A provincial minister announced recently that a proposed electric vehicle battery plant currently being opposed by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake could face delays in construction of up to 18 months. The MCK has filed suit in court to prevent the plant from seeing the light of day due to environmental concerns.
A hearing two weeks ago went “better than we thought it might’ve gone,” MCK lead on the Environment portfolio Ross Montour said. “I wasn’t at the hearing, but there’s not a lot to say. It was a case-management hearing and the subject of the discussion was whether the MCK’s case was detailed enough for Quebec’s Attorney General to move forward. The judge agreed we had provided enough information to move forward.” Montour added that the MCK’s lawyers are in the midst of preparing an expert’s report on the potential impact of the factory on the nearby waterways.
Source: NorthVolt
“I understand that they have already interviewed one community member who does quite a bit of hunting and fishing in that area,” Montour said. “Beyond that, I have also noticed there’s a groundswell of opposition to the plant that has come from other places. I’ve seen some media reports that show other communities are also opposed to this.”
A few days prior to that September hearing, Quebec Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced a slowdown in the international electric-vehicle market has forced Northvolt to undergo a ‘strategic review’ of its facilities, including a slated facility in Saint-Basile-le-Grand.
Experts expect a period of stagnation
“From what I have heard from Northvolt’s management, we are talking about a delay of 12 to 18 months,” for the company to complete the review of its facilities worldwide, Fitzgibbon said. On social media he mentioned the EV battery industry is slowing down worldwide, saying experts expect a period of stagnation. “This slowdown could apply to Northvolt.”
Montour said he’s not aware of any delays, nor does he truly buy that they might occur.
“I’m not certain about that. I don’t know much about any delays, but even if they do continue with the plant or they don’t, that won’t have any effect on our court challenge,” he said. “As far as the litigation goes, are we a fly in the ointment, so to speak? Possibly.”
Consult First Nations on matters that concern them
The MCK filed its court challenge earlier this year over Northvolt’s failure to consult First Nations on matters that concern them, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The MCK is concerned specifically about the wetlands and the wildlife surrounding the plant.
Production at the plant was slated to begin in 2026, but the company’s strategic review could result in a reassessment of the timetable, it said. It added that nothing has been finalized and that the results of the review are expected within a few weeks.
“In the meantime, engineering and design of the technology complex are ongoing, and site preparation continues,” Northvolt said.
