News

Montréal – Pour la suite du monde (“For the world to continue”), a movement made up of some 50 groups and representing over two million people, is calling on all Quebecers to take part in demonstrations across Québec to demand a clear commitment from the Québec government in response to the climate, social and biodiversity crises. It’s time to act!

We are sick and tired of the government’s bad decisions because we know that together, we can build a Québec that is safer, more ecological and more just. Demonstrations took place today across Québec, in Baie-Comeau, Drummondville, Gaspé, Joliette, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Montréal, Nicolet, Québec City, Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Saguenay, Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Jérôme, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Shawinigan, Sherbrooke and Victoriaville. A major demonstration will be held this evening in Montréal, where people will gather at 6 p.m. at the George-Étienne Cartier monument.

A Québec that lives up to our ambitions

Québec is increasingly feeling the impact of the climate crisis and the collapse of biodiversity. Recently, Quebecers were hit with floods caused by Hurricane Debby, “the costliest event in Québec’s history.” We had historic forest fires last year, and heat waves are more and more frequent. These climate events have serious consequences and take place against the already difficult backdrop of the housing crisis, the rising cost of living and deepening socio-economic inequality. We refuse to stand by while our future and the future of the next generations is threatened. Quebecers are ready to act and are already working on solutions the government is unaware of.

Our demand is simple: we need to implement an energy, ecological and social transition that benefits all Quebecers, and a true social dialogue that will ensure that Quebecers are included in decisions.

What they’re saying

Union sector

“The ecological transition cannot be carried out in secrecy at the expense of the general interest, the people who build our society, and the most vulnerable among us. Workers have abilities, experience, and knowledge of reality on the ground that are crucially important when the time comes to develop fair and sustainable solutions. Initiatives taken without consulting them are doomed to failure and may lead to job losses, precarious working conditions, and even more inequality.” – Luc Vachon, president of the CSD (Centrale des syndicats démocratiques)

The environmental sector

“The Québec government is missing its climate targets. Its proposed environmental measures are not sufficient to deal with the worsening impact of the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity. Its planning is inadequate, and it has no clear direction. It is letting the environmental situation deteriorate to the point where the resilience of communities is under threat. There are solutions supported by science and civil society to protect the health of human beings and ecosystems, but they can only work if the government listens, is open to dialogue, and is willing to take serious action. The door is open on our end because the future of our society is at stake.” – Alexandre Huet, responsible for mobilizing Québec citizens, David Suzuki Foundation

Community sector

“Human rights and our living conditions are intimately tied to the future of ecosystems. It is inconceivable that in 2024, our decision makers are still putting the private interests of major industries first instead of fighting social inequalities and protecting the environment. This orientation necessarily undermines the common good and has the greatest impact on our society’s least fortunate people.” – Valérie Lépine, co-coordinator for the MÉPACQ (Mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec)

Youth sector

“Young people cannot and must not carry the weight of the climate crisis alone. They want to live in a world that is just and healthy. Governments are ignoring us, and it’s time to tell them that we’re sick and tired of it and want to be heard! The clock is ticking, and governments and institutions are responsible for initiating the transition. We need action now!” – Marie Maltais, student, youth sector representative

Health sector 

“As it continues to worsen, the climate and biodiversity crisis keeps on showing us that the health of the environment has an impact on human health throughout Québec, and this is especially true for the most vulnerable among us. It also has economic effects that need to be better understood: costs continue to rise for our overwhelmed health care system, vulnerable people and communities are trapped by health problems that they are powerless to do anything about, and people experience health inequalities based on where they live or work. Over the past years, thanks to our collective intelligence and the involvement of civil society, we have come up with solutions that the government must implement to ensure full health for Québec.” – Patricia Clermont, Ph.D., organizer for AQME (Association québécoise des médecins pour l’environnement )

Economic sector

“We have reached planetary and social limits, and our current economic system works only for a minority of people at the expense of the majority. Transforming our society is an absolute necessity, and most importantly, it can be done. We already have economic models for taking care of both people and the planet, and these models have deep roots in Québec – let’s support them!” – Béatrice Alain, executive director, Chantier de l’économie sociale

Citizens’ groups

“The window of opportunity to slow down global warming is rapidly closing. Our current government is using a pseudo-energy transition as a pretext to decide, without any legitimacy, to dismantle our social gains by privatizing and squandering our electricity and destroying our territories. Québec society as a whole is experiencing the losses caused by these bogus solutions. We call on Quebecers to get involved and refuse the expropriation of our common good. Citizens’ voices must be heard in decisions about the future we want.” – Francis Waddell, Demain Verdun citizens’ group

Elected municipal officials’ group

“Right now, the energy transition is being dictated from above on the basis of opaque and antidemocratic principles. Our municipal democracies are in bad condition, and citizens and the common good are paying the price. Decisions that will shape the future of our communities must be taken with and by the people, not against us. Vent d'élus continues to advocate putting participatory municipal democracy back at the heart of decisions that have an impact on the environments we live in, in order to ensure an energy transition that is fair and viable for all.” – Isabelle Clément, Hérouxville town councillor and member of Vent d’élus

 

Source: Collectif Pour la suite du monde

Collectif Pour la suite du monde

We are a movement bringing together labour, environmental, health, community, youth, and economic organizations as well as groups of citizens and elected officials around a democratic vision of the environmental and social transition. 

Through a variety of actions, we are mobilizing to force our governments to create democratic solutions embodying social and environmental justice. 

Our movement brings together some 50 organizations representing over 2 million people. 

https://pourlasuitedumonde.ca/

 

Organizations belonging to Pour la suite du monde

 

Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS)

AREQ (CSQ) – Le mouvement des personnes retraitées CSQ

Association québécoise des médecins pour l’environnement (AQME)

Attac Québec

Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD)

Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)

Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO)

Chantier de l’économie sociale

Chantier de l’économie sociale – aile jeunesse

The Climate Reality Project Canada

Coalition intersyndicale du Suroît (COTON 46)

Coalition QLAIM

Coalition Québec meilleure mine (QMM)

Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN)

Cyclo Nord-Sud

Demain Verdun

David Suzuki Foundation

Eau Secours

ENvironnement JEUnesse

Équiterre

Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE)

Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec (FTQ)

Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ)

Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)

Fondation Monique-Fitz-Back

Fondation Rivières

Front commun pour la transition énergétique (FCTE)

Green Coalition / Coalition Verte

Greenpeace Canada

L’Assomption en transition

La planète s’invite au Parlement

Les oubliés de l’autobus

MARE (Mouvement d’action régional en environnement)

Mères au front

Mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec (MÉPACQ)

Mouvement Démocratie Nouvelle (MDN)

Nature Québec

Oxfam-Québec

Pour un choix éclairé dans Nicolet-Yamaska

Regroupement vigilance énergie Québec

Réseau des femmes en environnement

Réseau québécois de l’action communautaire autonome (RQ-ACA)

Réseau québécois des groupes écologistes (RQGE)

SNAP Québec

Solidarité Environnement Sutton

Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ)

Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ)

Travailleuses et travailleurs pour la justice climatique

Union étudiante du Québec (UEQ)

Vent d’élus

Vigilance OGM