Prohibiting the most polluting cars from driving on smog days is “a measure that can be interesting”, but such initiatives must come from Quebec, said Valérie Plante on Wednesday.
The mayoress indicated that Montreal could not set up programs of the kind, already in force in certain European cities, on its own.
“I think it should be a reflection that should be on another level,” said M.me Plant, in a press briefing. “I find that this is a measure which can be interesting, but which absolutely cannot be limited to the territory of a city, because it is necessary to think more broadly. »
At the end of April, Mme Plante visited London and Paris, where restrictive measures reduce or prohibit the presence of the most polluting vehicles. The mayor said she was inspired by these examples.
Temporary free public transport during an episode of poor air quality is also a measure that must be decided on a larger scale, she added. “Maybe it could be a decision for a province to put in place measures to minimize the impact of smog.
Same portrait for a possible postponement of the Formula 1 Grand Prix if the smog persists until mid-June: “It will not be this year that a decision like that would be taken, she said. Or if it does, it would definitely come from another level of government, given the financial, legal and other implications. »