Site deemed “non-compliant” | Quebec orders the work of Ray-Mont Logistiques to stop

Quebec is putting a brake on work on the site of the promoter Ray-Mont Logistiques, which wants to build a container terminal in Hochelaga. The site, which began a little less than three weeks ago, is “non-compliant” according to the Ministry of the Environment.

Henri Ouellette-Vezina
The Press

In a press release released at the start of the day on Tuesday, the ministry asserts that it “has just indicated” to the company that phase 1 of its project is “subject to ministerial authorization”, under article 22 of the Environment Quality Act (LQE). Ray-Mont Logistiques did not obtain such an authorization “before starting the realization of this first phase”, note the authorities, who confirm that “consequently, a notice of non-compliance was sent” to the promoter.

According to the government, the company had nevertheless “undertaken not to initiate any activity in connection with the first phase of its project before having received the position of the ministry with regard to its subjection and, if necessary , before having obtained a ministerial authorization”.

It was during an inspection that was carried out on March 21, after an unidentified complaint was received, that Quebec says it found the violation. The promoter, who had laid out an asphalt surface on a portion of the site last August, had “started to use this surface for the purpose of storing containers”, we deplore in Quebec.

The Ministry of the Environment is justified by the fact that as the first phase of the work involves a lot of trucking and storage of containers, it will “in particular contribute to the sound environment of the sector”. It is also because noise is “considered an environmental contaminant” that Quebec is asking for ministerial authorization.

The proponent is also asked for “a soundscape modeling study that is more representative of the critical conditions that could be observed” and “appropriate mitigation measures” to move forward. The government finally promises to continue to “carefully” follow this file, and slips in passing that “if other actions are required, they will be evaluated”.

Cross attacks

By email, Ray-Mont Logistiques said on Tuesday that it took note of the government’s position. “The company’s desire has always been to comply with the regulations in place, hence the request for exemption which had been filed to ensure that the ministry shared its interpretation to the effect that no authorization ministerial was required”, affirms the group of Charles Raymond.

“With a view to collaboration”, the promoter claims to have “proposed to the ministry not to start operations on the site while obtaining details on their analysis”, but regrets that on March 16, he was “forced to begin certain works and operations “to comply with the requirements of the City of Montreal”. She would have told him that she could not extend the municipal authorizations required to continue discussions on the future development of the land, “unless work begins shortly”.

In Mayor Valérie Plante’s office, it is recalled that the City went “to the end of what it could do” to stop the project, but that the courts obliged it, twice rather than once. , to issue the permit to Ray-Mont Logistiques.

“We salute the will of the Government of Quebec to undertake the same process and to go through with the legal process on its side. The main thing is to make sure that we protect the green spaces of the sector and that we limit nuisances for citizens as much as possible,” says press officer Marikym Gaudreault.

” That’s excellent news. Ray-Mont Logistiques is a bad corporate citizen. He never showed respect for the regulations. It was time for the ministry to take an interest in it. Citizens have made complaints on several occasions since the beginning of its work. It is reassuring to know that there is listening,” finally reacts the spokesperson for the Mobilization 6600 movement, Anaïs Houde.