Comprehensive Study Report

5.1. Hydro-Québec's communications program

This section summarizes the key information on the communications program contained in Chapter 1.3 of Volume 1 of the proponent's draft-design report. For example, a list of the various organizations contacted is provided, along with a table summarizing the issues, concerns and demands expressed by the local community during the proponent's information tours.

5.1.1. Communications process

After the project was launched in December 1991, three public information and consultation tours were carried out. The first tour, conducted in February 1992, was intended to provide the community with general information about the studies initiated with respect to the construction of a new generating station and Hydro-Québec's intentions. Two potential development options were presented, along with the technical and environmental studies to be conducted during the first phase of work, and the upcoming communication phases. During a second information tour, in November 1995, the proponent presented the option selected for the second phase of the draft-design process and provided local residents with information on the progress achieved in the project. A final information tour was conducted in September 1998 to take stock once again of the rationale for the project, to summarize the optimized features of the development, to describe the impacts and mitigation measures and to outline the regional economic benefits of the project.

Three information bulletins (January 1992, November 1995 and August 1998) and a fact sheet (August 1995) were prepared and distributed prior to the information tours. Two public meetings (1992 and 1998) and a press conference (1998) were also held.

In all, some 50 organizations or groups were invited to the communication sessions or received fact sheets. About a dozen meetings were organized during each tour and, on average, 20 organizations or groups participated in them.

These meetings brought together organizations, groups and individuals concerned by the project (departments, municipalities, RCMs, economic groups, environmental, recreation and tourism and cultural groups, and landowners affected by the project) and enabled the proponent to inform interested parties and obtain their input.

During each of the communication stages, the proponent recorded the concerns and requests formulated by the community and took account of these in the study orientations as well as in establishing the final project. Hydro-Québec addressed community requests and demands by providing answers or making specific undertakings.

The proponent also stated that it maintained close contact with community representatives and a number of groups and organizations following consultations concerning upgrading projects at the four existing hydroelectric facilities (La Gabelle, Shawinigan-2, Shawinigan-3 and La Tuque) and the draft designs for the construction of two new generating stations (Rapides-des-Cœurs, Rapides-de-la-Chaudière) or the partial diversion of the Mégiscane River.

5.1.2. Concerns and issues raised by the community

The main concerns of the groups and organizations consulted in the project relate to:

• local economic spinoffs;
• management of the excavation fill and the construction site activities;
• role of the former generating station;
• effects on spawning grounds;
• resuspension of contaminated sediments;
• addition of transmission lines.

Some groups and organizations also expressed concern that the new wintertime management method for the generating station could cause ice push-ridges along the river banks which might hinder access to the river for winter activities. The proponent identified this impact as a project issue. The measures proposed by the proponent with the aim of mitigating this impact are discussed in Section 7.6.2.

Other concerns and issues were raised in relation to regional economic spinoffs and the multiplicity of recreation and tourism activities associated with the river, necessitating the construction of structures that will enable boats to bypass the existing hydroelectric facilities, including those being upgraded.

5.1.3. Hydro-Québec responses and undertakings

In some cases, the information provided by the proponent helped to alleviate concerns and satisfy community expectations. This is the case with effects on spawning grounds (habitat loss will be compensated), resuspension of sediments (no displacement of contaminated sediments will occur in the project), construction site activities (negligible impact), the addition of transmission lines (no plans for this, since new lines will be built only in response to increased demand and not in connection with an increase in the power station's capacity) and economic spinoffs (measures to maximize spinoff at the local and regional levels).

In the draft-design report, Hydro-Québec mentioned that the two solutions put forward for excavated material management presented advantages and drawbacks for municipalities on the left bank and the Centre-de-la-Mauricie RCM, which were concerned about this matter. Hydro-Québec therefore asked those agencies to participate in the discussions and collaborate on devising an acceptable solution.

In view of the heritage value of the existing power station, Hydro-Québec said that it was willing to form an advisory committee to analyse proposals from the local community regarding possible uses for the station. However, Hydro-Québec has not made any undertakings to make the existing plant available to the community.

With regard to recreational use of the river during the winter, Hydro-Québec has stressed that it will maintain contacts with users in order to solve potential problems of river access. As for the additional risks to users connected with the stability of the ice cover in the Hêtres Rapids sector, the proponent plans to raise local residents' awareness of this issue and monitor ice conditions, but it cannot undertake to guarantee the safety of the area, given that unsafe conditions already exist there.

The request to build a lock to allow boats to bypass the Grand-Mère hydroelectric facility is part of a broader scheme covering all of the Hydro-Québec facilities and aimed at making the river navigable along much of its course. Hydro-Québec has not made any undertakings with respect to modifying its facilities in this regard, but it has agreed to estimate the cost of such a development. The proponent indicated nonetheless that boating-related projects may be proposed within the framework of the integrated enterprise development program (PMVI).

5.1.4. Positions of the various groups and agencies

The proponent pointed out that none of the organizations that participated in the information meetings were opposed to the project and that some organizations had even indicated their support for it. These include the Centre-de-la-Mauricie RCM, municipalities affected by the construction work (Grand-Mère, Saint-Georges and Lac-à-la-Tortue), MNAs for the ridings of Laviolette and Trois-Rivières, the federal Member of Parliament for the Saint-Maurice riding, and the president of the Corporation de gestion du développement du bassin de la rivière Saint-Maurice (CGDBR).

5.2. Public consultations under the CEAA

A period for public comments is provided following the submission of the comprehensive study report to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. During this period, members of the public may consult the report and express their opinions and concerns about the environmental effects of the project.