By : Alison Chave
The Quebec Ministry of the Environment has ended the voluntary Environnement-Plage program, which has monitored water quality at more than 150 public beaches across the province since the 1970’s. The move is part of wider government budget cuts, particularly in voluntary programs.
Responsibility Shift to Beach Operators
In a statement earlier this year, the Ministère de Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changement climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) said beach operators will now be fully responsible for water sampling.
TBL Already Prepared for the Transition
Before the announcement, TBL had already decided to withdraw from the program and manage water testing internally and through private labs after hiring biologist Anais Renaud, and for the summer, an environmental technician.
A New Reality for Municipalities
Other municipalities will now be forced to do the same.