Mont-Tremblant National Park | A road without environmental assessment

A road to connect the Laurentians and Lanaudière regions through Mont-Tremblant National Park is in preparation and could even be carried out without an environmental assessment.

The “scenic route” project of the Société des Établissements de Plein Air du Québec (SEPAQ) consists of widening and asphalting over about 30 kilometers of Route 3, which crosses the oldest national park in the province.

Vehicles will thus be able to travel at 50 kilometers per hour all year round on this section, which is currently a gravel road closed in winter, creating a shortcut between the municipalities of Saint-Donat and Saint-Michel-des- Saints.

This road will “create a loop that will open up the north of Lanaudière”, wrote the Ministry of Tourism in a press release announcing a contribution of $ 20 million, in March 2021.

Motorists will not have to pay the right of access to the park if they only cross it, projects SEPAQ.

The project also provides for the addition of a cycle lane and panoramic rest stops “to improve the experience of users and highlight the beauty of the territory,” indicated the press release.

No environmental assessment

Although preparatory work has begun, the Route 3 project is not listed in the Environmental Assessment Registry of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.

“The Ministry has not received any request for environmental authorization for such a project”, confirmed to The Press its spokesperson Frédéric Fournier.

SEPAQ first told The Press that the completion of a “global impact study of the project” is not required, before indicating the next day that he was “not in a position” to say immediately whether such an evaluation is required.

“We will have to wait for the completion of the plans and specifications for the project to see if one or more elements of the final route require a global impact study to be carried out,” said SEPAQ spokesperson Simon Boivin, ensuring that the Crown corporation will “willingly” comply with the requirements.

“It is up to SEPAQ to ensure that its projects comply with the laws and regulations in force [et] sanctions will be given if an infraction is observed,” indicated Mélina Jalbert, press attaché to Minister Benoit Charette.

So far, the reconstruction of two existing bridges has been carried out, with “all the necessary forest road authorizations”, assures SEPAQ.

Topographical and surveying surveys, geotechnical, hydrological and hydraulic studies as well as ecological and aquatic characterizations have also been carried out or are in progress, but SEPAQ has invited The Press to resort to the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information to know the results.

A 24-kilometre section of road was also redone on the territory of Saint-Michel-des-Saints, in the fall of 2020, in connection with the SEPAQ project.

Impacts on fauna and flora

Mont-Tremblant National Park is home to some 40 species of mammals and has six major rivers as well as 400 lakes and streams, says SEPAQ.

The repair of Route 3 would generate “tens of thousands of additional days of visits to Mont-Tremblant National Park”, according to a study carried out to assess the potential benefits of this project, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

“It risks increasing the mortality of animals in the park, it’s a known and documented phenomenon,” worries biologist Louise Gratton, president of the Nature Quebec organization.

It would have been necessary to evaluate the species present and their vulnerability to measure the impacts of such a road, estimates the biologist Alain Branchaud, director general of the Quebec section of the Society for Nature and Parks (SNAP).

“Without a prior assessment, it seems irresponsible to authorize this work,” he said.

An assessment would also have made it possible to identify wetlands to avoid, on which the road risks encroaching, adds Louise Gratton, who considers the project contradictory with the conservation mission of the SEPAQ.

Improving the park’s infrastructure to facilitate access is “not bad in itself”, but opening a transit route in such a protected area is not the same thing, adds Mr. Branchaud.

For example, access to Gatineau Park was restricted last summer for motor vehicles to ensure public safety and protect wildlife, says the National Capital Commission.

This decision came after numerous accidents and complaints about motor racing in this federal nature conservation park.