Montréal, August 21, 2025 – The Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE) and the three co-plaintiffs will be able to pursue their challenge to the regulatory amendments that resulted in the Northvolt project not being subject to a BAPE environmental impact assessment.
Following a hearing on April 25, 2025, the Québec Superior Court today ruled against the Gouvernement du Québec’s attempt to dismiss this important part of the case at the preliminary stage, i.e., before a hearing is held on the merits of the case.
As a result, the CQDE and the co-plaintiffs will be able to fully present their arguments in court on the regulation that was amended shortly before the Northvolt project was announced. Without these amendments, the first phases of the project would have been automatically subject to the environmental impact assessment and review process, which normally involves the BAPE.
“We’re relieved, for this important part of the case has implications well beyond the Northvolt project. What’s at stake is the role of the Gouvernement du Québec and the Ministère of the Environment in respecting and applying our laws and regulations. We want the courts to clarify what our decision-makers should and should not do, so that the rules are clearly understood in all similar situations in the future. This is all the more important in a context of setbacks in public participation in environmental decisions,” affirmed Geneviève Paul, Executive Director of the CQDE.
Since the fall of 2023, the CQDE – alongside a large number of organizations and private citizens – has been calling for a comprehensive assessment of the project’s impacts before a decision is made.
The parties must soon determine the next steps to be taken. The date of the hearing on the merits of the case has not yet been set.
The CQDE would like to reiterate its thanks to the law firm Lapointe Légal, which is representing the organization and the co-plaintiffs before the Superior Court in this case.
