Quebec City climate-change march draws 25,000 people

Aclimate-change march drew about 25,000 people to the streets of Quebec City on Saturday, as protesters try to encourage premiers to take a tougher stance on climate and pipeline regulations.

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The march was organized byAct On Climate a coalition of groups including environmental groups, unions, students and aboriginal groups.

It'sin preparation for a premiers' summit on climate change which will take place on Tuesday, April 14.

The focus is a greener strategy for Canada's provinces and territories.

About 100 buses were drivento the rally with many passengersfrom different parts of Quebec. Once there, they marched for about three kilometres to the National Assembly.

Protesters wore red and arranged themselvesso that from the skyit looked like a bursting thermometer.

Protesters against pipelines

High on the list of demands from the group is stopping the building of new pipelines, including Keystone, Energy East, and Northern Gateway.

Serge Simon, the grand chief of Kanesatake, said Quebec environmentalists should look to British Columbia.

"You could take the example of the B.C. premier [Christy Clark]. The B.C. premier had a lot of pressure brought to them and they put these conditions that stopped Northern Gateway,"he said.

"The premier of Quebec [Philippe Couillard] can do the same thing if he stops catering to big corporate interests. I don't see why he can't do this."

Saturday's march concluded with a concert featuring Les Respectables, Yann Perreau and Sarah Harmer.

On Monday, OntarioPremier Kathleen Wynnewill sign a deal with Quebec on a cap-and-trade system to limit carbon emissions.