Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau denounce the "sham" consultation put on by Aéroports de Montreal tomorrow in Ahuntsic

Montreal, 1 June 2015 – The citizens’ committee of Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau invites Aeroports de Montreal (ADM) to hold a genuine consultation of citizens in Ahuntsic-Cartierville tomorrow night. Representatives of ADM gave a week’s notice that they would meet citizens of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, but said they would limit any interaction with them to forty minutes.

“It’s a sham consultation” complained Antoine Bécotte, President of Les Pollués. “Firstly, the meeting is being held at an odd time, 6.00 p.m., and we’re being told there will be a 20-minute presentation followed by a question period that will end at 7.00 p.m. Moreover, ADM will not be accompanied by a spokesperson from NAV Canada and Transport Canada, who also have major roles to play in the regulation of the soundscape. All we will get is the version of ADM, a private and opaque organization. ”

For Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau, this meeting, which focuses primarily on work being carried out on airport runways and increased overflights of  the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville and North St. Laurent, is the perfect opportunity to discuss an increase in aircraft altitude levels, the adoption of landing and takeoff procedures that are less polluting for Montreal residents, and the establishment of a genuine curfew from 11.00 pm to 7.00 am. “This is being done elsewhere, at significantly larger airports than Montreal,” said Mr. Bécotte.

Given that, from memory, ADM has never in the past offered any citizen outreach, Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau nevertheless invite residents to come to the meeting to express their concern at the deterioration of their quality of life caused by aircraft flying overhead at low altitude by day and by night. The meeting will take place in the hall of the Borough Council Ahuntsic-Cartierville, 555 Chabanel West, 6th floor. Les Pollués are offering a free transport service which will be coordinated by Francine Lauzon (514 332-1366 or pourtant@icloud.com).