ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: GENERAL - Québec's Sustainable Development Act Adopted - May 15,2006

by Paul R. Granda and Anne-Frédérique Bourret at Gowlings

Québec’s Bill 118 entitled the Sustainable Development Act ("Bill 118") initially tabled on June 13, 2005 was unanimously adopted by the members of the National Assembly on April 13, 2006, assented to on April 19, 2006 and came into force on the same date. It represents the legislative centerpiece towards implementing Québec's Sustainable Development Plan (the "Plan") originally tabled in November 2004. The Plan as well as Bill 118 in its initial draft form were the object of a series of regional public consultations between February 17 and May 17, 2005 and a parliamentary commission between October and December, 2005 which resulted in the submission of more than 570 briefs which, after review by the Ministère du développement durable, de l'environnement et des Parcs (the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (the "MSDEP")) led to the tabling of Bill 118. More Info...