Quebec plans to install three of its prefabricated CPEs near a highway, including one some 140 m from the expressways, which raises the concern of health professionals about exposure to pollution and noise.
“It is extremely important to protect children against the harmful effects of air pollution,” insists Johanne Elsener, member of the Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment (AQME).
She and her organization are asking the government to back down on the construction of the early childhood center (CPE) located a stone’s throw from Route 132, in Brossard. The land, paid $2 million, must also be decontaminated before the establishment of the daycare.
“Our organization recommends not constructing sensitive buildings within 300 meters of a highway. And it would be preferable and ideal to have a buffer zone of 500 meters”, adds the DD Elsener, who states that asthma, autism and leukemia are associated with airborne contaminants in children.
noise pollution
This is without taking into account noise pollution, which can eventually lead to language delays.
“Building a daycare some 150 m from a highway is certainly not optimal,” says Tony Leroux, professor at the school of audiology and speech therapy at the University of Montreal. The noise of the highway added to that of the CPE can, in the long term, affect the development of language because the words are lost in the noise.
With some exceptions, the State of California has prohibited since 2003 the construction of new schools within 150 meters of a highway. A similar bill is currently before the New York State Senate.
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Three other CPEs near the highway
The analysis carried out by our Investigation Office also revealed that two other prefabricated CPEs will be located within a radius of 500 meters from a highway, and another at some 650 meters from an airport.
In the latter case, the AQME also asks the government to review the project, under the “precautionary principle”.
“We know that airports emit a lot of ultrafine particles and studies report harmful health effects linked to these particles”, explains the DD Elsener.
At the Ministry of the Family (MFA), it is ensured that all CPEs built must comply with the rules in force, in particular environmental, safety, soundproofing and ventilation standards.
However, there is nothing to indicate that the proximity of an expressway is a factor taken into account by the government. The MFA has also refused to comment on the proximity of these establishments to a highway or an airport.
Not ideal
The Association québécoise des CPE (AQCPE), responsible for the call for tenders for prefabricated child care centres, recognizes that some land does not have the “ideal” location, but that it is the “best » option available.
“There are many factors to consider when doing a field search: child welfare, location, accessibility, cost, safety, health, environment. We then make an informed decision,” says Geneviève Blanchard, strategic advisor, public and governmental affairs at the AQCPE.
Prefabricated CPEs, in a nutshell
– Project of 43 CPE prefabricated in the factory, which should allow the creation of more than 3000 new subsidized places
– Construction costs estimated at $116 million, financed by Quebec, but managed by the Association québécoise des CPE
– First deliveries scheduled for summer 2024 in all regions of Quebec, except Laval, Montreal and Nord-du-Québec.
Problematic CPE projects:
CPE Child’s Pleasure
Photomontage Journal de Montréal with Google Earth
The CPE Plaisir d’enfant plans to set up a prefabricated daycare center (in red) near Route 132 (in blue), in Brossard.
Brossard, Monteregie
Estimated construction cost: $2.1M
Number of places: 60 children, including 10 infants
Stake: Located about 140 meters from Route 132
CPE The magic of dreams
Photomontage Journal de Montréal with Google Earth
The Lamagique du rêve CPE plans to set up a prefabricated CPE (area in red) near the runways of the Val-d’Or regional airport (in blue).
Val-d’Or, Abitibi-Temiscamingue
Estimated construction cost: $3.8M
Number of places: 80 children, including 20 infants
Stake: Land located 650 m from the Val-d’Or regional airport
CPE Jardins d’Honorine
Saint-Hyacinthe, Monteregie
Estimated construction cost: $2M
Number of places: 55 children, including 15 children
Issue: Located some 250 m from the Highway 20 ramp (or 400 m from the expressway).
CPE L’enfant-do of Memphremagog
Magog, Eastern Townships
Estimated construction cost: $2.8M
Number of places: 80 children, including 20 infants
Stake: Located approximately 350 m from Highway 10