Quebecers demand 'real democracy' in climate marches across the province

At just eight years old, Flavie Richard has already participated in a handful of climate demonstrations, with her latest being Quebec City's climate march on Friday.

Her mom, Karen Ct, says it's important to engage children of all ages in climate action.

"So that the next generations also carry on the message we want to send to our governments, to everyone," said Ct.

"If we reduce pollution, well, the Earth will be in better shape," added Flavie, holding a handmade sign that said, "if you want to breathe, stop polluting."

The umbrella organization Pour la suite du mondeis organizing marches in 17cities and towns including Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Baie-Comeau, Rouyn-Noranda and Shawinigan.

In Quebec City, marchers left Parc des Braves around 3 p.m. heading toward the National Assembly.

Andre Pikutelekan, who is Innu from Pessamit, was among hundreds of demonstrators Friday afternoon.

"The current government is quite deaf to the needs of Indigenous communities. It's important to show that we're here to speak out about the issues that affect us," said Pikutelekan.

In Montreal, protesters will meet at the George-tienne Cartier monument at Mont-Royal Park at 6 p.m. Friday and will march until reaching Place du Canada in the city's downtown.Five years ago today, hundreds of thousands of people, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, gathered at the same point for one of the largest protests in the province's history.

Organization wants to see more public consultations

Organizers say that this year, they're highlighting "major challenges" in Quebec's public consultation process and pushing for "real democracy."

"We're sick and tired of the fact that important decisions with major impacts on our future are being taken unilaterally and behind closed doors," saidFrancis Waddel, aspokesperson for Demain Verdun at a press conference Friday morning with other march organizers.

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Montrealers march for climate action on the fifth anniversary of one of the largest protests in the province's history. Activist Greta Thunberg visited the city in 2019 and rallied almost half a million people.Has the Montreal environmental movement changed since then?

Waddelcited Northvolt'sEV battery plant coming to Montreal's South Shore as an example of the province falling short of reflecting the population's wishes.

In that case, the Quebec government changed its rule around environmentalreviews before approving the project, thereby exempting it from an assessmentby theBureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement(BAPE).

Waddel also criticized the pivotal energy legislation, Bill 69, for not mentioning Quebec's carbon neutrality goals or a move away from fossil fuels. The bill is expected to dominate the National Assembly's fall session.

Pour la suite du mondereunites over 50 community organizations and represents over two million people, according to its website.

WATCH| What Montreal's climate march looked like in 2019:

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Thousands marched through the streets of Montreal on Friday to demand action on climate change.

Alexandre Huet, responsiblefor citizen mobilization in Quebec for the David SuzukiFoundation, says this year's goal is to broaden the environmental movement across the province instead of focusing primarily on Montreal and Quebec City.

"This is a start of something," he said.