Press release - For immediate release
Cultivating Justice:
Protecting Our Land, Environment, and Rights
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For Immediate Release, Laval, May 27, 2024 (👉PDF Format)
Subject: CMCEL Supports Citizens of Saint-François and Laval in Their Fight for Democratic Rights Protection
The Coalition Mobilisations Citoyennes Environnementales de Laval (CMCEL) announces its official support for the citizen groups of Saint-François and Laval in their efforts to defend their rights to the referendum approval process and public consultation. This initiative is part of a context where the project known as the Cité du cinéma, proposed by Trudel Studios Inc., has generated significant interest since 2022, making CMCEL's support all the more essential for public interest.
Represented by Jonathan Tremblay, co-spokesperson of the coalition, CMCEL has filed an application for judicial review and annulment of regulations, with citizens of Saint-François, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard and respected in decisions affecting their community. This legal action, filed on May 24, 2024, at the Laval Courthouse, aims to ensure that the democratic process is fair and transparent.
The project in question, supported by Trudel Studios Inc., aims to establish a film production complex on a plot of land located at the eastern tip of Laval Island, at the northern edge of the Saint-François district, in an agricultural landscape. Since March 2022, this project has generated numerous discussions and concerns among the residents of Saint-François and Laval. Moreover, the municipality had announced to the citizens that there would be no environmental assessment, adding to the residents' concerns about the potential impacts on their environment.
It is important to recall that in 2022, citizens had the right to the referendum approval process during the first attempt to change the zoning. However, this right was removed during the second attempt in 2023-2024. The new proposed industrial zoning would no longer require a referendum approval process, public consultation, or sustainable development planning as required with the Plan d'aménagement d'ensemble (PAE) criteria, which would normally be required with (zone de secteur de zonage différé) deferred zoning (SZD).
We wish to prevent this from happening in other similar areas in Laval and Quebec, threatening our rights, natural environments, green spaces, agricultural lands, and our environment.
The referendum process and public consultation are essential elements of local democracy, allowing citizens to express themselves on decisions that have a direct impact on their environment and quality of life. By supporting this cause, CMCEL, an organization dedicated to the protection of the environment, natural habitats, and agricultural lands, demonstrates its commitment to defending citizens' rights and promoting participatory governance. The judicial review application aims, among other things, to invalidate the regulations adopted by the City of Laval to allow this project, regulations deemed illegal, abusive, and unreasonable.
CMCEL invites all residents of Laval and stakeholders to closely follow this case and actively participate in the upcoming referendum approval process and public consultations. Together, we can ensure that every voice is heard and that decisions truly reflect the needs and aspirations of our community.
In parallel, CMCEL is launching a fundraising campaign through the The Legacy Fund for the Environment to support our initiatives in defending citizens' rights. We appeal to the generosity of everyone who shares our commitment to a fairer and more equitable society. Your contributions will help strengthen our actions and ensure strong and effective citizen representation.
For more details on our fundraising campaign and to contribute, please visit our website at: https://www.cmcel.ca/campagne/en/fundraising-campaign .
"Citizen engagement is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is imperative that every citizen has the right to actively participate in decisions affecting their community, natural habitats, and agricultural lands. Public consultation and the referendum process are essential to ensure that these decisions truly reflect the needs and aspirations of all. Together, we must ensure that our democratic rights are respected and that our environment is protected for future generations." - Jonathan Tremblay, Co-Spokesperson of CMCEL
"As citizens of Saint-François, we have the right and duty to actively participate in decisions that affect our environment and quality of life. Citizen participation is not just a privilege, it is a fundamental right. We must mobilize to protect our ecosystems, agricultural lands, and ensure that every voice is heard in the decision-making process. Together, we can build a resilient and sustainable community." - Jimmy St-Germain and Christiane Boucher, Spokespersons for the Citizen Group Saint-François (Laval) - Ecosystems and Resilience and Member of CMCEL
Contact:
Jonathan Tremblay, info@cmcel.ca
Coalition for Citizen Environmental Mobilizations of Laval (CMCEL)
References:
Reports and briefs on the impacts on the environment, cultivated lands, quality of life, and local democracy, and more.
CMCEL Brief: https://drive.google.com/file/d/127RbNCY-NWJ91DPhzJNOZPoxoNzrkUpI/view
Alliance SaluTERRE Brief: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d4ZJA48N8Vz6MNhnWfQuIeHqBzgmLV01/view
Laval Regional Environmental Council (CRE de Laval) Brief: https://cdn.ca.yapla.com/company/CPYuUqJVEoG2jx9BFn5Lgxsv/asset/files/Trudel%20Studios_memoireCREdeLaval12012024.pdf
Mothers on the Front Line Laval Brief (See page 185): https://www.laval.ca/Documents/Pages/Fr/Citoyens/urbanisme-et-zonage/assemblee-consultation/sadr-1-7/rapport-consultation-sadr-1-7-cdu-1-3.pdf
Press Releases:
December 18, 2023: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nl09eIvPBvh0U6KRmlVmL1x9GEcQ4iHD/view
January 29, 2024: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wb9M7gm9RhzPCWmnnHYTLpz_chaFkxPQ/view
Media Coverage:
Open Letter, Le Devoir: https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/libre-opinion/805197/libre-opinion-vite-vite-vite-nom-economie-laval
Film studios on cultivable land, La Presse: https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2024-01-30/laval/des-studios-de-cinema-sur-une-terre-cultivable.php
Citizen coalition denounces a denial of democracy, Courrier Laval: https://courrierlaval.com/trudel-studios-coalition-deni-democratie/
CRE reiterates opposition to selected site, Courrier Laval: https://courrierlaval.com/trudel-studios-cre-opposition-site-retenu/
"Outdated" in Laval, Journal de Montréal: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/02/03/du-passe-date-a-laval
Laval says yes to a large studio complex despite urban planners' contrary opinions, Le Devoir: https://www.ledevoir.com/economie/763545/urbanisme-laval-dit-oui-a-grand-complexe-de-productions-de-films-malgre-les-avis-contraires
An embarrassing report for the Boyer administration revealed, Courrier Laval: https://courrierlaval.com/cite-du-cinema-un-rapport-embetant-pour-ladministration-boyer-revele/
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