A “model of environmental excellence” that combines shortcomings

The McInnis cement plant, which last week boasted of being a “leader in respecting environmental standards,” has been racking up violations and fines for two years.

Georgi Wagner, CEO of Ciment St. Marys, last Wednesday, in a press release marking the 3-year anniversary of the plant’s acquisition: “Since our acquisition of the plant, we have striven to make it a model of environmental excellence.” This company is a subsidiary of the Brazilian giant Votorantim.

However, between 1^any In April 2022 and March 31, 2024, the Port-Daniel-Gascons cement plant, in Gaspisse, received 33 notices of non-compliance from the Ministry of the Environment, our investigative office indicated after executing a request for access to information.

Additionally, the cement plant and its subcontractor received $37,000 in fines and penalties in 2023 and 2024 alone.

The Saint Marys cement plant, which is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Quebec, is currently the subject of two investigations by the ministry for environmental violations.

“Not ideal at all”

“They are not at all ideal on an environmental level,” says Environnement Vert Plus spokesman Pascal Bergeron, who has been following the cement plant's file since the beginning.

Even more recently, in January 2024, St. Marys Cement received a notice of non-compliance for failing to promptly notify the Department of another dust leak on August 7, 2023.

St. Marys Cement gave us an interview. “The subcontractor responsible for the operations of the marine terminal did not notify us properly. We have now taken control of these operations,” the company explained in writing via public relations firm NATIONAL.

It received another notification of iron dust releases in April of the same year.

The company says several non-compliance notices it has received recently are “primarily of an administrative nature.”

Sticky dust

Newspaper In recent days I was able to speak with two Port Daniel residents, who live near the plant. They asked us not to identify them for fear of retaliation.

According to them, there are still bouts of sticky dust near the plant, most recently in May. However, the frequency of these incidents has reportedly decreased recently.

Recall that the company is the subject of a ministerial order issued in September 2022 to force it to respect standards and stop spitting sticky dust into the air.

“The vast majority of corrective measures were implemented in 2023 and the completed work was inspected by MELCCFP. The remainder of the work was completed in 2024 and the independent expert’s testimony has now been sent to the Ministry,” the company explained.

– In collaboration with Annabelle Bliss

Carbon neutral by 2050?

The factory that emits the most greenhouse gases in Quebec wants to be carbon neutral by 2050, but that vision is drawing doubts from Environnement Vert Plus.

“It's Quebec's biggest polluter. Its spokesman, Pascal Bergeron, believes the roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality does not yet exist.

St. Marys Cement said it invested $80 million over three years to maintain and improve the plant's productivity and efficiency, as well as its environmental footprint.

It says it has adopted “advanced technologies and processes to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.”

“It must be emphasized that the goal was to increase the productivity and efficiency of the cement plant above all else, and this has an indirect impact at the environmental level,” explains Mr. Bergeron.

Recall that last December the government asked the four cement plants in Quebec to submit a plan detailing the means they will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.