from among the population. Recognizing the rights of Lake Saint-Charles would allow it to have additional and more comprehensive protection, so as to enhance the resilience of these ecosystems to help it face the future challenges of climate change.

This conference will present the progress of the partnership research on the study of participatory governance of Lake Saint-Charles, which brings together various water actors and stakeholders in the watershed of the lake and the Saint-Charles River, including the Association des riverains du lac Saint-Charles, AGIRO, and the Huron-Wendat nation, as well as engaged citizens. This collaborative research is carried out through the sharing of data on: the evolution of the quality and management of the waters of Lake Saint-Charles, the sources of pollution in its watershed and the evolution of the overall health of the lake with the help of all partners.

This project is in line with the work that led to the tabling of the bill in the National Assembly in April 2022 aimed at recognizing the legal personality of the St. Lawrence River, carried out in collaboration with the OIDN. Note that the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador has endorsed this latest initiative and is a signatory of the St. Lawrence Alliance ( https://observatoirenature.org/observatorio/alliance-fleuve-st-laurent/ ).

To read more on the issue, an interview with Nathalie Gravel was published in Québec Sciences in June 2024, accessible at the following link https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/environnement/statut-juridique-fleuve-saint-laurent/

EXCHANGES AND DISCUSSIONS

The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session with participants.