À propos du Forum GNR & EauAbout RNG & Water Forum

Xavier Brosseau is an economist by training. Graduate of a master’s degree from Laval University in Quebec City with a specialization in natural resource economics. Xavier began his career in Ottawa in 1998 at the Department of Finance Canada in the Sales Tax Branch. He then continued his career at the Quebec Ministry of Finance in the Personal Income Tax Policy Branch. From 2002, he held an advisory position in the Strategic Priorities and Projects Secretariat of the Department of Executive Council, where he was responsible for public finance, natural resource development and economic projects. Since 2014, Mr. Brosseau has held the position of Director of the Clean Fuel Supply and Biofuels Branch at the ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et l’Énergie. His branch's mandate includes overseeing and developing the clean fuel sector, including renewable gases. The branch collaborates on the implementation of policies aimed at developing this sector. It is also responsible for designing and updating the regulations applicable to this sector, notably le Règlement sur la teneur en contenu à faible intensité carbone dans l’essence et le carburant diesel and le Règlement sur le gaz de source renouvelable. It also oversees the implementation of financial support measures, such as the Programme de soutien au gaz naturel renouvelable.

Mr. Renault Lortie has been Vice-President, Customers and Gas Supply since January 2020. In this capacity, he is responsible for all sales teams, customer experience, development of the renewable gas sector (RNG, hydrogen), customer services as well as purchasing and transportation of natural gas to Quebec. In January 2023, the legal affairs teams were added to this group. In 2014, Mr. Lortie joined Énergir as Director, Corporate Sales and Senior Director, Sales and Market Development. In 2017, he was appointed Vice President, Sales and Market Development and Vice President, Clients from June 2018 until his last appointment. Previously employed by KPMG and SECOR as a strategy partner, Mr Lortie is an expert in the energy and natural resources sector. He holds an MBA from HEC Montréal and is a member of the Barreau du Québec. 1st Prize at the ARISTA Provincial Competition in the Young Executive of Quebec category in 2014, he is also a member of the board of directors of Green Mountain Power, Énergir gestion (formerly Gaz Métro Plus), Énergir chaleur et climatisation urbaines (ÉCCU) and Cégep Garneau.

Normand Bélanger has been a key figure at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ since it was founded, more than 40 years ago. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of the Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ from 2009 until June 2023, when he took the helm of the newly created Fonds de solidarité FTQ Bioénergie, thus beginning a new chapter in the Fonds’ history. Normand is a collaborative leader known for his ability to rally and mobilize all stakeholders to bring projects to fruition. Prior to 2009, Normand held various positions at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, including Senior Vice-President of Aerospace, Construction, Services, and Transportation; Vice-President of Investments – Construction, Real Estate, and Export Development; Investment Manager – Turnaround; Portfolio Manager; Financial Advisor; Financial Analyst; and Development Officer. He also served as a director of several public and private companies in which the Fonds de solidarité held an interest. Normand holds degrees in financial management, industrial relations, and administration from HEC, Université de Montréal, and Université du Québec à Montréal, respectively. He is a member of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés and holds the Administrateur de sociétés certifié (ASC) designation, granted by Université Laval’s Collège des administrateurs de sociétés upon completion of its university certification program in corporate governance. Launched in June 2023, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ Bioénergie is a company dedicated to developing and operating plants and businesses with expertise in the field of bioenergy. The Fonds Bioénergie contributes to the Québec economy through strategic investments and majority shareholdings in projects where it acts as owner-operator.

Érick has technical training in administration, pulp and paper, water treatment, and anaerobic digestion. Over the past 24 years, Érick has worked as an operator and consultant in several Quebec cities, was a professor at the AEC in water treatment at the Cégep de Rivière-du-Grand-Suddu-Loup and was responsible for the operation of several water treatment plants in Quebec City, both for drinking water and wastewater. From 2019 to 2024, he was responsible for commissioning the anaerobic digestion center.

Holder of a bachelor's degree in political science, Ms. Geneviève Masse has extensive experience in Quebec's public service. Earlier in her career, she worked notably in regional development and Indigenous affairs. She also served as Secretary General of the Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles, the Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie, the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation, and the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ). Appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for Regional Development and Sustainable Development at MAPAQ in January 2019, she has been Assistant Deputy Minister for Sustainable, Territorial and Sectoral Development since April 2022.

Karine Lavertu holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke. During her university studies, she completed numerous projects in environment and sustainable development, which led her to join Environment Canada (ECCC) in 2009. She worked on the development and implementation of several regulations, including the Multi-Sectoral Air Pollutant Regulations and the Clean Fuel Regulations. Karine is now responsible for the Fuel Life Cycle Assessment team within ECCC’s Low Carbon Fuels Division.

Ghislain Lacombe has been an engineer since 2002. He began his career in the environmental field in 1999 and in 2004 joined WM (Waste Management) as Director of Engineering for Quebec’s landfill sites. In 2020, he was promoted to Director of Engineering for Canada and actively participated in the development of sustainable development projects, including those for renewable energy, within the company.

A holder of a master's degree in economics from the Université de Sherbrooke, Sylvain Berthiaume has worked in local and economic development since 1994. From 1999 to 2004, he served as Director General of the CLD de Marguerite-D'Youville. Since 2006, he has held the position of Director General of the MRC de Marguerite-D'Youville, where he oversees the management and fulfillment of mandates related to the regional municipal court, land-use planning, environmental and waste management, and economic development. His role also made him one of the driving forces behind the creation, in 2010, of the Société d'Économie Mixte de l'Est de la Couronne Sud (SÉMECS), one of the first mixed-economy corporations in Quebec, whose mandate is to build and operate an organic waste management center through biomethanization — a project requiring the cooperation of 27 municipalities across three MRCs, which also serves the Longueuil urban area. He also serves as its Director General. This initiative has allowed the MRC to stand out for its commitment to a green, decarbonized, and forward-looking economy.