Category Archives: environment

Indore News: IMC Mayor, Commissioner Lead ‘One Day–One Hour Shramdaan’ Drive

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**Indore Mayor and Officials Participate in ‘One Day – One Hour Shramdaan’ as Part of Swachhata Seva Pakhwada**

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Under the ongoing ‘Swachhata Seva Pakhwada’ campaign, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav and Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav took part in the ‘One Day – One Hour Shramdaan’ initiative on Thursday morning.

The event was organised beneath the Photi Kothi square bridge, where the leaders actively swept the area to spread the message of cleanliness. They also administered a cleanliness pledge to all participants, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clean environment.

The drive saw active participation from local corporator Shanu Sharma, Additional Municipal Commissioner Rohit Sisonia, health officials, NGO representatives, and a large number of citizens who joined hands in this mass cleaning effort.

Mayor Bhargav highlighted that the Swachhata Seva Pakhwada, running from September 17 (the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) to October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti), aims to reinforce the culture of cleanliness across the city. He further noted that the special shramdaan on September 25 also commemorated the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.

“Indore has become a national model for cleanliness and is once again determined to secure the top position for the ninth consecutive year,” Bhargav said.

Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav added that the one-hour shramdaan was carried out across every ward and locality of the city as part of the campaign. “Indore has always been prepared and committed when it comes to maintaining high standards of cleanliness,” he affirmed.

This sustained effort underlines Indore’s dedication to fostering a cleaner, healthier environment for all its residents.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/indore-news-imc-mayor-commissioner-lead-one-dayone-hour-shramdaan-drive

Palghar: Locals Protest Against Jindal Port At Murbe Bay, Cite ‘Scientific Errors’ In Report

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**Sindhu Sahyadri Foundation Challenges Environmental Report on Jindal Port Construction in Murbe Bay**

Mumbai: The Sindhu Sahyadri Foundation has raised serious concerns over the validity of the environmental report related to the construction of the Jindal port in the Murbe Bay area. Due to multiple errors found within the report, the foundation has demanded its immediate retraction.

At the same time, the residents of Morbe have strongly opposed the port project, warning that they will not allow the construction of what they describe as a detrimental port under any circumstances.

The proposed port is expected to have a significant impact on local biodiversity, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and landowners. There is considerable anxiety that the fishing industry could face severe devastation. Additionally, concerns have been raised that if the port’s capacity is fully utilized, nearby coastal towns including Alevadi, Navapur, Nandgaon, and Satpati could be at risk of flooding.

Just a few days ago, the inhabitants of Murbe began demonstrating against the Jindal port project to express their opposition.

**Key Grounds for Dispute**

Bhushan Bhoir, founder of the Sindhu Sahyadri Foundation, has pointed out numerous critical errors in the marine and coastal biodiversity report prepared by Thakur College. According to a report by Saamana, the environmental study contains significant misidentifications and misnamings of conch species. Additionally, various marine organisms found on the rocky shore and ocean floor have been inaccurately classified.

One notable mistake includes the incorrect identification of crab leg fragments found in seabed sediment as belonging to a separate species.

The foundation has condemned the entire report as poor quality and environmentally unsound, citing fundamental and scientifically indefensible errors.

**Report Submission and Official Representation**

Thakur College prepared the contested environmental impact report for the proposed port at Murbe and submitted it to the responsible company. This report was then forwarded to the Pollution Control Board.

In light of the inaccuracies, Bhushan Bhoir has formally requested the annulment of the report. He has also submitted a detailed representation to Palghar District Collector Dr. Indurani Jakhar, urging immediate action on the matter.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/palghar-locals-protest-against-jindal-port-at-murbe-bay-cite-scientific-errors-in-report

‘Like a train’: remote earthquake biggest in decades

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An earthquake that sounded “like a train” and rattled cupboards was the largest in southwest Tasmania in two decades, felt across the island.

The 4.1-magnitude tremor struck at 6:38 am on Thursday near Lake Pedder at a depth of 14 km. More than 120 people reported the earthquake to Geoscience Australia, including residents in Hobart, Queenstown on the west coast, and Launceston in the north.

One resident in Burnie posted on social media that it sounded like a train going down the street, while another south of Hobart reported glassware rattling in cupboards. Despite these reports, there were no calls for assistance or damage reported, according to the state’s emergency service.

Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Hadi Ghasemi said it was the largest quake within a 100 km radius of the epicentre in 20 years. “Tasmania is not high seismicity,” he explained, “but this event is testament that earthquakes can happen anywhere in Tasmania.”

Dr. Ghasemi also noted that the largest earthquake documented in Tasmania was a mid-to-high magnitude six in the late 1800s off Flinders Island.

Hydro Tasmania confirmed that no damage had been identified to its dams in the region, including Edgar Dam, which is currently undergoing upgrades. The dam, located about 30 km from the earthquake’s epicentre, is designed to withstand tremors of up to 6.8 magnitude along the Lake Edgar fault line.

“This earthquake was well below that and was not on the fault line,” said Hydro Tasmania’s General Manager of Assets and Infrastructure, Jesse Clark. “The upgrade will strengthen the dam even further.”

Hydro Tasmania emphasized that it maintains extensive seismic monitoring and will continue to inspect and monitor infrastructure over the coming days to ensure safety.
https://thewest.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/like-a-train-remote-earthquake-biggest-in-decades-c-20138247

Mumbai News: Activists Urge Artificial Ponds For Pinda Daan To Prevent Annual Fish Deaths At Banganga Tank

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Activists Urge Civic Body to Prevent Fish Deaths in Historic Banganga Tank After Pitru Paksha Rituals

Activists have called on the civic body to take urgent measures to prevent the annual death of hundreds of fish in the historic Banganga tank in Walkeshwar, which occurs following the Pitru Paksha rituals. They have proposed banning the immersion of puja remains directly into the tank and suggested the creation of artificial ponds around the tank to accommodate these offerings during the ritual period.

Recurring Problem at Sacred Banganga Tank

On Monday morning, hundreds of dead fish were seen floating on the surface of the Banganga tank, a sacred water body surrounded by ancient temples in the Walkeshwar area of Malabar Hill. This occurrence is not new; fish deaths have been a recurring issue every year after the last day of Pitru Paksha, when Hindus perform rites to honour their departed ancestors.

Rituals and Their Aftermath

On Sunday, hundreds of devotees gathered at the holy site to perform shraddha and pinda daan rituals, believed to provide peace to the departed souls. As in previous years, the rituals were conducted at the tank, after which numerous fish were found dead.

The civic body promptly responded by cleaning the tank and removing the dead fish. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, state minister and MLA from Malabar Hill, visited the site on Tuesday along with Manish Walunj, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of D ward, to engage with local residents and assess the situation.

Call for Preventive Measures

Activists have demanded concrete action from the civic authorities to stop the annual fish deaths. They recommended setting up artificial ponds around Banganga tank, similar to those used during Ganeshotsav visarjan, to prevent puja materials from polluting the water during Pitru Paksha.

Activists’ Perspectives

Sneha Visariya, founder trustee of Just Smile Charitable Trust, stated: “Puja materials should be banned from entering the water and instead immersed in artificial ponds, with only the water being released into the tank. This approach will allow devotees to fulfil their rituals without harming living beings. Killing aquatic life in the name of religion must stop.”

Visariya also recalled that after a similar incident in 2022, she had taken the dead fish to Parel Veterinary Hospital for a post-mortem. The hospital reportedly submitted a report to the police, identifying contaminated water as the cause of death.

Animal Welfare Concerns

Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor at Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Welfare Foundation, emphasized the necessity of regular tank maintenance. “If fish inhabit the tank, their well-being is the BMC’s responsibility. Devotees often throw various offerings into the tank assuming the fish will consume them, but fish have specific dietary needs. Unconsumed materials can turn into toxins, harming aquatic life.”

Local Residents’ Views

Locals revealed that such incidents have been occurring for decades, although the number of fish deaths this year was considerably lower. Notably, the BMC had banned the immersion of Ganpati idols in the tank before Ganesh Chaturthi this year.

Residents also complained about the foul stench caused by decaying fish, making the area unpleasant.

Chirag Dave, a local resident who facilitates rituals at the tank, shared: “I have witnessed fish dying after Pitru Paksha for over four decades. While we ensure that devotees do not immerse the pinda directly in the water, other ritual remains like oil, sesame seeds, and barley still flow into the tank, causing fish deaths. The area smells unpleasant every year after the incident, though the cleaning was quicker this time. While it is important to prevent fish deaths, devotees should not be stopped from performing their religious rituals.”

Looking Ahead

The situation at Banganga tank underscores the delicate balance between religious practices and environmental conservation. Implementing artificial ponds for puja immersions and regular cleaning could be effective steps toward preserving the sacred water body and its aquatic life, while respecting devotional sentiments.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-news-activists-urge-artificial-ponds-for-pinda-daan-to-prevent-annual-fish-deaths-at-banganga-tank

‘Green scam’: At UN, watched by drowning nations’ leaders, Trump assails the ethos of climate change

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NEW YORK (AP) — Some countries’ leaders are watching rising seas threaten to swallow their homes. Others are witnessing their citizens die in floods, hurricanes, and heat waves, all exacerbated by climate change.

But the world U.S. President Donald Trump described in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday didn’t match the one many world leaders in the audience are contending with. Nor did it align with what scientists have long been observing.

“This ‘climate change,’ it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” Trump said. “All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong. They were made by stupid people that have cost their countries fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success. If you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail.”

Trump has long been a critic of climate science and policies aimed at helping the world transition to green energies like wind and solar. His speech Tuesday, however, was one of his most expansive to date. It included false statements and made connections between things that are not connected.

Ilana Seid, an ambassador from the island nation of Palau and head of the organization of small island states, was in the audience. She said it’s what they’ve come to expect from Trump and the United States. She added that not acting on climate change will “be a betrayal of the most vulnerable,” a sentiment echoed by Evans Davie Njewa of Malawi, who said that “we are endangering the lives of innocent people in the world.”

For Adelle Thomas, a climate scientist who has published more than 40 studies and holds a doctorate, climate change disasters are personal, too. A vice chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s top body on climate science, Thomas is from the Bahamas and said she experienced firsthand “the devastation of the climate disaster” when Hurricane Sandy hit the Caribbean and New York City, the city Trump was speaking from, in 2012.

“Millions of people around the world can already testify to the devastation that climate change has brought to their lives,” she said. “The evidence is not abstract. It is lived, it is deadly, and it demands urgent action.”

—

### A Look at Some of Trump’s Statements, the Science Behind Them, and the Reaction

#### On Renewable Energy

**What He Said:**
Trump called renewable sources of energy like wind power a “joke” and “pathetic,” falsely claiming they don’t work, are too expensive, and too weak.

**The Backstory:**
Solar and wind are now “almost always” the least expensive and the fastest options for new electricity generation, according to a July report from the United Nations. That report also said the world has passed a “positive tipping point” where those energy sources will only continue to become more widespread.

The three cheapest electricity sources globally last year were onshore wind, solar panels, and new hydropower, according to an energy cost report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Subsidies endorsed by Trump and the Republican party are artificially keeping fossil fuels viable, said University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann. “If one were truly in favor of the ‘free market’ to determine this, then fossil fuels would be disappearing even faster,” he wrote in an email.

Relatedly, Trump falsely claimed European electricity bills are now “two to three times higher than the United States, and our bills are coming way down.” In fact, retail electricity prices in the United States have increased faster than the rate of inflation since 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which expects prices to continue increasing through 2026.

—

#### On the International Politics of Climate, the UN, and the Paris Accord

**What He Said:**
Trump blasted the U.N.’s climate efforts, saying he withdrew America from the “fake” Paris climate accord because “America was paying so much more than every country, others weren’t paying.”

**The Backstory:**
The Paris Agreement, decided by international consensus in 2015, is a voluntary but binding document in which each country is asked to set its own national goal to curb planet-warming emissions and decide how much money it will contribute to countries hit hardest by climate change.

Because carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for more than a century, the United States has emitted more of the heat-trapping gas than any other nation, even though China is now the No. 1 carbon polluter.

Since 1850, the U.S. has contributed 24% of the human-caused carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to Global Carbon Project data. The entire continent of Africa, with four times the population of the U.S., is responsible for about 3%.

—

#### On Coal Being Referred to as Clean

**What He Said:**
“I have a little standing order in the White House. Never use the word ‘coal.’ Only use the words ‘clean, beautiful coal.’ Sounds much better, doesn’t it?”

**The Backstory:**
Coal kills millions of people a year. “The president can pretend coal is clean, but real people—mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters—will die for this lie,” said Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson.

Trump also called the carbon footprint “a hoax made up by people with evil intentions,” a contention that Texas A&M University climate scientist Andrew Dessler agreed with. Dessler said the term was coined by oil companies and may have been designed to shift the responsibility for combatting climate change away from corporations to individuals.

—

#### The Science of Climate Change

The science of climate change started 169 years ago when Eunice Foote conducted simple experiments with flasks and sunlight, showing that carbon dioxide trapped more heat than regular air. It is an experiment that can be repeated at home and has been replicated in laboratories and greenhouses worldwide every day. It is basic physics and chemistry with a long history.

“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land,” reported the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, composed of hundreds of scientists with doctorates in the field.

In 2018, Trump’s own government stated: “The impacts of global climate change are already being felt in the United States and are projected to intensify in the future.”

—

#### On Cows and Methane

**What He Said:**
In “the United States, we have still radicalized environmentalists and they want the factories to stop. Everything should stop. No more cows. We don’t want cows anymore.”

**The Backstory:**
Cows belch methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Around the world, cattle are often raised on lands where forests have been cut down. Since forests capture carbon dioxide, cutting them to raise cattle results in a double whammy.

Still, no one is suggesting that cows be eliminated, said Nusa Urbancic, CEO of the Changing Markets Foundation. “This polarizing and divisive language misrepresents the environmental message,” Urbancic wrote. “What is true, however, is that cutting methane emissions is a quick win to slow global heating and meet climate targets.”

—

Trump also blamed dirty air blowing in from afar, floating garbage in the ocean coming from other countries, and “radicalized environmentalists.” Although the United States does indeed now have cleaner air than it has had in decades, the pollution affecting communities is primarily caused by local dirty energy and industry projects, not by other countries.

Many experts have said the biggest blow to local air and water quality comes from the Trump administration’s wide-ranging rollbacks of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s power and other foundational environmental laws.

“It is sad to see marine debris, a globally important issue, being misrepresented so completely,” said Lucy Woodall, an associate professor of marine conservation and policy at the University of Exeter.

—

**Associated Press reporters Matthew Daly, Jennifer McDermott, and Annika Hammerschlag contributed to this report.**

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters, and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
https://wgntv.com/politics-3/ap-politics/ap-green-scam-at-un-watched-by-drowning-nations-leaders-trump-assails-the-ethos-of-climate-change/

Judge fines Galway farmer over €9,300 for destruction of ‘rare’ limestone pavement

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A farmer has been ordered to pay over €9,300 in penalties for the destruction of 10 acres of an “extremely rare and unique” limestone pavement habitat within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) on the periphery of the Burren in Co Clare.

At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, Judge Adrian Harris recorded a conviction against Galway farmer Martin Feeney, stating that 10 acres of limestone habitat were destroyed as a result of his actions.

Mr. Feeney, of Mincloon, Rahoon, Galway, pleaded guilty to two offences related to the adverse impact on the limestone pavement. Judge Harris imposed fines totaling €3,000 and costs of €6,307.

Helen Carty, Regional Manager with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), told the court that 4.3 hectares (10.6 acres) of limestone pavement had been impacted by reclamation works for agriculture carried out by Mr. Feeney between March and August 2022.

Ms. Carty emphasized that limestone pavement is an “extremely rare and unique habitat,” listed as a priority habitat under the Habitats Directive due to its risk of disappearance. She noted that any loss of priority habitat is significant.

The affected lands are located within the Moyree River system SAC, one of five SACs in the Burren, situated on its periphery.

According to Ms. Carty, Mr. Feeney undertook reclamation works by removing limestone pavement blocks and infilling the area with material sourced from a nearby drumlin on the lands. The area was then re-seeded for approved agricultural grassland.

The works involved leveling infill material over the limestone pavement habitat. Additionally, Ms. Carty stated that a wall was constructed from very large limestone boulders, likely sourced from the SAC in the vicinity.

To assess the damage, Ms. Carty conducted a helicopter survey of the area, providing before-and-after satellite images as evidence in court.

She also detailed a January 2024 site visit to Mr. Feeney’s farmyard, which required assistance from two gardai due to Mr. Feeney’s uncooperative behavior.

Counsel for Mr. Feeney, Evan O’Donnell BL, acknowledged the State’s evidence and confirmed that his client accepts responsibility for his actions. Mr. O’Donnell requested that no conviction be imposed, highlighting that Mr. Feeney has farmed the lands since the late 1980s.

He also noted that Mr. Feeney was previously subject to a prosecution by the NPWS in 2008, which was later withdrawn. Mr. Feeney believed that the reclamation works he carried out were lawful and that they were not impacting limestone pavement.

Mr. O’Donnell mentioned that substantial areas of limestone pavement on Mr. Feeney’s landholding remain untouched.

Furthermore, he revealed that Mr. Feeney was recently hospitalized, including a period in intensive care, after being struck by a cow.

Mr. O’Donnell added that Mr. Feeney is retiring from farming, with his daughter set to take over the farming activities. He expressed that Mr. Feeney is eager to resolve the matter and is willing to make a charitable contribution in lieu of a conviction.

Representing the State, Thomas Wallace O’Donnell BL, instructed by the State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, emphasized the importance of a conviction being recorded in this case.

Mr. Feeney pleaded guilty to carrying out works on the lands between March 26th, 2022, and August 10th, 2022, within a SAC without the consent of the Minister. He also pleaded guilty to bringing plant machinery onto a SAC, adversely impacting its integrity.

—

*This case highlights the serious consequences of damaging protected habitats and serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to environmental regulations.*
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/judge-fines-galway-farmer-over-e9300-for-destruction-of-rare-limestone-pavement-1810114.html

Trump tells UN General Assembly climate change ‘greatest con job’ on world

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President Trump on Tuesday claimed climate change was “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” as he used his speech to the United Nations to criticize efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition toward clean energy.

“It’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world in my opinion. Climate change, no matter what happens you’re involved in that,” Trump said at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City.

“All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong,” Trump continued. “They were made by stupid people that have cost their countries fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success.”

Trump called the idea of a carbon footprint “nonsense” and a “hoax made up by people with evil intentions.” He urged nations to move away from efforts to shift their economies toward investments in clean energy.

“If you don’t get away from this green scam your country is going to fail,” Trump said. “And I’m really good at predicting things.”

For years, the president has cast doubt on the effects of climate change, which experts warn could have catastrophic environmental impacts if nations do not take significant steps to mitigate it.

In the early months of his second term, his administration moved quickly to slash environmental regulations. In July, the administration announced it would exempt dozens of chemical manufacturers, oil refineries, coal plants, medical device sterilizers, and other polluters from Clean Air Act rules.

Additionally, earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed eliminating requirements under a 2009 rule that forced major emitters to report their greenhouse gas emissions.

Trump also signed into law a massive tax and spending bill in July that slashed incentives for wind and solar energy projects. Moreover, his administration has erected other barriers, making it more difficult for these clean energy projects to receive approval.
https://wgntv.com/hill-politics/trump-tells-un-general-assembly-climate-change-greatest-con-job-on-world/

Amur leopard cubs take first steps at Chicago zoo

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At the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, two adorable Amur leopard cubs were recently seen taking their very first steps.

The playful cubs were also observed pouncing around alongside their mother, Mina, engaging in joyful playtime.

This heartwarming moment marks an important milestone for the world’s rarest big cat species, highlighting a positive step forward in their conservation.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/amur-leopard-cubs-first-steps-030033421.html

Nissan Unveils AI-Powered Prototype Car

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Long-term interest rates in Japan, which influence fixed mortgage rates, rose to their highest level in 17 years. On September 22nd, the yield on 10-year government bonds briefly reached 1.665 percent, marking the highest point since 2008.

In an innovative approach to electricity demand control, frozen tuna stored at minus 60 degrees Celsius are now being utilized as a cooling agent. By temporarily shutting down refrigeration units and relying on the fish itself to maintain storage temperatures, companies are beginning to reduce power consumption effectively.

The Consumer Affairs Agency has announced suspicions of stealth marketing practices involving Ajinomoto and Inglewood concerning their frozen home-delivery meal brand, “Aete.” It is alleged that the companies asked individuals to post about the products on social media in exchange for free items, later republishing those posts on their sales sites.

Seven-Eleven Japan has completed a large-scale overhaul of the store system used by approximately 21,000 outlets nationwide. This milestone, achieved five years after the project was conceived, represents a major step in digital transformation. The new cloud-based system replaces the company’s traditional infrastructure and is designed to enhance efficiency and customer service.

On September 19th, the Bank of Japan decided to maintain its policy interest rate at 0.5 percent, marking the fifth consecutive meeting without a rate change. Backed by a majority of the Policy Board, the decision reflects the central bank’s cautious approach as it continues to monitor the impact of U.S. tariffs, commonly known as the Trump tariffs.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146970.php

Quebec premier promises new legislation inspired by federal major projects law

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**Quebec Premier Legault to Introduce New Legislation to Speed Up Environmental Approvals**

*MONTREAL* — Quebec Premier François Legault announced plans to table new legislation aimed at expediting environmental approvals, modeled on the federal major projects law. Speaking on the popular Quebec talk show *Tout le monde en parle* on Sunday evening, Legault said the Quebec bill will be “equivalent” to Bill C-5, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s signature legislation designed to fast-track projects considered to be in the national interest.

“Currently, it takes years to get environmental permits,” Legault said. “We can’t afford that.”

The new Quebec legislation, informally known within the government as “Q-5,” references the federal law and aims to accelerate the development of large projects to create new jobs in the province. Despite the focus on speed, Legault insisted that environmental protections would not be compromised.

However, the premier has recently hinted at the possibility of “taking a pause” on some environmental policies. In an earlier interview with Radio-Canada this month, he expressed concerns that Quebec “cannot be the only state in North America making an effort” to combat climate change.

Legault’s governing party, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), has been struggling in the polls for several months and faces the risk of complete defeat in the next provincial election scheduled for October 2026. According to polling aggregator Qc125.com, the CAQ could lose all of its 83 seats if an election were held today.

Adding to the party’s challenges, one of Legault’s former ministers, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, resigned from the caucus last week after being removed from the cabinet earlier this month. She stated she had lost faith in Legault and suggested he should reconsider his future as party leader.

On Sunday, however, Legault maintained that he still enjoys the support of “the vast majority” of his caucus and implied that Blanchette Vézina’s resignation stemmed from personal disappointment over her cabinet ousting.

The premier also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening secularism rules in Quebec. Last month, Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge announced plans to introduce a bill to ban prayer in public places.

“The majority of Quebecers do not like to see people on their knees in our streets,” Legault said during the interview, specifically referring to Muslim prayers held during pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, which have stirred controversy across the province.

“What’s happening in Gaza is unacceptable,” he added. “But is this our fight?”

Originally, Quebec’s National Assembly was set to resume sitting on September 16, but Legault decided to prorogue the legislature until September 30 amid a cabinet shuffle.

—

*This report was first published on September 21, 2025, by The Canadian Press.*

*Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press*
https://www.sudbury.com/national/quebec-premier-promises-new-legislation-inspired-by-federal-major-projects-law-11243515