Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau have challenged the Federal Transport Minister, Lisa Raitt, asking her to intervene with NAV Canada, the body responsible for Canadian airspace. The citizens’ committee has invited her to come to Montreal to experience firsthand the situation caused by the change in aircraft altitude levels imposed by NAV Canada in February 2012, and approved by Aeroports de Montreal (ADM).

Les Pollués add their voices to those of citizens of Toronto who have lived for three years in the same problematic situation due to changes in flight paths around Pearson Airport.

Incidentally, last month (June), NAV Canada released a new protocol setting out communication and consultation procedures to be applied when making any new changes to procedures for takeoffs and landings at Canadian airports. Had this protocol been in place in 2012, it would have alerted the population and local elected representatives to changes contemplated at the time by NAV Canada. This would have resulted in a rejection of the new altitude levels which residents suffer today.

Les Pollués have asked Minister Raitt to force NAV Canada to retroactively abide by the changes in the new protocol, so that affected Montrealers regain their quality of life.

Yesterday (Thursday, July 16), three members of Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau met with the Conservative candidate for Mont-Royal in the next federal election, Robert Libman. They explained the situation and asked him to facilitate their meeting with Ms. Raitt.

Mr. Libman was sensitive to the issue and promised to well serve the interests of the citizens of Mont-Royal, including the issue of aircraft noise pollution, which falls under Ottawa.

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