An emergency provincial law passed in late March has allowed Stablex—an American waste disposal company— to expand its Blainville operations into ancient nearby wetlands — overriding local opposition, shutting down debate in the National Assembly, and drawing growing concern over environmental contamination.
Bill 93, pushed through by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government on March 28, forced the City of Blainville to sell over 60 hectares of public forest land to Stablex and granted the company immunity from legal consequences for any actions taken prior to April 15 — a federal deadline protecting bird nesting areas. The bill was described by opposition parties as custom-built for the American firm.
The City of Blainville, environmental groups, and local residents argue that the expansion into the La Grande Tourbière wetland — a site rich in biodiversity — will have long-term ecological consequences and is being rushed without transparency.
“This area was like a zoo — it was full of animals. I saw beavers every day, along with turtles, birds, and even moose,” said Louis, a 35-year Blainville resident and former employee of Orica, a nearby company that once operated on land now earmarked for the expansion. Louis’ surname is being withheld due to fear of reprisals.
“It was incredible to see the wildlife there; the area was thriving, but Stablex doesn’t care. They don’t care about the animals, the wetlands, or your health; they just want that hole. They tell us that they’re doing us a favour, that they are clearing out a forest of weeds, but this place was alive,” he said. “There is something really fishy going on here, and I cannot understand why more people are not looking into this.”
Stablex has operated its dumpsite in Blainville since 1981. While the company says it provides an essential service for safely disposing of hazardous materials from Quebec-based industry, figures show that over 40 per cent of the waste processed at the facility comes from outside the province, with nearly 30 per cent from the United States, although Stablex disputes these numbers.
Quebec’s own Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) in 2023 found Stablex’s practices were outdated and recommended against further expansion, with the current site viable until 2030. However, the company disputes this and says that the expansion is essential to avoid hitting capacity by 2027. The City of Blainville has proposed an alternate site, which Stablex reportedly rejected over higher costs than simply expanding into the wetland.
Further concerns have been raised following independent water tests supported by activist group Mères au Front. The tests found cadmium — a toxic, carcinogenic metal — at levels over 340 times the legal limit in a ditch near the plant, along with elevated concentrations of arsenic, nickel, chromium, and copper. These results contradict Stablex’s claim that its waste is safely treated and contained.
“We don’t know which cadmium level they are referring to. There is a high level of cadmium that can be found in nature. That could be in a field, a lake, a river, or in drinking water,” said Maxime Couture, a Stablex representative. “It’s possible that they may have interfered with the testing when they were doing it. Even the environmental minister came and said that there was no trace of contamination.”
Despite the unresolved questions over water safety, Stablex began clearing trees in early April, rushing to finish before federal bird-nesting protections came into effect. The fast-paced deforestation triggered a wave of protest at the plant’s gates. What was to unfold highlighted the scope of the fight that Blainville residents are up against.
Anne-Marie, a local health worker, chained herself to the gate on April 12 in an attempt to stop machinery from entering the site. Anne-Marie’s surname is being withheld due to fear of reprisals.
“I got to Stablex early that morning. Some people made it inside to try and stop the machines,” she said. “They were begging the workers to stop, but they completely ignored them, endangering everyone. The police just stood there, watching. They did nothing, even though it’s illegal to operate heavy machinery with civilians nearby and no safety equipment.”
She says workers continued felling trees at full speed, and splinters flew toward the group of protesters.
“It was really reckless. It’s a miracle only one person was seriously hurt,” she said.
While others protested inside the site, Anne-Marie remained chained by the neck to the front gate as police approached.
“I was sitting on the ground, the lock around my neck, and they towered above me, maybe six or more,” she said. “They started pushing the gate. I couldn’t breathe. I begged them not to touch the lock because it would strangle me. But they didn’t listen. They didn’t care.”
“I was lightheaded; I couldn’t breathe. Every move they made tightened it again and again. It was terrifying.” She was eventually released after nearly 40 minutes. To be honest, I’m really fearful of the police now,” she said. “I’m scared that someone knows my face, my address. They are not a resource for us. From what I experienced that day, it is clear that they’re not here to protect us.”
Other Blainville residents who have maintained a daily picket at the plant entrance say her experience reflects a pattern of intimidation. Audray Garneau and Danny Duquette are regulars at the picket and witnessed what happened to Anne-Marie on April 12.
“The police were not there for the protestors. They were there to give a show of force and intimidation to us,” said Garneau. “There is something really strange going on here; it really feels like a scary movie.”
“The show of force was because citizens demanded answers,” said Danny Duquette. “It seems there is nothing anybody can do about Stablex. It’s a bit like the population’s hands are tied, like they’ve stuck a rainbow on it and expect us not to ask any questions about what they are doing.”
“We’ve asked questions, but the information that has been given to us makes no sense, and it was very surface-level. They gave very vague responses, but people are asking very specific questions. All they are saying is everything is fine; don’t worry. So what is really going on here? We deserve to know,” he continued.
“There’s an omertà going on here between the powers involved,” Duquette said. “We need transparency.”
Many locals have echoed the same sentiments. Stablex has also allegedly hired a private security firm that follows and photographs anyone who pries too closely into the plant’s affairs.
Asked about the allegations of surveillance, Stablex’s Maxime Couture denied knowledge of the tactics.
“I don’t have any information on that; I don’t know what you’re referring to. There are a lot of issues with the security of the site. Like any industrial site, we have private security. We need to avoid people coming on-site, but as I said, I don’t know anything about taking pictures of people. I don’t have any information about that right now,” said a representative of Stablex.
Fear over contamination, however, continues to spread among residents.
“My biggest fear is that the population will be contaminated. If we rely on the surface-level tests on the rivers, then we can already see that the water is extremely contaminated,” said Garneau.
Louis, a resident of the city for 35 years, says he’s already planning to leave.
“I really do think that the water we drink is contaminated; we’re all too sick, and it’s too late by now to do anything about it,” he said. “I think the government knows what’s going on, and it’s too late, so they’re just trying to cover each other’s a**.”
“They are all linked: Stablex, CAQ, and the police. The cops will ignore the laws being broken by Stablex, but they will kick you out for trying to protest it and highlight it,” said Louis. “Just imagine if someone came out publicly and said that Stablex is a wasteland and it’s dangerous; imagine how much it would cost. No one would want to buy a house anywhere near here.”
Despite the obstacles, protests continue daily. On May 1, an activist named Samuel Touchette climbed a wooden structure chained to the perimeter fence and blocked access to the site. He was later charged by Blainville police with mischief and obstruction.
In a statement, Touchette called on the public to resist the project.
“This project is being imposed by force and disregards the ecological value of the Great Peatland,” he said. “The government is once again showing that it serves the interests of billionaires at the expense of the well-being of people and nature. Resistance must grow to protect the land and its people.”
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